The Program for Working Professionals awards a bachelor of arts in PreK-4 and PreK-4 certification. It is a cohort program designed for full time employed early childhood professionals to complete their undergraduate degree with certification to further advance in their careers.
In order to develop into a highly qualified teacher of the young, pre-service teachers must become ignited by the idea of teaching and learning, be involved in a deep practice of the craft and science of teaching, and be carefully coached and mentored in that practice.
The curriculum provides course-based and hands-on experiences that enhances one’s knowledge base and craft of working with diverse children from birth to grade 4. This program is guided by School of Education’s core mission of fostering inclusion, equity, and social justice through teaching. Students learn how to problem solve, innovate, and design culturally sustaining curricula through using inquiry practices.
Program Features:
- Convenient
- Hybrid accelerated courses with classes running 8-weeks fully online
- Fieldwork completed in your own early childhood setting and a K-4 setting
- Course schedule provides you the ability to focus on only one course and the lab at a time
- Finish Degree Completion and Certification Preparation program requirements in 2 ½ years
- Relevant
- Courses and fieldwork connect theory with practice
- Courses provide a focus on birth-5 and 6-10 years
- Supportive
- Face-to-face meetings with a designated Program Coach
- Personalized mentoring integrated into courses and fieldwork
- Engage in professional learning community environment
- Affordable
- Special Tuition Rate
- Opportunity to access T.E.A.C.H. scholarship funding
- Financial Aid for students who qualify
Teacher Certification Interstate Agreements Information
Pennsylvania has signed the Interstate Agreement (NASDTEC) with most other states/jurisdictions based upon mutually agreed-upon conditions. The contract provides for acceptance of state-approved educator preparation programs between certain states to facilitate educator mobility. All jurisdictions that participate in the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement may choose to have additional requirements for educators who are coming from another jurisdiction.
IMPORTANT NOTE TO PROSPECTIVE TEACHER CANDIDATES: Each state is responsible for its own certification/licensure requirements, which may change without notice to NASDTEC or your university's certification officers or your state's office of certification. You must contact the office of certification in any state to which you may be relocating to get the most accurate information on certification requirements.
The NASDTEC Interstate Agreement facilitates the mobility of educators among the states and other jurisdictions that are members of NASDTEC and have signed the Agreement. Although there may be conditions applicable to individual jurisdictions, the Agreement makes it possible for an educator who completed an approved program and/or who holds a certificate or license in one jurisdiction to earn a certificate or license in another state or jurisdiction. For a full explanation of the agreement, participating states, and a review of specific state-by-state requirements visit the webpage for the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC).
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE INTERSTATE AGREEMENT
Admission Requirements
- An undergraduate admission application to be completed on our Apply page
- Associate Degree from a Community college that has a core to core agreement with Arcadia University. NOTE: Arcadia has transfer agreements with Bucks County Community College, Delaware County Community College, Montgomery County Community College and Community College of Philadelphia
- Official Transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
- A full time employee in an ECE setting
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 from all schools attended
- Passing Basic Skills scores on SAT/ACT/CORE/PAPA (Meeting Math PAPA requirement through approved coursework may be possible)
- 6 credits of English (including a course on American Literature), 6 credits of Math
- No grade of “C or below” in a required certification course
VIEW REQUIREMENTS
Transfer and Credit Evaluation
Arcadia University will accept up to 75 credits from regionally accredited two-year institutions.
Transfer credit is granted for college-level work completed at another accredited Institution for course content comparable to that appropriate for the degree program.
Credit will not be granted for courses in which grades below “c-“are earned.
Students may be required to take a placement examination in mathematics and/or Arcadia University Writing Inventory for English composition. Assignment or exemption for English composition is determined by performance on the Arcadia University Writing Inventory or by a transfer credit evaluation.
*Community College Transfer: Specifically for this program, Arcadia University and the School of Education has core-to-core agreements and program-to-program transfer agreements with Bucks County Community College, Delaware Community College, and Montgomery Community College.
**Basic Skills Assessment:
All undergraduate candidates seeking an initial state-approved Pennsylvania educator preparation certificate are required to pass a basic skills assessment as well as the corresponding subject matter test(s) related to the certification area.
There are a variety of tests/scores students can use to pass their Basic Skills Assessment (BSA) requirement:
Options to pass the Basic Skills Assessment:
- Minimum scores for each module - math, reading, writing - are noted on the Pennsylvania Department of Education website. Access the website for requirements and test registration links under Certification Tests and Requirements.
- You may also combine reading, writing and mathematics module scores from different test providers to meet the basic skills requirements. The composite score is the sum of the passing scores. When using the composite score, each test must meet or exceed the minimum score required. Use the Composite Score Calculator when mixing tests.
- For those who elect to use the composite option, students may also use, Arcadia University’s courses MA117 and MA118 to meet the math portion of the requirement. Arcadia’s MA117 and MA118 are approved by PA Department of Education to be accepted towards meeting the mathematics requirements of basic skills assessment. Students who take and earn a B or better in both MA117 and MA118 will have met the mathematics competency of the basic skills requirement.
Special Tuition Rate
Spring 2019 Cohort Rate: $240 per credit*
*Applies to each designated cohort course with student’s continuous enrollment in the program
Scholarship
In partner with Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA) and T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Pennsylvania, Arcadia collaborates to offer scholarships to early care and education professionals in our community.
T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® PENNSYLVANIA Scholarship Program
Financial Aid
Please visit Arcadia University’s Financial Aid website for information
