Elementary Education (PK4 and Special Education) BS / Applied Behavior Analysis MS

Major: Elementary Education, PK-4 and Special Education and Applied Behavioral Analysis
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science (BS) and Master of Science (MS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 234.5
Co-op Options: One Co-op (Five years)
BS Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 13.1202
BS Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 25-2022
MS Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 42.2814
MS Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 19-3031

About the Program

The BS/MS in Teacher Education with Elementary Education and MS in Applied Behavior Analysis offers a flexible, innovative curriculum with a unique emphasis on creative problem solving and the application of the latest technologies to learning. This accelerated degree program allows candidates to pursue a BS in Education with Pennsylvania initial state teacher certification and continue for a fifth graduate year to complete the MS in Applied Behavior Analysis.

The BS/MS in Teacher Education and Applied Behavior Analysis track prepares students academically and practically for careers in PK–12 teaching or other educational settings, including capabilities to:

• Demonstrate professional ethics and independent and creative academic best practices that exhibit outstanding leadership, organizational, cross cultural, inter-personal and advocacy skills including the ability to communicate effectively with internal and external groups.
• Understand the changing role of teachers in increasingly diverse societies
• Demonstrate a strong academic background in all subject areas that meet PDE requirements including literacy, language and STEM areas
• Demonstrate the ability to create and maintain a positive and democratic classroom climate for students
• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of child development in their ability to develop and implement learning opportunities that are unique to every child
• Develop creative academic leadership skills with a global perspective on current educational issues, knowledge of best pedagogical practices, tools to effectively integrate technology in curriculum, assessment and instruction, and a strong academic background in all subject areas that meet PDE content requirements.
• Develop competencies to become reflective practitioners who are lifelong learners, who base their practice on theory, research, and developmentally appropriate pedagogy by analyzing, implementing, and evaluating existing and new instructional strategies and practices in a variety of educational institutions/organizations.

Admission Requirements

Same as BS in Elementary Education, BSMS application must be submitted during Sophomore year before 120 credits have been completed with cumulative 3.0 GPA to gain acceptance into BS/MS program. Continuation as a BS/MS student in Applied Behavior Analysis program requires maintaining minimum term and cumulative 3.0 GPA.

Degree Requirements

*

COOP 101, CIVC 101 and  UNIV T101 are not required for Education transfer students. Instead, these 3.0 credits are replaced with a 3.0 credit elective choice of ESTM 342 or EDEX 375. Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.  COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

Writing-Intensive Course Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.

A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.

Sample Plan of Study

4+1, 1 co-op (Accelerated program completed in 5 years)*

Students complete undergraduate requirements in four years, then convert to graduate status in the fifth and final year.

*

Students must receive Department permission to pursue the NCOP option. Students will work directly with their advisor to establish a unique plan of study.

**

COOP 101, CIVC 101 and  UNIV T101 are not required for Education transfer students. Instead, these 3.0 credits are replaced with a 3.0 credit elective choice of ESTM 342 or EDEX 375.

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major. 

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

Education Faculty

Emeritus Faculty