Early Childhood Education (ECE) PreK-4 and Special Education PreK-12 Degree

Bachelor of Arts

A student who graduates from Thiel College with a major in Early Childhood and Special Education will:

  1. Demonstrate oral, written, and presentation communication skills appropriate to the field.
  2. Demonstrate mastery of major content knowledge areas and pedagogical strategies to design engaging and meaningful instruction and learning activities.
  3. Demonstrate their knowledge of diversity by addressing learners’ commonalities and individual differences to design inclusive learning experiences.
  4. Apply the Council for Accreditation of Education Preparation (CAEP) standards to the field of PK-4/SPED PK-12.
  5. Understand and demonstrate effectiveness by designing rigorous and effective lessons and learning experiences.

Early Childhood and Special Education

ECE 110 Child Development, Typical and Atypical, Birth-Age 5
ECE 111 Foundations of Education
ECE 112 The Developing Child—The Primary Years K-4th Grade
ECE 213 Language Development for Early Childhood
ECE 214 Early Literacy Foundations for Preschool Years
ECE 215 The Learning Process: Integrating Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment
ECE 216 Math Foundations for the Preschool Years
ECE 304 Literacy Foundations for the Primary Grades
ECE 334 Math Foundations for the Primary Grades
ECE 335 Science Methods
ECE 336 Social Studies Methods
ECE 355 Evidence-Based Practices in Early Childhood Care and Education
ECE 367 Advocacy Collaboration and Cooperative Learning Issues and Trends
ECE 369 Integrating the Arts for the Developing Child, Pre K-4
ECE 420 Using Instructional Technology and Universal Design to Support Literacy, Math and Science Achievement
ECE 424 Student Teaching
SPED 356 Special Education: Processes, Procedures, Screening, Assessment, IEP Development and Evaluation
SPED 357 Effective Instructional Practices and Delivery Methods in Subject Area Content for All Levels of Special Education Support
SPED 358 Intensive Reading, Writing and Math Intervention Approaches
SPED 360 Educational Assessment
EDUC 400 Educating English Language Learners
SPED 420 Effective Collaboration and Communication in the Academic Setting
SPED 424 Student Teaching
SPED 440 Evidence-Based Effective Instruction – Teaching Students with Behavioral Disabilities
SPED 450 Instructing Students with Low and High Disabilities
SPED 470 Transitions Across the Lifespan of All Students with Special Needs

Secondary Education Certification

English, Biology, Chemistry, History/Social Studies, Mathematics

All Secondary Education Certification students will be assigned an advisor from the education department and an advisor from their major area of study.

A student who graduates from Thiel College with a major in English, History, Mathematics, Biology or Chemistry and a Secondary Education Certificate will:

  1. Demonstrate oral, written, and presentation communication skills appropriate to the field.
  2. Demonstrate mastery of major content knowledge areas and pedagogical strategies to design engaging and meaningful instruction and learning activities.
  3. Demonstrate their knowledge of diversity by addressing learners’ commonalities and individual differences to design inclusive learning experiences.
  4. Apply the Council for Accreditation of Education Preparation (CAEP) standards to their discipline in the Secondary Education course of study, as assessed by the content field department.
  5. Understand and demonstrate effectiveness by designing rigorous and effective lessons and learning experiences.

Secondary Education Certification
 

EDUC 111Foundations of American Education 3 CH
EDUC 112Psychological Foundations of Education3 CH
EDUC 215Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment3 CH
EDUC 220Integrated Instructional Systems3 CH
EDUC 255Mentoring I3 CH
EDUC 400Educating English Language Learners3 CH
SPED 356Special Education Processes, Procedures, Screening, Assessment, IEP Development and Evaluation3 CH
SPED 357Effective Instructional Practices and Delivery Methods in Subject Area Content for All Levels of Special Education Support3 CH
SPED 358Intensive Reading, Writing and Math Intervention Approaches3 CH
SECED 268Mentoring, Part II: On-Site Secondary Methodology3 CH
SECED 325Teaching Reading/Writing in the Content Areas 3 CH
SECED 340
SECED 350
SECED 360
SECED 370
Teaching English in Secondary Schools
Teaching Social Studies in Secondary Schools
Teaching Math in Secondary Schools
Teaching Science in Secondary Schools
3 CH
SECED 444Student Teaching12 CH
 

TOTAL

48 CH

 

Notes:

  • EDUC 111, EDUC 112, and EDUC 215 are prerequisites most other Education Department courses
  • There is a GPA requirement for ALL education classes, whether one is an education major or not. A cumulative GPA of 2.75 is required for the first prerequisite courses (EDUC 111, EDUC 112, and EDUC 215). A cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required thereafter.

