Graduate Program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
Contact: Adele Ressler (aressler@eastern.edu)
I misplaced my program of study. Can I have another copy?
Where can I get an email ID and a password?
How do I CLEP out of a course?
Do I get graduate-level credits for CLEP tests?
I took a year off. What do I need to come back into the program?
Will all the courses be offered every semester and will they all be offered at both campuses?
How many courses can I take each semester?
Can I transfer in credits from another college?
What Praxis Tests do I need to take?
How do I complete the prerequisites needed for certification?
Is a PDE certificate required to teach in Pennsylvania?
What do I need to do to get my Intern certification?
What do the terms “Level I” and “Level II” certification mean?
How do I add a subject area to my certificate?
How do I find a teaching position in Pennsylvania?
How do the recent course changes affect me?
I misplaced my program of study. Can I have another copy?
A copy of your program of study is in your file in the Curriculum Lab. You may request another hard copy by contacting Mrs. Sue Shaw at sshaw@eastern or for an e-mailed copy contact Adele Ressler (aressler@eastern.edu). You can also get your Degree Audit on line from Eastern Enet accessible from Eastern Homepage (http://www.eastern.edu/) with your email ID and password.
Your question is not answered here?
If you have questions about PA certification that were not answered on Eastern’s Website go to: www.pde.state.pa.us or call 717-787-3356.
Where can I get an email ID and password?
You will receive an email account with an ID and a password when they are admitted to academic programs. These ID and password are necessary in accessing a variety of resources such as library databases and Blackboard sites for online instruction. If you have misplaced them, go to the Registrar home page and look for "Request for E-Net User Name and Password" form to fill out and submit.
How do I CLEP out of a course?
Click Here for more information about CLEP testing at Eastern University.
Do I get graduate-level credits for CLEP tests?
No, CLEP tests are equivalent to undergraduate-level courses. Eastern will indicate on your graduate transcript that you have fulfilled the course requirement that you took through CLEP test.
I took a year off. What do I need to come back into the program?
Application for readmission is required if a student wishes to return after being inactive for 2 or more consecutive semesters, not including the summer sessions. The factors to be considered in readmission will include those considered at the initial admission of the student. In addition, we will seek feedback and recommendations from the department’s faculty, Chairperson, and Graduate Student Advisor. The readmissions form can be found on Eastern’s website under Registrar. Fax completed form to 610-341-4393.
Will all the courses be offered every semester and will they all be offered at both campuses?
Eastern does not guarantee where (among EU established sites) or when courses will be offered. It is the student’s responsibility to adjust his/her schedule in order to complete program course work regardless of course location. Individualized Instruction will not be approved for student to take course(s) that are being offered at one of our locations. See the course offering projection for the upcoming semester (please note that this is not an actual course offering schedule and is subjected to changes without an advanced notice).
How many courses can I take each semester?
In the regular fall and spring semesters, the full academic load is 9 credits (usually 3 courses). This includes taking coursework elsewhere. Additional credits may be taken with written approval from the Program Director and Department Chairperson prior to the beginning of the semester.
Summer Sessions - The recommended course load is 3 credits (1 course) per session. For more than 6 credits per session student will need approval from the Graduate Advisor prior to the beginning of the semester.
Can I transfer in credits from another college?
You can transfer a maximum of 9 semester credits from another accredited college.
Students may not “transfer” credits from a previously earned Master’s Degree to satisfy requirements for a Master’s Degree or certification in progress at Eastern.
What Praxis Tests do I need to take?
PRAXIS I is no longer required for graduate certification students.
PRAXIS II– These tests are given at specific times (see http://www.ets.org/praxis/about/) and required for all certifications.
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Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge (#0511) must be taken for Early Childhood, Elementary Education, Special Education, all K-12 and N-12 certifications. (Not needed for 7-12 certifications.)
For the Following Certifications Add:
- Elementary Education: Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment (#0011)
- Early Childhood: Early Childhood Ed. (#0020)
- Special Education: Educ. of Exceptional Students: Core Content Knowledge (#0354)
- Biology: Biology Content Area (# 0235)
- Chemistry: Chemistry Content Area (#0245)
- English: English Language, Literature & Composition (#0041)
- Math: Math Content Knowledge (#0061)
- Music: Music Content Knowledge (#0113)
- Spanish: Spanish Content Knowledge (#5195)
- Soc. St.: Social Studies: Content Knowledge (#0081)
- Reading: Reading Specialist (#0300)
- H.& P.E.: Health and Physical Education Content Knowledge (#0856)
All other certification: Check on line for the test in your area of certification. For study guides and other questions go to, http://www.ets.org/praxis/about/
How do I complete the prerequisites needed for certification?
