To be able to teach a foreign language in Pennsylvania (PA) public secondary schools, students need to declare the first major in either language and elect a secondary major in language certification. In addition to completing requirements in their major, they need to fulfill the following requirements.

Students seeking a middle level certification to teach in any 4-8 grades will choose from concentrations that include: 1) English/Reading, 2) Social Studies, 3) Mathematics, and 4) Science. The concentration that the student chooses entitles the graduating student to teach that subject in any of the 4 through 8 grades and in the other non-concentration (focus) areas, grades 4 through 6. Students may choose between nine different tracking options (see below) including dual concentrations with either Mathematics or Science as the other concentration.

Students seeking a secondary certification to teach in any 7-12 grade will first take all the course requirements for a major in the respective subject, e.g. English. The student will then take the additional educational courses required to receive secondary certification in one of the following areas of study: Biology, Chemistry, English, Math, Social Studies or a Language (Spanish and French). Therefore, the subject is the major and secondary education or language certification is the area of study.

To be able to teach Biology in a Pennsylvania (PA) public secondary school, students need to declare a major in biology and the intent to pursue a Certification in Secondary Biology Education (7-12). In addition to completing requirements in their major, students need to fulfill the following requirements.

Admissions & Retention Requirements

To be able to teach Chemistry in PA public secondary schools, students need to declare a major in Chemistry and elect to pursue a Certification in Secondary Chemistry Education (7-12). In addition to completing requirements in their major, they need to fulfill the following requirements.

Admissions & Retention Requirements

To be able to teach English in PA public secondary schools, students need to declare a major in English and elect a concentration in Secondary Education.

To be able to teach Mathematics in Pennsylvania (PA) public secondary schools, students need to declare a major in mathematics and elect a concentration in Secondary Education.  In addition to completing requirements in their major, they need to fulfill the following requirements.

Admissions & Retention Requirements

To be able to teach Social Studies in Pennsylvania (PA) public secondary schools, students need to declare a major in either History or Political Science and elect a concentration in secondary education.  In addition to completing requirements in their major, they need to fulfill the following requirements.

Admissions & Retention Requirements

The BS in Early Childhood Education is an accelerated program designed to help working adults complete a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and become certified to teach in PK through 4th grade classrooms.

The BS in Early Childhood Studies is an accelerated program designed to help working adults expand career opportunities in the child care field with options for certification from PK to 4th grade. This program does not include student teaching.

The AA in Early Childhood Studies program prepares students for a career in various segments of the Child Care industry, along with paths to work in the field of Early Childhood Education as a PDE certified instructor. Graduates will meet Level B requirements on the Pennsylvania Early Childhood Education Career Pathway.