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The Primary Plus: PreK-4 Teacher Certification program prepares students to teach young children ages 4-9 in pre-kindergarten and K-4 classrooms and to work collaboratively with parents and other professionals. Students will develop skills for employment in public and private schools and early childhood centers.
Program Facts
Program Type
PreK-4 Teacher Certification
Enrollment Term
Fall
Format
In-Person
Credits
36
Application Deadline
March 1
Late applicants are encouraged to apply and will be considered based on available space.
Admissions Requirements
GRE exam not required
Duration
2 academic terms (Fall and Spring)
Time Commitment
Full-Time
Program Overview
The Primary Plus: PreK-4 Teacher Certification Program is intended for individuals from a wide range of undergraduate degree and work backgrounds. Through coursework and field experiences with pre-kindergarteners and children in grades K-4, students will acquire an integrated understanding of academic content and child development in diverse inclusive settings.
Upon completion of the program, students are eligible to apply for a Pennsylvania Instructional I certificate for PreK-4. The requirements are listed in the Certifications section below.
Additionally, students who complete Primary Plus can put 18 completed credits toward our Master of Education in Early Childhood Education program.
During their time in the program, candidates are placed in two different educational settings. In the Fall, the candidates spend three days a week in a PreK or K classroom, working closely with a mentor teacher and a university supervisor. Over the course of the semester the candidates support the mentor teacher, moving toward a full takeover of teaching responsibilities toward the end of the semester. In the Fall the candidates also spend one day a week in a K-4 elementary classroom, moving from observation to general classroom support. The candidates then continue in the same elementary classroom in the Spring for a semester of full-time student teaching.
The Primary Plus program satisfies requirements for the Pennsylvania Instructional I PreK-4 Certification, pending:
When applying for certification, you must be either a citizen of the U.S. or legally authorized to work in the U.S. A permanent resident immigrant visa (green card) holder is legally authorized to work in the U.S
For more information, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Education educator certification website.
Prerequisites
In addition to the prerequisite courses, candidates must also have a 3.0 GPA in undergraduate study.
Admission Requirements
Program requirements include:
Additionally, applicants must complete the School of Education online admissions application that will include:
Curriculum
The Primary Plus PreK-4 is a 36-credit graduate certificate program leading to teacher certification in grades PreK-4.
Career Pathways
Most of our graduates become either Preschool or Elementary teachers in schools across Pennsylvania, and across the United States.
Many go on to get additional degrees and certifications, including the Reading Specialist certification, the master’s degree in Elementary Education, or the Special Education certification.