 

 

Certification in Secondary Social Studies Education (Grades 7-12) with a Major in History

Foundational courses—This course set is designed to provide students with a basic understanding of the nature and study of history and to introduce them to concepts and principles which are fundamental to responsible citizenship.

Survey courses within the major:

Select two out of these three courses:

HIST 101 United States History to 1877
HIST 102 United States History Since 1877
HIST/SEMS 250 World History

Required course within the major

HIST 290 Introduction to Historical Methods

Area studies – This set of courses is designed to introduce students to a broad body of historical knowledge and to give them practice in mastering the historical method.

United States History
Select three courses from the following:

HIST 201 Military History of the United States Until 1900
HIST 202 Military History of the United States Since 1900
HIST 210 Native American History
HIST 296 Selected Topics in the History of Warfare
HIST 297 Selected Topics in History and Film
HIST 300 United States Colonial History
HIST 305 Middle Period in American History
HIST 307 Emergence of Modern America
HIST 309 Recent American History
HIST 490 Advanced Topics in History (U.S. Focus)

European History
Select three courses from the following:

HIST 241 Women’s History
HIST 296 Selected Topics in the History of Warfare
HIST 297 Selected Topics in History and Film
HIST 331 19th Century Europe 1815--1914
HIST 332 20th Century Europe 1914-Present
HIST 430 History of Modern Russia
HIST 431 The French Revolution and Napoleon
HIST 440 History of Modern France
HIST 450 Gender and Sexuality in 19th Century Europe
HIST 490 Advanced Topics in History (Europe Focus)

World (Non-Western) History
Select three courses from the following:

HIST 260 East Asian History
HIST 282 History of Modern Middle East
HIST 296 Selected Topics in the History of Warfare
HIST 297 Selected Topics in History and Film
HIST 362 Japanese History: Tokugawa to Present
HIST 370 Latin America: Culture, Conquest and Colonization
HIST 371 Latin America: Reform and Revolution
HIST 461 History of Modern China
HIST 462 History of Modern Japan
HIST 490 Advanced Topics in History (Non-Western Focus)

Capstone Experience—This requirement is designed to give students hands-on experience in the profession.
Choose one of the following:

HIST 496 Research Capstone in United States History
HIST 497 Research Capstone in European History
HIST 498 Research Capstone in World History 

Certification in Secondary Mathematics Education (Grades 7-12) with a Major in Mathematics

The requirements for a major in mathematics are designed to provide the students with breadth (32 CH in math plus a course in computer science and physics), depth (completion of a two-course sequence*) and
flexibility (opportunity to choose from a number of upper division courses). Linear Algebra (MATH 291) is required because the theory taught in this course is widely applicable to contemporary issues, such as sustainability and information security. Courses have also been included that emphasize technology (PHYS 174 or 184 and CSCI 159).

Requirements for secondary certification—The major is designed to provide students with a basic knowledge of foundational mathematics courses, as well as in-depth study within a specific branch of mathematics. All courses that are applied to the major must be completed with a grade of C- or higher. 

Required courses:

MATH 181 Calculus I
MATH 182 Calculus II
MATH 281 Calculus III
MATH 291 Linear Algebra
MATH 302 Differential Equations
MATH 371 Real Analysis

Complete one of the following sequence (required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education):

MATH 311 Non-Euclidean Geometry
MATH 331 Abstract Algebra
OR
MATH 451 Probability
MATH 461 Statistics
OR
MATH 432 Numerical Methods
MATH 433 Mathematical Modeling

Complete one additional 3-4 CH mathematics course numbered 220 or above. (MATH 341, 342 or 481 may not be used for this requirement, but PHYS 363 may be used here. MATH 221— Discrete Mathematics is recommended for secondary education majors).

Student teaching will fulfill the capstone requirement.

Complete the following support courses; one from each group:

PHYS 174 Intro to Physics I (calculus-based)
or
PHYS 184 Intro to Physics II (calculus-based)
And
CSCI 159 Introduction to Programming
or
CSCI 189 Java Programming 

Certification in Secondary Biology Education (Grades 7-12) with a Major in Biology 

Foundational Courses—This course set is designed to provide the student with a basic understanding of the principles of science in general and biology in particular. They are to be taken during the first two years.

