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.

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.

• 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)

1. Knowing and understanding young children’s characteristics and needs, from birth through age 8. 
   • Knowing and understanding the multiple influences on development and learning 
   • Using developmental knowledge to create healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging learning environments for young children 
2. Knowing about and understanding family and community characteristics 
   • Supporting and empowering families and communities through respectful, reciprocal relationships. 
   • Involving families and communities in their children’s development and learning. 
3. Understanding the goals, benefits, and uses of assessment– including its use in development of appropriate goals, curriculum, and teaching strategies for children 
   • Knowing about and using observation, documentation, and other appropriate assessment tools and approaches, including the use of technology in documentation, assessment and data collection. 
   • Understanding and practicing responsible assessment to promote positive outcomes for each child, including the use of assistive technology for children with disabilities. 
   • Knowing about assessment partnerships with families and with professional colleagues to build effective learning environments 
4. Understanding positive relationships and supportive interactions as the foundation of their work with young children 
   • Knowing and understanding effective strategies and tools for early education, including appropriate uses of technology
   • Using a broad repertoire of developmentally appropriate teaching /learning approaches 
   • Reflecting on own practice to promote positive outcomes for each child 
5. Understanding content knowledge and resources in academic disciplines: language and literacy; the arts/music, creative movement, dance, drama, visual arts; mathematics; science, physical activity, physical education, health and safety; and social studies. 
   • Knowing and using the central concepts, inquiry tools, and structures of content areas or academic disciplines 
   • Using own knowledge, appropriate early learning standards, and other resources to design, implement, and evaluate developmentally meaningful and challenging curriculum for each child.