Program Description
The Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.Ed.) in PreK-4 Education and Special Education prepares students to earn:
- Certification to teach pre-K through grade 4
- A license to teach special education in grades pre-K through grade 8
Certification that includes Special Education may require an extra semester to complete.
Note: This is a dual certification, not a dual degree.
Delivery Mode
Traditional (on campus)
Accreditation
This undergraduate degree program is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Cal U's education programs have also been accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) since 1954, and we are continuing with the successor organization, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
Curriculum
The following sections include an eight-semester schedule of courses provided as a recommended framework for completing the certification programs in four years.
| Course | Credits |
| Freshman Year | |
| First Semester | 16 |
| ENG 101 English Composition I | 3 |
| HIS 101 OR 102 U.S. History | 3 |
| MAT 120 Elementary Topics in Math I | 3 |
| PSY 205 Childhood Psychology | 3 |
| UNI 100 First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| Any Natural Science Course | 3 |
| Second Semester | 18 |
| CHD 200 Introduction to PreK-Grade 4 | 3 |
| ELE 220 Instruction and Assessment PreK | 3 |
| ELE 221 Instruction and Assessment in K-4 | 3 |
| ESP 210 Special Education Foundations and Collaboration | 3 |
| ESP 311 Assessment and Positive Behavior Interventions | 3 |
| MAT 130 Elementary Topics in Math II | 3 |
| Sophomore Year | |
| Third Semester | 15 |
| ELE 300 Emerging Literacy | 3 |
| ELE 310 Teaching Math/Science PK-4 | 3 |
| GEO/POS/ECO 102 Social Sciences | 3 |
| MUS/ART/THE 372 Creative Arts PK-4 | 3 |
| Any Approved AM/BRIT Literature | 3 |
| Fourth Semester | 12 |
| CHD 250 Health and PE for PK-Grade 4 | 3 |
| CHD 312 Instructional Leadership in Childhood Education | 3 |
| EDU 333 Educational Technology | 3 |
| PSY 208 Educational Psychology | 3 |
| Junior Year | |
| Fifth Semester | 18 |
| ELE 301 Literacy Foundations I: LA | 3 |
| ELE 302 Literacy Foundations II: Reading | 3 |
| ELE 331 Teaching Social Studies K-4 | 3 |
| ESP 312 Applied Behavior Analysis for Special Educators | 3 |
| ESP 339 Special Education Field Experience I | 3 |
| ESP 403 Assessment and Prescriptive Teaching | 3 |
| Sixth Semester | 18 |
| EDU 350 Supporting ELL | 3 |
| ELE 311 Teaching Math K-4 | 3 |
| ELE 321 Teaching Science K-4 | 3 |
| ESP 407 Early Intervention Special Education | 3 |
| ESP 411 History, Theory, and Exceptionality | 3 |
| ESP 412 Evidence Based Practices | 3 |
| Senior Year | |
| Seventh Semester | 18 |
| CHD 350 Family and Community Collaboration Partnerships | 3 |
| CHD 450 Assessment and Data Literacy | 3 |
| EDU 375 Introduction to Integrative STEM Education | 3 |
| ESP 349 Special Education Field Experience II | 3 |
| ESP 402 Life Skills Planning and Instruction | 3 |
| ESP 414 Advanced Evidence Based Practices for PK-8 Inclusion | 3 |
| Eighth Semester | 12 |
| ELE 461 Student Teaching and School Law | 6 |
| ESP 461 Student Teaching and School Law | 6 |
| Total | 127 |
Program Notes
- All ELE/ESP/CHD courses require current clearances and a minimum 2.5 GPA to register.
- All courses required for certification must earn C or better.
- Admission to Teacher Education required for enrollment in ESP 412, CHD 450, ELE 311, ELE 321, ELE 331, ESP 461 and ELE 461.
- Pre-requisites for ELE 221 and all 300 level ELE and CHS courses are ELE 200 and ELE 220. ESP 210 and ESP 311 are prerequisites for all ESP courses.
- Bolded courses titles indicate a block of courses that must be taken together.
Approved British or American Literature Courses
- ENG 107 Introduction to Fiction
- ENG 125 The American West
- ENG 127 Woman as Hero
- ENG 148 Horror in Literature
- ENG 150 Baseball in Literature
- ENG 155 Black Literature
- ENG 160 Introduction to British and American Literature
- ENG 203 Great Books
- ENG 301 English Literature I
- ENG 302 English Literature II
- ENG 337 Survey of American Literature I
- ENG 338 Survey of American Literature II