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Education with Dual Teaching Certification in Grades PreK– 4 and Special Education (B.S.)

Program Overview

The PreK-4 and Special Education Dual Certification Program prepares students to teach regular education in elementary classrooms or to serve as special education teachers. Students who complete the program are eligible for Pennsylvania Instructional I teacher certification in PreK-4 and Special Education (PreK-8). Students who pursue Special Education certification must complete the dual certification program, majoring in Education with Prek-4 Teaching Certification. Completing the Special Education program satisfies the Disciplinary Focus requirement for the major. To be eligible for the Special Education certification program, students must meet all the requirements for admission to the Teacher Education Program (TEP). In addition to satisfying all TEP admissions procedures and requirements, students who wish to pursue the SPED dual certification program must take Introduction to Special Education (EDSP 207), with a GPA of 3.0 (grade of B) or better. 

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates from Messiah’s Education program can:

  1. Integrate sociocultural and development understanding towards high expectations for learners with disabilities. 
  2. Integrate faith, identity, and vocational calling with standards of ethical practice.
  3. Design evidence-based supports and interventions to promote social, emotional, and behavioral well-being.
  4. Individualize learning progression and adaptations across content and curricula.
  5. Use multiple methods of assessment in making educational decisions.
  6. Implement evidence-based interventions and adaptations to advance learning.
  7. Integrate faith, identity, and vocational calling with standards of ethical practice.
  8. Collaborate to serve and seek justice for learners with disabilities.

Major Requirements

Complete the following for your major:

ART/MUGE/THEA
course meeting QuEST arts requirement

3
BIOL 106Life Sciences

3
EDSP 207Introduction to Special Education

3
EDSP 396/HDFS 396Infants, Toddlers & Families

3
EDSP 397High Incidence Instructional Strategies

3
EDSP 398Low Incidence Instructional Strategies

3
EDSP 399Positive Behavior Support for Learners with Emotional, Behavioral & Social Disabilities

3
EDSP 409Psychological Testing

3
EDUC 203Educational Psychology

3
EDUC 205Cultural and Political Geography

3
EDUC 208Teaching English Language Learners in K-12 Schools

3
EDUC 209Principles and Structures of Mathematics

3
EDUC 226Children's Literature

3
EDUC 301Literacy: Climate, Curriculum and Instruction I

3
EDUC 302Literacy: Climate, Curriculum & Instruction II

3
EDUC 303Mathematics: Climate, Curriculum and Instruction for Primary Grades

3
EDUC 304Mathematics: Climate, Curriculum and Instruction for Intermediate Grades (with Field Experience)

2-3
EDUC 330Instructional Design I

3
EDUC 342Social Studies: Climate, Curriculum and Instruction for Elementary School

3
EDUC 346Socio-Cultural Perspectives on Education

3
EDUC 347Science: Climate, Curriculum and Instruction for Elementary School

3
TEP 407Student Teaching Seminar

1
EDUC 414Developmental Programming: Curriculum and Instruction for Early Childhood

3
EDUC 415Practices in Early Childhood Education

3
EDUC 420Professional Issues in Education

2
EDME 537Transition and Secondary Special Education

3
ENGL 160Introduction to World Literature

3
HDFS 210Child Development

3
HDFS 311Adolescent Development

3
 
HIST 141United States History Survey to 1865

3
OR
HIST 142United States History Survey Since 1865

3
 
TEP 210Sophomore Field Experience

0
TEP 312Field Experience ll in PreK - Grade 2

0
TEP 314Field Experience III Grade 2-4

0
TEP 420Special Education Internship

0
PHSC 102Foundations of Physical Science

3

EDUC 304: Three credits required for the major.

EDUC 330: Fulfills writing enriched requirement for the major.

TEP 210: May meet ELI requirement- work closely with advisor for confirmation

Three credits from the following:

CIS 171Problem Solving with Computers

3
CIS 180Introduction to Computer and Information Science

3
CIS 181Computer Programming I

3

Nine credits from the following:

TEP 432Student Teaching: Special Education

9
TEP 434Student Teaching: Grades PreK-4

9

QuEST Requirements

Experiential Learning requirement 0
QuEST requirements Credits
First Year Seminar 3
Oral Communication 3
Created and Called for Community (W) 3
Mathematical Sciences (CIS 171, CIS 180 or CIS 181) met/major
Laboratory Science (BIOL 106 & PHSC 102) met/major
Science, Technology & the World waived
Social Science (HDFS 210) waived
European History or United States History (HIST 141 or HIST 142) met/major
Literature (ENGL 160) met/major
Philosophy and Religion 3
Arts (ART, MUGE or THEA course meeting QuEST) met/major
First Semester of Language 3
Second Semester of Language 3
Third Semester of Language or Cross Cultural 3
Non-Western Studies waived*
Bible 3
Christian Beliefs 3
Wellness course 1
Ethics, World Views or Pluralism (EDUC 346) met/major
QuEST requirements 28
Major requirements 101
Total credits 129

*The non-western requirement is only waived if students take ENGL 160.