There is no longer prerequisite courses required for certification. Must have a bachelor's degree.
Is a PDE certificate required in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Any professional serving in the public schools must hold an appropriate, valid Pennsylvania certificate.
What do I need to do to get my Intern certification?
1.To enroll in a Teacher Intern Program, a candidate must possess a minimum of a baccalaureate degree related to the area of certification requested. For example, an individual with a B.S. degree in Chemistry may seek chemistry certification.
2. Candidates entering must have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA in their baccalaureate degree from an accredited college/university.
3. The candidate must apply to and complete an approved institution of higher education's (IHE) preadmission screening and be accepted into the program. (An offer of a teaching position is not a requirement for admission into a Teacher Intern Program nor does it guarantee admission into a specific Teacher Intern Program.)
4. The candidate must achieve satisfactory scores in the appropriate specialty area test required by the Pennsylvania Teacher Certification Testing Program (PTCTP) before applying for a Teacher Intern certificate. All K-6 and K-12 certification areas must also complete the Praxis Series Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge test.
Upon completion of an Intern Program, the candidate must achieve satisfactory assessments on their Student Teaching conducted by their college or university.
Note: To be official, test scores must be received by PDE, Bureau of Teacher Certification and Preparation directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) or in an ETS-sealed, unopened envelope. If you take the tests in Pennsylvania, the scores of teacher certification tests are reported automatically to the Bureau by ETS.
Test dates, locations and registration procedures may be obtained by contacting:
The Praxis Series
Educational Testing Service
PO Box 6051
Princeton, NJ 08541-6051
Telephone: 609-771-7395
Online: http://www.ets.org/praxis/about/
5. The candidate must be continuously enrolledin a Teacher Intern Program. (Continuously enrolled is defined by the institution where the candidate is enrolled.)
6. When a candidate obtains a teaching position or a firm offer, the institution in which the Intern candidate is enrolled applies to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Bureau of Teacher Certification and Preparation for an Intern Certificate. After the Bureau verifies the candidate has received passing scores on the required Praxis Series tests, an Intern certificate is issued. The Intern candidate cannot teach without the Intern certificate.
7. Upon completion of the approved Intern Program, the institution of higher education can recommend the candidate for an Instructional I certificate. Before issuing an Instructional I certificate, the Bureau of Teacher Certification and Preparation must have a record stating that the candidate has passed the Student Teacher Assessment conducted by their college/university during Student Teaching
What do the terms “Level I” and “Level II” certification mean?
Pennsylvania currently has two levels of certification. The initial certificate, Level I, is valid for a specific number of service years, during which time you must complete established requirements. Upon completion of those requirements, the Level I may be converted to a Level II certificate. If not converted, the Level I lapses. You may not be employed in a Pennsylvania public school with a lapsed certificate.
How do I add a subject area to my certificate?
To add an additional area to a valid Pennsylvania Professional Certificate, you must complete an approved education program in that subject at a college or university and pass the PRAXIS specialty area test. Contact the education department at one of the approved colleges/universities for additional information on certification programs.
How do I find a teaching position in Pennsylvania?
School staffing is the responsibility of the chief school administrator in each school district. You should apply directly to the chief school administrator at the school district. The names and addresses of these officers are usually available in most college placement office libraries. Names and addresses of local school administrators are listed in the Pennsylvania Education Directory, available for a fee from Applied Arts Publishers, Box 479, Lebanon, PA 17042 (Telephone: (717) 272-9442). For those with access to the Internet, check the following Web sites: http://www.teaching.state.pa.us/jobvacancies, http://www.psea.org, http://www.psba.org
How do the recent course changes affect me?
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If you were required to take |
You now need to take |
|
Edu Psych OR Child/Adolescent Psych |
EDU507 Child, Adolescent and Educational Development |
|
EDU506 Science and Health for Children OR EDU510 Math for the Teachers of Children |
EDU571 Teaching Math, Science, & Health |
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EDU508 Social Studies & Arts for Children OR |
EDU572 Teaching Language Arts & Social Studies |
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EDU580 Communication Arts for Children |
EDU600 Early Literacy Foundations OR |
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Note: If EDU580 is not taken |
Both EDU600 and EDU601 must be taken. |
