About the Education Program at Arcadia University
- More than 20 certification programs at the graduate and undergraduate levels approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE)
- Dual Certification in PreK-4/Special Education PreK-8.
- Middle School certification (grades 4-8) in Science, Mathematics, Social Studies, and English/Language Arts
- Add-on certification through five-year 3+2 programs (combined B.A. plus master’s degree) in Special Education; Environmental Education; Literacy Education/Reading Specialist and/or ESL; Technology Education; Library Science; Secondary Education
- Secondary certification in Biology, Chemistry, General Science, Mathematics, Social Studies, and English
- Additional certification in Art Education (K-12)
- Partnerships with more than 20 urban and suburban school districts as well as schools in other countries
- Extensive, integrated, mentored and supervised fieldwork opportunities beginning in the freshman year and into the senior year in undergraduate programs and beginning in the first class in post baccalaureate programs
- Student teaching in urban, suburban and international sites
- Opportunities to study abroad at some of the top universities around the world
- Institutional grants to collaborate with faculty on research and opportunities to present at regional, national, and international conferences
- Membership opportunities in honorary societies such as Kappa Delta Pi International Education Honorary Society in Education and Phi Kappa Phi Arcadia University Honor Society
- Student memberships in state and local professional education organizations such as the Pennsylvania State Education Association
Leadership and Recognition
Arcadia University has been awarded state grants from the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Division of Special Education to train teachers statewide in inclusive practices at the Arcadia Annual Inclusion Institute. The Pennsylvania Department of Education and the National Science Foundation awarded Arcadia major funding to train special educators and secondary English, social studies, science, and mathematics educators. Arcadia has been recognized and funded for its work in developing Professional Development Schools through the Rubinstein Foundation and the Philadelphia Education Fund, and the University is recognized for its work in the teaching of writing to students through Qui Vive! The Center for Writing, Book Arts and Performance, funded by the Rubinstein Foundation and Cliveden of the National Trust.
Our graduates have received regional and statewide recognition for the work they do after graduation. Graduates of Arcadia’s Education program are currently employed or have been employed in schools in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Delaware, South and North Carolina, Florida, California, Oregon, Washington, Ohio, Virginia, England, Australia, Japan, and Korea.
B.A. and M.Ed. Degrees
The School of Education offers programs leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Education degree. The B.A. programs combine a liberal arts education with specific career training. Arcadia University offers Education majors an abundance of student-teaching opportunities in urban and suburban settings, here and abroad. In addition, Arcadia University provides students with opportunities and professional tools in areas beyond primary education. Opportunities to develop expertise in Special Education, Literacy Education/Reading Specialist and/or Teaching English Language Learners (ESL/TESOL), Urban Education, Instructional Technology Education, Middle School Education, Secondary Education, and Library Science are available to students who want to extend their experiences beyond the standard curriculum.
Undergraduate Bachelor and Certification Programs
Undergraduate students can pursue a B.A. in Education and certification with a concentration in Dual PreK-4 and Special Education PreK-8; Middle Level Education Grades 4-8 (English, Social Studies, Mathematics, or Science); Secondary Education 7-12 (Biology, Chemistry, English, Mathematics, or Social Studies); or Art Education K-12.
B.A. Plus Master’s in Five Years (3+2 program)
Multiple five-year undergraduate/graduate programs also are available. These programs combine a B.A. in Education and a Master of Education (M.Ed.) with a concentration in one of the following areas: Special Education, Literacy Education in Reading and/or TESOL, Urban Education, Instructional Technology in Education, Library Science, and Secondary Education. Students pursue a typical undergraduate program of study in Education for three years. In their junior year, they can apply to study in specialized areas at the graduate level. If accepted, students can take graduate courses in their senior year. The remainder of their graduate-level program can be finished after their fourth year on a full-time basis or in several years on a part-time basis.
In addition, a five-year (3+2) program also is available in Environmental Studies (See Environmental Studies listing in the Undergraduate Catalog), which enables students to earn K-12 Environmental Education Certification, a B.A. in Biology and an M.A. in Environmental Education.
Graduate Programs
Arcadia offers a wide range of graduate options in a number of subject areas. Graduate-level programs are available in Art Education, Instructional Technology, Early Childhood Education, Educational Leadership (supervisory, principal, and superintendent levels), Elementary Education, Environmental Education, Language Arts, Children’s Literature, Library Science, Mathematics Education, Reading, Science Education, Secondary Education, Special Education, Curriculum Studies, English as a Second Language (ESL) and Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages TESOL. Arcadia also offers an Ed.D. in Special Education and Educational Leadership.
