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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-12). 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
General Education arts requirement

3
BIOL 106Life Science

3
CIS/MATH/STAT
meeting General Education mathematics

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
EDME 537Transition and Secondary Special Education

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
EDUC 414Developmental Programming: Curriculum and Instruction for Early Childhood

3
EDUC 415Evidence-Based Practices in Early Childhood Education

3
ENGL 160Introduction to World Literature

3
HDFS 210Child Development

3
PHSC 102Foundations of Physical Science

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

EDUC 304: Three credits required for the major.

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

Three credits from the following:

HIST 141United States History Survey to 1865

3
HIST 142United States History Survey Since 1865

3

Three credits from the following:

EDUC 305Middle Level Methods

3
HDFS 311Adolescent Development

3

Professional Semester Requirements

EDUC 420Professional Issues in Education

2
TEP 407Student Teaching Seminar

1
TEP 432Student Teaching: Special Education

9

General Education Requirements

Experiential Learning requirement   0
General Education requirements   Credits
First Year Seminar IDFY 101/102H  3
Written Communication ENGL 110/110H 3
Oral Communication COMM 105 3
Mathematical and Scientific Ways of Knowing Mathematics (CIS/MATH/STAT meeting GenEd) met/major
Science with Lab (BIOL 106, PHSC 102) met/major
Social Scientific Ways of Knowing
 Social Science (HDFS 210) met/major
Cultural/Humanistic Ways of Knowing History (HIST 141 or HIST 142) met/major
Literary & Aesthetic Ways of Knowing
 Literature (ENGL 160) or ARTS (ART/ARTH/MUGE/THEA meeting GenEd Arts) met/major
Cultural/Humanistic Ways of Knowing
 Philosophy or Religion 3
Cultural/Humanistic Ways of Knowing 1st and 2nd Level Language 6
Intercultural Perspectives Intercultural Global (only if ENGL 160) or International Cross-cultural or 3rd Level Language waived
Bible
 24GE Bible 3
Christian Beliefs
 24GE Christian Beliefs 3
Holistic Wellness
 WELL 1xx 1
Ethics and the Common Good
 24GE Ethics and the Common Good 3
Intercultural Perspectives
 Intercultural U.S. (EDUC 346) or Domestic Cross-cultural met/major
Common Learning
 Experiential Learning (TEP 432) met/major 
General Education requirements   28
Major requirements (inclusive of concentration)   101
Free Electives    0
Total credits   129