Jun 26, 2025  
2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog (DRAFT) 
    
2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog (DRAFT)

Early Childhood and Special Education, BSEd

Location(s): California Campus, Clarion Campus, Edinboro Campus


Many employment opportunities exist in the state of Pennsylvania and throughout the country in pre-school and special education programs. The College of Education offers a program of study which will provide students with the academic preparation for dual certification in special education and early childhood education. Students who complete this program, and successfully pass the PDE required tests, are qualified to teach in special education programs as well as in early childhood programs.

Advisement Sheet  

Student Learning Outcomes


  • Demonstrate discipline specific content, child development, and pedagogical content knowledge. 
  • Demonstrate professional responsibility and ethical conduct while exhibiting respect for the cultural diversity of learners, families, colleagues, and communities. 
  • Differentiate instruction by implementing instructional strategies informed by assessment data. 
  • Students will analyze the needs of students with disabilities, or at risk for disabilities, using evidence-based practices and develop goals and design, as well as implement, an individualized education plan and instructional programming. 

Curriculum Requirements


Students must complete a minimum of 42 credits in advanced coursework per the PennWest graduation requirements policy.

General Education


At least two disciplines must be represented within each of the following areas:  Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences and Tech.  For example:  Students cannot have all courses with a prefix of BIOL in Natural Sciences and Tech.  You must take courses from at least two different discipline areas (ie. BIOL and CHEM).

Competencies


Major


Required Major Courses


Total Credits: 138


Depending on the program of study, students may need to complete additional credits to ensure the total credit hour requirement is met.

Accelerated Bachelors to Masters Programs  

Minimum Requirements


  • 3.0 cumulative GPA
  • C grade for any course with education prefix (ECEE, ED, SPED); plus ENGL 1200, MATH 1110, MATH 2120, SPED 1050, SPED 2000, SPED 2100