Gannon University

FACULTY: Associate Professors: Kathleen Kingston, Patricia Pollifrone, DeLayne Shah; Assistant Professors: Roberta Barilla, Shelly Bentley, Margaret Clark, Linda Cook, Francis Grandinetti, Kimberly Grove, MerriBeth Knappenberger, Janice Whiteman. Instructor: George Sucha

Accreditation:  All certification programs have full accreditation by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

The School of Education offers three dual certification baccalaureate program options:
    Early Childhood Education/Elementary Education
    Elementary Education/Special Education
    Special Education/Early Childhood Education

The School of Education also offers a triple major in Early Childhood Education/Elementary Education/Special Education.

A single certification is also available in Elementary Education with a concentration in English, History, Mathematics, or Science.

The School of Education offers a two-year Associate Degree in Early Childhood/Early Intervention.

Early Childhood, Elementary, and Special Education students are provided with five extensive practicum experiences every term beginning second semester in the freshman year.

Secondary Education students participate in three extensive practicum experiences.

Secondary Education certification is offered as a dual major for students in:

    Biology
    Mathematics
    English
    Social Studies

K-12 Certification is offered in the following area:

    Foreign Languages - Spanish K-12

Teacher Certification

In compliance with Pennsylvania Law, Act 354, all students entering School of Education programs must have and maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 or better. All students seeking teacher certification in Pennsylvania must fulfill the requirements of the University for the Baccalaureate Degree as well as the professional education requirements of the School of Education. Students must also achieve passing scores, as determined by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, on the required Praxis Teacher Examinations. The process and requirements for teacher certification are described in the Gannon University Teacher Certification Handbook as well as this catalog. To obtain specific information about certification in other states, students should review information online at each state's Department of Education website.

Please note that current Pennsylvania Department of Education standards and regulations take precedence over any information described in this document. (http://www.pde.state.pa.us) Should these standards and regulations change, Gannon will change its requirements. Students will be responsible for meeting the new guidelines for certification.
 

Admission to the School of Education

Acceptance and enrollment at Gannon University does not automatically make one a teacher candidate in the School of Education. Each student must apply for official admission to the School of Education.

The Education Review Committee reviews applications for admission to the School of Education each semester. Students who meet the criteria are recommended to the Director of the School of Education for admission. The standards for admission/retention have been developed by the School of Education and require that a student accomplish the following:

A. Academic Requirements

• Students should officially apply for admission to the School of Education when 48 credit hours have been earned. Students may make application in the semester in which the 48th credit hour will be earned.
  
• Elementary Education students within, the 48 credit hour total, must have satisfactorily passed LENG 111, LENG 112, LENG 240 series and 6 credits of math (105 or above). In addition students must complete EDCR 100, EDCR 101 and EDCR 103 with a C or better and have passed EDFL 110. Students must also have completed EDCR 200, EDCR 201 and EDCR 202 with a C or better and have passed EDFL 210.
  
• Secondary Education students, within the 48 credit hour total, must have satisfactorily completed LENG 111, LENG 112, LENG 240 series and 6 credits of math (105 or higher). In addition students must complete EDCR 101 and EDCR 103 with a C or better and have passed EDFL 101.
  
• Students must have obtained an overall grade point average of 3.0 or greater. Computation of the overall grade point average considers all coursework completed at the point of application to the program.
  
• Students must submit performance scores at or above the passing level on the Praxis Pre-professional Skills Test (PPST) in the areas of reading, writing and mathematics. The School of Education has no control or responsibility for the timely receipt of test scores. Applications to the School of Education are assessed upon the most recent test scores on file. Students who are learning disabled may make request for adapted testing conditions as specified by Praxis.
  
• All students are required to follow the program sequence for each semester. Exceptions must be approved by their advisor and the Director of the School of Education.
  

B. Field Practicum and Student Teaching Requirements

• Students must submit current ACT 34 and ACT 151/33 clearances prior to every field practicum and student teaching.
  
• Students must have attended a Diocesan Child Protection training session prior to the the first field practicum.
  
• Students must have a valid negative TB test on file in the School of Education prior to the first field practicum and prior to student teaching.
  
• Students must have received a passing grade from all completed field practicum experiences.
  
• Students must submit application for student teaching one year prior to beginning the experience.
  
• As a pre-requisite to student teaching, all students must be accepted into the School of Education.
  

C.Students Returning for Initials certification

• Students with a BA or BS degree, who are returning for certification, must apply and be accepted through the Center for Adult Learning and meet all criteria for admission to the School of Education.
  

D. Denial of Admission to the School of Education

• An overall grade point average of 3.0 must be maintained. Individuals who do not meet state mandated minimums are not eligible for admission into the School of Education.

  Academic Programs