Education PK-4 and Special Education Dual Major
The dual major prepares teachers for teaching in Elementary PK4 and Special Education PK12 grades. The Elementary Education PK4 major leading to Level 1 Instructional Teaching Licensure is an accredited program approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) and is aligned with the requirements for teacher certification in PK4. Students will also engage with content and pedagogical approaches relevant to grades 5 and 6 which enables them to add certification to teach grades 5 and 6 with additional testing. Throughout the Elementary Education PK4 program, students integrate theory with practice through coursework and field experiences in PK4 classrooms.
Students in the PK4 program have the option to add the Special Education PK12 major to their program of study. The Special Education PK12 program leading to Level 1 Instructional Teaching Licensure is aligned with the Pennsylvania Department of Education requirements for teacher certification for Special Education PK12 grades and for serving the needs of learners of all abilities. In all our teacher preparation programs leading to Level 1 Instructional Teaching Licensure, in-class coursework is combined with weekly field experiences in local PK12 classrooms starting with the first semester of study to give students hands-on experience for teaching young learners.
The undergraduate Teacher Education and Special Education programs are built upon a strong liberal arts curriculum provided through the General Education Program (GEP) at Saint Joseph’s University. This enables students to integrate their understanding of interdisciplinary content with an understanding of developmentally appropriate pedagogy.
Special Education PK-12 must be a double major with Elementary PK-4.
Goal 1: Students will demonstrate knowledge of PK-12 learner development and curricular content
Outcome 1.1: The student will be able to identify individual differences and to respond to the needs of individuals with exceptionalities.
Outcome 1.2: The student will be able to use general and specialized content knowledge for teaching across curricular content areas to individualize learning for individuals with exceptionalities.
Goal 2: Students will demonstrate the ability to create positive PK-12 learning environments
Outcome 2.1: The student will demonstrate the ability to use motivational and instructional interventions to teach individuals with exceptionalities how to adapt to different environments.
Outcome 2.2: The student will demonstrate an understanding of ways to collaborate with general educators and other colleagues to create safe, inclusive, culturally responsive learning environments to engage individuals with exceptionalities in meaningful learning activities and social interactions.
Goal 3: Students will demonstrate the use of assessment for diagnosis and progress monitoring
Outcome 3.1: The student will be able to select and use technically sound formal and informal assessments that minimize bias.
Outcome 3.2: The student will assess performance and provide feedback.
Goal 4: Students will demonstrate knowledge of research-based instructional planning and strategies
Outcome 4.1: The student will be able to identify an individual’s abilities, interests, learning environments, and cultural and linguistic factors in the selection, development, and adaptation of learning experiences for individuals with exceptionalities.
Outcome 4.2: The student will be able to use strategies and technology to enhance language development and communication skills of individuals with exceptionalities.
Goal 5: Students will demonstrate knowledge of professional ethical practice
Outcome 5.1: The student will demonstrate an understanding that diversity is a part of families, cultures, and schools, and that complex human issues can interact with the delivery of special education services.
Outcome 5.2: The student will demonstrated the ability to develop a variety of education and transition plans for individual with exceptionalities across a wide range of settings and different learning experiences in collaboration with individuals, families and teams.
