|
|
The Teacher Education Program at Penn State Altoona
The Elementary and Kindergarten Education Program at Penn State Altoona
prepares
students to meet all graduation requirements for a
Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary and Kindergarten Education (K-6
Teaching Option) and all requirements for
K-6 Instructional I
certification by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Penn State Altoona’s degree program,
in affiliation with The Pennsylvania State University's College of Education,
is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and
by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE).
THE CURRICULUM – SEMESTERS 1-3
In addition to general education, during semesters 1-3 students
prepare for entrance into the Elementary and Kindergarten Education major by
completing coursework in such areas as Educational Theory and Policy,
Educational Psychology, and Curriculum and Instruction.
ENTRANCE TO THE MAJOR
Students seek entrance to the major through an online ENTRANCE TO MAJOR
process. Students are formally assigned a specified spring semester, typically
in the sophomore year, at which time they have the opportunity to seek
entrance to the major. Note: Students have only one
opportunity to participate in the Entrance To Major (ETM) process.
ENTRANCE TO MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
Requirements 1 – 3 for entering the major must be met by the end of the fall semester
immediately preceding the entrance to major semester:
- A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00
- Qualifying scores from the
PRAXIS I - PPST for Reading, Writing and Mathematics.
-
Documentation of at least 80 hours of volunteer or paid education
work experience with learners of the age group the candidate plans to teach.
At least 40 of these age-appropriate 80 hours must be with learners whose
cultural, social, or ethnic backgrounds differ from the candidate's own.
Requirements 4-9 must be met by the end of the spring semester during which the student participates in the Entrance to Major process:
- A grade of "C" or better in all specified courses, including practica.
- Completion of an early field experience specified by the certification
program.
- Completion of a core of Education courses specified by the certification program.
- Completion of additional credits as specified by the certification program.
- Completion of at least 48 semester credit hours, including English 015 or 030,
three credits of literature, and six credits of quantification.
- Approval by the program coordinator.
THE CURRICULUM – SEMESTERS 5-8
Teacher candidates follow a carefully sequenced curriculum during the junior and senior years, including:
LL ED ART & LITERACY BLOCK – in this 15-credit block, students study the teaching of reading, language arts, and children’s literature
and current theory and practice of music and art education.
DI BLOCK – in the Discipline Inquiry Block students attend methods courses in Social Studies Education,
Science Education, and Math Education. The Block also includes a
field experience in which students spend two days per week in an area classroom.
STUDENT TEACHING PRACTICUM – Student Teachers engage in full-time classroom instruction in an area elementary school. Student Teachers are supervised by University personnel and practicing teachers. Students also attend a seminar on campus one evening per week.
EXIT CRITERIA
Eligibility for a teacher certificate is based on:
- Successful completion of the baccalaureate degree.
- A minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average.
- A grade of C or better in all specified courses, including practica.
- Approval by the program coordinator and by the university certification officer.
- Successful completion of any clearances and tests as specified by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Site Index |
Faculty & Staff Directory |
Privacy and Legal Statements |
Copyright
|
|
