Student teacher, Zach H, assisting in classroom.

Special Education (PK-12) and Early Childhood Education (PK-4) Dual

Combine your passion for working with diverse learners and fostering their development in inclusive settings with a desire to make a significant impact on young children's lives.

Degrees & Offerings
  • B.S.Ed.
Location
  • Bloomsburg
  • Lock Haven
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Major Showcase Day

Get a behind-the-scenes look at our program during the Major Showcase Day on Tuesday, Sep. 23 in Lock Haven. Space is limited, register today!

Students who complete the program with certification have the opportunity to student teach in public schools, intermediate units, approved private schools, preschools, etc. Multiple field-based experiences are also available through advanced sequence coursework and practicum placements. Student teaching assignments are located within select PA counties.

Have questions about Special Education at Commonwealth University? Let us know what’s on your mind.

Courses and Curriculum

Special Education/Early Childhood Dual Major Teacher Certification

Special education is available as a dual major for students who desire special education certification in addition to a content area certification. At this time, a dual major teacher certification is available for PreK-4 and special education (PreK-12). With this degree, you will be certified to teach general education PreK-4 and any special education classroom from PreK-12.

Degree Requirements 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.

General Education Requirements

Commonwealth University requires a minimum of 45 hours of general education. Many general education courses are prescribed to meet teacher certification requirements in a time-efficient manner. To meet Pennsylvania teacher certification requirements, special education majors must have six credits of:

  • College-level mathematics
  • College-level English comprised of composition and literature

Prescribed coursework is required for dual certification in special education (PK-12) and early childhood education (PK-4). This includes credit hours earned through methods courses and the student teaching experience.

Looking for additional information or have questions? Connect with our faculty and staff.

Upon completion of this program, students will perform the competencies required by the accrediting bodies, some of which include (directly from PDE):
  • Describe major considerations related to identifying individuals with disabilities and assess the individuals properly.
  • Identify and differentiate learner differences within each disability category based on a student’s level of functioning rather than classification.
  • Demonstrate understanding of the legal rights and responsibilities of the teacher for special educational referral and evaluation and the rights and procedural safeguards that students are guaranteed.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of over-representation of minorities in special education so as to not misinterpret behaviors that represent cultural, linguistic differences as indicative of learning problems.
  • Identify and use specialized resources in order to implement specially designed instruction for individuals with disabilities.
  • Recommend and use evidence-based trauma informed practices validated for specific characteristics of learners and settings.
  • Apply prevention and intervention strategies for individuals at-risk for academic or behavioral failure.
  • Implement multiple approaches to learning.;
  • Demonstrate knowledge of and competence in understanding the social characteristics of PK-4 students.
  • Effectively apply the principles and theories of child development.
  • Implement lessons based on early childhood education foundations, theory, and policy.
  • Demonstrate understanding of the way in which classroom environments influence children's learning.
  • Plan, implement, and adapt, for all children, developmentally, culturally and linguistically appropriate instructional practices and strategies.
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Why Commonwealth U?

Awards and Recognitions

Commonwealth University's special education program has continuously received national recognition from the Council for Exceptional Children.

Field Experiences

One of the unique aspects of our special education program is the vast amount of field experience hours that are embedded into the course sequence. Special education majors participate in a wide variety of field experiences beginning in their freshman year. By their senior year, pre-service candidates will have gained 100 hours of experience in the schools prior to starting student teaching placements.

High Impact Experiences

When pre-service candidates enter their senior year, they culminate their degree with a semester-long student teaching experience. For dual majors in SPEC/ PreK-4, student teachers will have one placement in general education (PreK-4) and one placement in special education (PreK-12).

Clubs and Organizations

Best Buddies is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Student Council for Exceptional Children (SCEC) is a student organization aligned with the professional organization, Council for Exceptional Children. SCEC provides valuable interactions to learn from and to teach students with exceptionalities. This includes multiple volunteer events and organized meetings that provide information on current and popular topics in special education. SCEC actively engages with Special Olympics and other community organizations.

Trinity Learning Community is a collaborative endeavor developed by parents, adults with disabilities, Commonwealth University, and Columbia County Corporation that addresses the critical need for housing options and creative support for adults with disabilities. Our efforts have resulted in a unique housing opportunity that directly improves the quality of life for individuals with disabilities, provides learning experiences for university students, and enhances our community.

Facilities

Pre-service candidates who enroll in the special education program have the opportunity to actively engage in technology-equipped classrooms to empower their instructional skills as future educators. In addition, students are given access to dedicated hands-on learning materials, such as assessment kits and manipulatives, in order to effectively prepare instructional designs for PreK-12 students.

The Impactful Difference

CAEP logo
CAEP Accreditation
CAEP accreditation ensures we prepare new teachers to know their subjects, their students, and have the critical training to enter the classroom ready to teach effectively.
96%+
Employment Rates
Opportunities exist for education majors to substitute teach in local school districts after completing 60 credits while pursuing their undergraduate degree.

Careers

There's a growing demand for special education teachers, particularly in rural and inner-city school districts. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the overall demand is driven by increasing enrollment and a continued need for special education services.

Testimonials

Chloe Hoffman, Class of 2026
Click to play the video
Current Student
Chloe Hoffman '26
Childhood Education and Special Education

Kyler G
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Recent Graduates
Kyler G. '25 & Bella B. '25
Childhood Education and Special Education

Paige Borrell
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Teachers in the Field
Paige Borrell '24 & Zack Hicks '23
Childhood Education and Special Education

McDowell Institute

McDowell Institute

The McDowell Institute is dedicated to supporting the facilitation of social, emotional, and behavioral wellness of children, youth, and young adults across school and community settings. This mission is accomplished through training, technical assistance, and information.

Special Education Faculty

drogan

Robin Drogan

  • Graduate Program Coordinator of Exceptionality Programs
  • Bloomsburg
260x300-Brooke-Lylo

Brooke Lylo

  • Associate Professor of Special Education
  • Bloomsburg
CommonwealthU University Employee

Kayla Mohney

  • Associate Professor of Special Education
  • Lock Haven

Applying to This Program

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