Academic Information

Select this major on your application if you are interested in one of the majors in this college, but haven't yet decided which.

Please see the Basic Admissions Requirements page for more information about high school and transfer requirements.

Elementary and Kindergarten Education (University Park)
This major offers teaching options in Early Childhood Education and in Elementary Education. Students successfully completing this major will have met all of the requirements for the K–6 or N–3 College Instructional I certificate issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Students must indicate their choice of teaching option at the time they make application for admission to a teacher education major. Students who are undecided about which teaching option to select should contact their adviser and enroll in a field experience featuring participation in the classroom.
(College of Education)

Please see the Basic Admissions Requirements page for more information about high school and transfer requirements.

Rehabilitation and Human Services (Start at any Campus and Finish: University Park)

This major helps students prepare for entry-level positions in a variety of human service settings, especially those dealing with persons with physical, emotional, or mental disabilities. Graduates work in a variety of settings, including rehabilitation centers, sheltered workshops, drug and alcohol programs, senior citizens centers, community mental health and mental retardation programs, corrections systems, and hospitals. Increasing opportunities are available in private for-profit insurance programs for the industrially injured, and in rapidly emerging employee assistance programs within business and industry. Well-planned use of electives and internships allows for specialization. The program also helps students prepare for graduate study in many human service professional disciplines.
(College of Education)

Please see the Basic Admissions Requirements page for more information about high school and transfer requirements.

Secondary Education (Start at any Campus and Finish: University Park)

The following teaching options are available for majors in Secondary Education: Biological Science, Chemistry, Citizenship Education, Earth and Space Science, English/ Communication, Environmental Education, General Science, Mathematics, Physics, and Social Studies. The Secondary Education major helps students prepare for middle school and/or high school teaching positions and for other employment in fields related to their content specialties. Not all options are available at every campus. Contact the campus you are interested in for availability.
(College of Education)

Please see the Basic Admissions Requirements page for more information about high school and transfer requirements.

Special Education (Start at any Campus and Finish: University Park)

The emphasis throughout the Special Education program is upon a broad clinical teaching model. Course work and practicum experiences focus upon the diagnosis and management of a wide range and degree of educational and behavioral problems of students with disabilities between the ages of 3 and 21. A core of Special Education courses aimed at general skill development in the areas of diagnosis, prescription, development of materials and teaching strategies, implementation, and evaluation is required of all students. Upon successful completion of the major, students become eligible for the Pennsylvania Level I Certificate in Teaching the Mentally and/or Physically Handicapped.
(College of Education)

Please see the Basic Admissions Requirements page for more information about high school and transfer requirements.

Workforce Education and Development (Start at any Campus and Finish: University Park)

This major leads to the B.S. degree and may also lead to certification as a career and technical education teacher, and/or a coordinator of cooperative education, provided other requirements of the Pennsylvania Department of Education are met. The Industrial Training option does not lead to teacher certification. To be certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Education as a career and technical education teacher, a person must have sufficient employment experience beyond the learning period to establish competency in the occupation to be taught.

Further interpretation of this requirement is available by contacting the program offices of :
Adult Education (www.ed.psu.edu/educ/adult-education),
Instructional Systems (www.ed.psu.edu/educ/in-sys),
Workforce Education and Development (www.ed.psu.edu/educ/workforce-ed).

(College of Education)

Please see the Basic Admissions Requirements page for more information about high school and transfer requirements.

World Languages (K–12) Education (Start at any Campus and Finish: University Park)

The World Languages Education major helps prepare students for kindergarten through high school teaching positions and for other employment in fields related to their content language areas. The following teaching options are available for majors in World Languages Education: Bilingual Education, English as a Second Language, French, German, Latin, Russian, and Spanish. Pennsylvania does not issue a teacher certificate in Bilingual Education; many other states do. Students who complete the English as a Second Language (ESL) option may qualify for the Pennsylvania Program Specialist: ESL credential if they hold a Pennsylvania teacher certificate.
(College of Education)

Please see the Basic Admissions Requirements page for more information about high school and transfer requirements.