Education, B.A.

Special Education PK-12 Certification

In this program, you will explore categories of disabilities, legal issues, and methods for collaboration among all school personnel, families, students, and community programs. You’ll learn how to develop, implement, and manage individual education programs, and how to adapt your instruction to accommodate special needs students in an inclusive school setting. Courses also cover pedagogical techniques and progress monitoring. Best practices are discussed and implemented allowing the teacher to select a particular teaching strategy effectively.

The majority of our students choose to pursue dual certification in both PK-4 and Special Education PK-12, which they earn in four years.

PreK-4 Certification

In the pre-kindergarten through grade 4 program, you will learn about teaching resources and methods of presenting material to your class. Your courses will cover the importance of play, relating to parents of young children, and children’s emotional, physical, social, intellectual, and creative development. Time and guided attention to basic skills—especially those of literacy, thinking, and social, rather than sole attention to rote memory are developed and stressed through every course.

Secondary or PK-12 Certification

If you are interested in teaching biology, chemistry, English, music education, or social studies/history at the secondary level, you will major in one of these subject areas and take education classes to get your certification.

The Education Division at Immaculata will help you understand professional standards, pedagogical skills, and ethics in order to become a knowledgeable teacher. To provide you with real classroom experience, the education program includes a substantial experiential component: field experience during sophomore and junior year and student teaching during senior year. International opportunities are available, including a six-week placement in Peru.

Immaculata also offers a master’s degree in the educational leadership, which you may pursue during a fifth year of study.

Once you pass the state teacher certification tests, you will be well prepared to begin a teaching position. Our alumni have obtained contract positions in school districts such as Brandywine, Downingtown, Garnet Valley, Haverford, Philadelphia and West Chester, as well as Archdiocese of Philadelphia Schools. Our faculty members make every effort to help students prepare to teach in states other than Pennsylvania, although students are ultimately responsible for ascertaining the requirements of individual states.