Early Childhood Education Grades PreK-4

Degree RequirementsDegree Works

Note: Degree requirements effective for enrolled students beginning Fall 2023. All enrolled students, including matriculating students prior to Fall 2023, can review their degree program requirements and track progress to degree completion with our degree audit and advisement tool, Degree Works.

The post-baccalaureate program allows individuals who already hold a bachelor's degree to complete the requirements to earn teaching certification. Candidates will receive the same high quality, hands-on learning but will not need to seek a second degree.

Earn Your PreK-Grade 4 Teaching Certification in this Post-Bachelor's Plan

It's never too late to become a teacher! If you earned your bachelor's degree, have significant work with children, and have a proven track record of academic excellence, you should consider enrolling in our post-baccalaureate PreK-Grade 4 certificate program to earn the qualifications to start teaching in preprimary or primary classrooms. It is not necessary to complete a second degree to become certified. You may attend full or part time.

Many of our courses are offered online. Student teaching must be done in the surrounding area of your campus and requires 12 weeks of full time attendance.

How can I apply to the Post-Bac Plan at CU?

All students seeking their initial (first) instructional (teaching) certificate must be admitted through the Department of Early Childhood Education and Exceptionality Programs. A GPA of 3.0 or greater is required. Potential students who do not have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 may be receive conditional acceptance and take up to 12 sh to establish the required GPA.

• Applications must submit a non-degree application and will be reviewed by the Department of Early Childhood Education and Exceptionality Programs as a post-baccalaureate certification student. Both undergraduate and graduate courses may be taken during this program. Students seeking additional coursework towards the M.Ed. must apply to the graduate program, no certification is issued with the M.Ed. program.
• When application has been completed, transcripts will be evaluated by faculty in the Early Childhood/PreK-Grade 4 Program. All evaluations are done on an individual basis. All students are given written statements listing requirements and they may discuss them with their advisor at any time.
• Education Candidates must maintain continuous and satisfactory progress. All post-baccalaureate certification students may proceed a part-time basis as fits their needs with the exception of the required student teaching experience.
• Once Relevant coursework is complete, and upon recommendation of the academic advisor, a candidate is eligible for student teaching. Working in cooperation with the Director of Student Teaching, the applicant will complete the application and interview process, including a portfolio presentation, prior to any student teaching placements are made.
• At the conclusion of student teaching and successful completion of the required PECT exams, the department will make a recommendation to the Certification Officer to recommend the issuance of the PA Instructional Certificate I in PreK-Grade 4.

Have questions about teacher certification through the Post-Baccalaureate program? Email any questions or your completed application, essay, and transcripts to Dr. Amy Long at ael01@commonwealthu.edu.

Degree Requirements Application Handbook Degree Works

Note: Degree requirements effective for enrolled students beginning Fall 2023. All enrolled students, including matriculating students prior to Fall 2023, can review their degree program requirements and track progress to degree completion with our degree audit and advisement tool, Degree Works.

• Child Life Specialist
• Playwork

Pennsylvania  

Commonwealth University is approved to offer Education programs that lead to certification in Pennsylvania.

Out of State  

While we regularly monitor licensure and certification laws in each state, state requirements are subject to change without notice. If you are interested in certification outside of Pennsylvania, we encourage you to contact the appropriate state licensing agency to seek guidance and verify requirements before beginning a program and during your program of study. Please visit our state authorization page and www2.ed.gov for more information.  

New Jersey  

If you're planning to teach in New Jersey, please note you may be required to complete the edTPA, a performance-based assessment. It is strongly recommended you contact the school districts of interest and the New Jersey Department of Education for details specific to New Jersey.

• Maintain 3.0 GPA  
• Complete Program – Minimum 120 credits  
• Full time student – Recommended 15 credits a semester  
• Required: Clearances, Background Checks, TB, and Insurance  
• Successfully completing/passing Basic Skills Test for Math, Reading and Writing (currently PDE waived) (exempt based on SAT/ACT scores)  
• PECT (Pennsylvania Educator Certification Tests)

• SLO 1: Comprehends the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical maturation and advancement of the early childhood education (ECE) learner.
• SLO 2: Plans and executes learning experiences tailored to the developmental stage of the individual learner, ensuring appropriateness of ECE concepts, curriculum, and investigative tools, and demonstrates proficiency in fostering challenging learning experiences for students understanding.
• SLO 3: Cultivates a learning environment that encourages positive social interaction, active engagement in the learning process, and celebrates the richness of diverse cultures and communities.
• SLO 4: Employs diverse teaching methods to foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity, while planning and delivering robust instructional lessons tailored to unique learning styles, utilizing varied strategies to enhance understanding and build meaningful connections with content across all subject areas.
• SLO 5: Applies diverse ethical assessment processes and techniques to actively involve early childhood education (ECE) learners in their own personal learning, monitor their individual progress, and for the teacher to make instructional decisions based on student assessment data.
• SLO 6: Demonstrates a commitment to ongoing professional learning, incorporating evidence-based best practices into individual practices, and actively seeks leadership roles while fostering collaboration with students, families, colleagues, community members, and the education community.

Commonwealth University has partnered with Luzerne County Community College and the Hazleton Area School District on the, "Teach in NEPA Project." The project will create a seamless transfer pipeline for students to attain an associate degree in early childhood education at LCCC that will guarantee junior status in CU’s PK-4 early childhood education major. CU will deliver the last two years of the academic program in a combination of face-to-face courses at LCCC’s Hazleton Center or through online learning. The partnership will create a local education hub in the HASD for students to complete their practicum observations and student teaching experiences.