Gwynedd Mercy University 2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog
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Program Description : Gwynedd Mercy University prepares teachers to meet the educational challenges of the 21st Century . The undergraduate programs offer a variety of courses to prepare candidates for professions in Education . These courses are developed using best practices and current trends in Education in response to the needs of the Education profession .
Programs Leading to Certificates / Certification Professional Educator Certification Programs of study leading to teacher certification are available in :
• Early Education , PreK-4
• Early Education PreK-4 / Special Education PreK-12 ,
• Special Education PreK-12 ,
• Secondary education ( 7-12 ) in the area of social studies with or without Special Education
Upon completion of the program requirements , the student is eligible to receive an Instructional I Provisional certificate , which permits the holder to teach in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania , and in those states which carry reciprocity . Those seeking their Instructional I certificate must demonstrate that they have successfully completed a teacher preparation program and pass Pennsylvania Qualifying Exams ( PAPA / Core , Praxis , PECTs ).
U . S . citizenship or permanent residency is a requirement for licensure within certain academic programs . International students and students who are under DACA status or are undocumented should carefully review the licensure requirements for their state before enrolling in a degree program that leads to licensure . Additional information can be found on the National Conference of State Legislatures website .
Bachelor of Science in Education Studies ( non-certification ) The Education Studies major provides students the option of completing the requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree in education without completing the requirements for Pennsylvania Teacher Certification . Students in Education Studies must maintain a GPA of 2.0 or better . Any grade below a C in a course within the major must be repeated .
Secondary Education Programs Students can obtain Instructional I Provisional certification for teaching in the public schools of Pennsylvania in the following areas : social studies . To complete the requirements for certification , the student must major in History and complete the designated Education courses . The student may elect to add Special Education ( PreK-12 ) to the Social Studies certification .
The recommendation for this certificate is contingent upon passing Basic Skills Tests and Praxis II tests for the specific discipline . The admission and retention procedures are the same as those described for other education programs . Secondary students are advised within their respective majors and work with the Education program liaison in the School of Business and Education .
Certification Programs Students who complete certification programs satisfactorily are eligible for Instructional I Provisional certification for teaching in the public schools of Pennsylvania . The recommendation for these certificates is contingent upon passing the initial PA required Certification tests in PreK-4 , Special Education , and secondary content areas .
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