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 be made through 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)

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.