SPECIAL EDUCATION

The Special Education Certification Option for Early Childhood Education Majors is designed to prepare graduates for professional careers teaching exceptional students diagnosed with Cognitive, Behavior, and Physical/Health Disabilities with an emphasis on the inclusive classroom or preschool setting. The Special Education option when completed in conjunction with the Early Childhood Education requirements leads to a dual certification in Early Childhood Education PreK-4 and Special Education PreK-8 in the state of Pennsylvania. The State of Pennsylvania requires the teacher education candidate to complete at least 200 hours of field placements before starting student teaching. One half of student teaching (ECE/SPE 409) will be completed under the sponsorship of an early childhood special education teacher and one half in a regular early childhood classroom. It is possible to complete the entire student teaching in an inclusive early childhood setting.