Cornerstone Core Curriculum Requirements
Consist of 14 core and 2 overlay requirements. See below for additional detailed information on each of these requirements.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| First Year Course Requirements | ||
| ENG 101 | Craft of Language | 3 |
| World History Course Area | 3 | |
| Philosophy Requirements | ||
Either Level One or Level Two (but not both) -- must be Ethics designated. If approved, philosophy courses may count for a student's Writing Intensive overlay. Students may not double-count the same course as Philosophy Level Two and as a Mission Overlay course. | ||
| Philosophy Level One | 3 | |
| Philosophy Level Two | 3 | |
| Theology & Religious Studies Requirements | ||
If approved, Theology & Religious Studies courses may count for a student's Writing Intensive overlay. Students may not double-count the same course as CCC Theology and as a Mission Overlay course. | ||
| Theology | 3 | |
| Religious Studies | 3 | |
| Diversity & INT 151 Requirements | ||
A student's Diversity course may not count for any other CCC course area requirement or as their Mission Overlay course. If approved, Diversity courses may count for a student's Writing Intensive Overlay requirement. INT 151 may not count for any other CCC requirements. This course must be taken in the first two years | ||
| Diversity | 3 | |
| INT 151 | Inequality in American Society | 1 |
| Math & Natural Science Requirements | ||
If approved, Math & Natural Science Requirements may count toward overlay requirements. | ||
| Mathematics | 3-4 | |
| Natural Science | 4 | |
| Social Science Requirement | 3 | |
If approved, such Social Science Requirement may count toward a student's overlay requirements. | ||
| Non-Native Language Requirement | 3-4 | |
A single Non-Native Language course may not count as an overlay course but a second language course fulfills a student's Mission Overlay requirement. | ||
| Literature Requirement | 3 | |
If approved, Literature courses may count toward a student's overlay requirements. | ||
| Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design Requirement | 3 | |
If approved, Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design courses may count toward a student's overlay requirements. | ||
| Overlay Requirements | ||
| Writing-Intensive | 3 | |
If approved, Writing-Intensive courses may double count as major courses, minor courses, electives, or as any CCC course area requirement except for the first-year courses (World History and Rhetoric and Composition). | ||
| Mission-Overlay | 3 | |
Mission Overlay courses may double count as major courses, minor courses, elective courses, or any of the following CCC course areas: Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design, Literature, Mathematics, Natural Science, or Social Science. | ||
| Total Hours | 47-49 | |
Recommended CCC Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Diversity | ||
| Schools in Society w/ Field | ||
| Social Science | ||
| Cognition & Learning w/ Field | ||
| Writing Intensive | ||
| Cognition & Learning w/ Field | ||
| Mission-Overlay | ||
| Intro to Special Edu w/Field | ||
Major Requirements
(Special Education PK-12 must be a double major with Elementary PK-4)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDU 121 | Child Development | 3 |
| EDU 150 | Schools in Society w/ Field | 3 |
| EDU 151 | Cognition & Learning w/ Field | 3 |
| EDU 155 | Found of Early Child w/ Field | 3 |
| EDU 231 | Assessment and Evaluation | 3 |
| EDU 232 | Literacy/Literature I w/ Field | 3 |
| EDU 246 | Language and Culture w/ Field | 3 |
| EDU 265 | Teaching Math in PK2 w/ Field | 3 |
| EDU 340 | Literacy/Literature II w/Field | 3 |
| EDU 362 | Soc Stud Thru Arts PK4 w/Field | 3 |
| EDU 363 | Science Methods PK-4 w/ Field | 3 |
| EDU 366 | Teaching Math Gr. 3-6 w/Field | 3 |
| EDU 498 | Dual Major Student Teaching | 6 |
| SPE 160 | Intro to Special Edu w/Field | 3 |
| SPE 205 | Inclusive Classrooms w/ Field | 3 |
| SPE 320 | Progress Monitoring w/ Field | 3 |
| SPE 329 | High Incid Disabil w/Field | 3 |
| SPE 339 | Low Incid Disabil w/Field | 3 |
| SPE 349 | Literacy Intervention w/Field | 3 |
| SPE 359 | Math & Content Interv w/Field | 3 |
| SPE 369 | Emot-Beh'l Disabil w/Field | 3 |
| SPE 379 | Fam School & Comm:Diverse Soc | 3 |
| SPE 495 | Special Ed. Student Teaching | 6 |
| Total Hours | 75 | |
Free Electives
Graduation requires 120 credits. Any credits necessary to reach that number outside of the CCC and major requirements are considered free electives.