BIO 145 Foundations of Biology

And one of the following four systematics courses:

BIO 212 Microbiology
BIO 222 Entomology
BIO 262 Animal Systematics
BIO 263 Plant Systematics

Area Studies/Breadth in the Discipline of Biology—This course set is designed to introduce the student to concepts and principles of the major areas within the discipline of biology. They are to be taken after the foundational courses:

BIO 290 Cell Biology
BIO 322 Genetics
BIO 342 Biostatistics and Research Methods
BIO 392 General Ecology

Students must choose one elective based on availability and intent. The elective must be a 200 or 300 level BIO lab course that is 4 credits except BIO 350 – Principle of Immunology. Students may also choose NSCI 202, 209 or 315.

BIO XXX Elective

Capstone Experience—These three courses are designed to integrate material from a variety of courses and experiences and to provide the student with opportunities for development as a mature and independent scientist. Independent Research may begin in the junior year.

BIO 395 Junior Research Seminar
BIO 462 Senior Seminar

And one of the following two courses:

BIO 452 Advanced Biology (2 CH)
BIO 482 Independent Study (2 CH)

A completed research project under the supervision of a biology department faculty member is required of the student majoring in biology. 

Related Math and Science Courses – Precalculus and eight credits of another science, either chemistry or physics, is required of the student majoring in biology.

MATH 142 Precalculus 

And one of the following three pairings:

CHEM 140 General Chemistry I
CHEM 160 General Chemistry II
OR
PHYS 154 Physics I (non-calc based)
PHYS 164 Physics II (non-calc based)
OR
PHYS 174 Physics I (calculus based)
PHYS 184 Physics II (calculus based) 

Certification in Secondary Chemistry Education (Grades 7-12) with a Major in Chemistry 

Foundational Courses—This course set is designed to provide the student with a basic understanding of the principles of science in general and chemistry in particular.

CHEM 140 General Chemistry I
CHEM 160 General Chemistry II
CHEM ___ Intro to Inorganic Chemistry
CHEM 200 Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 210 Organic Chemistry II
CHEM 240 Quantitative Analysis
CHEM 315 Fund. of Physical Chemistry
CHEM 405 Chemistry Capstone I
CHEM 406 Chemistry Capstone II

Choose one of the following:

CHEM 490 Problems in Chemistry
CHEM 495 Independent Study

Choose one of the following:

CHEM 325 App of Physical Chemistry
CHEM 370 Instrumental Analysis
CHEM 390 Inorganic Chemistry

All of the following:

MATH 181 Calculus I
MATH 182 Calculus II
PHYS 174 Introductory Physics I
PHYS 184 Introductory Physics II 

Certification in Secondary English Education (Grades 7-12) with a Major in English

Foundation Courses for English Major with Secondary Education Certification:

ENG 120 Introduction to Literature
ENG 210 British Literature to Romanticism
ENG 220 British Literature 1798-Present
ENG 235 American Literature Survey
ENG 267 World Literature Survey
ENG 270 Advanced Composition and Research
ENG 317 Linguistics
ENG 495 English Capstone

Distribution and Specialization Courses: Choose one course from each Specialization to fulfill the distribution requirement. Select one or more Specializations by completing an additional 6CH from your chosen subfield.

PROFESSIONAL WRITING
ENG 212: Creative Nonfiction
ENG 242: Digital Rhetoric
ENG 260: Professional Writing
COMM 282: Writing for Mass Media
ENG 335: Persuasive Writing

CREATIVE WRITING
ENG 212: Creative Nonfiction
ENG 282: Poetry Writing
ENG 284: Fiction Writing
ENG 286: Writing for Stage and Screen

LITERATURE
ENG 190: Science Fiction and Fantasy
ENG 290: Literature of World Mythology
ENG 241: Children’s Literature
ENG 246: Adolescent and YA Literature
ENG 340: Shakespeare
ENG 312: Topics in the Novel
ENG 347: Literary Theory and Criticism* (required for the literature specialization)
ENG 385: Women in Literature

DRAMA
ENG 225: Shakespeare Page to Stage
THAR 287: Theater History I
THAR 297: Theater History II
ENG 330: Dramatic Literature
ENG 337: Drama in Film
ENG 340: Shakespeare
ENG 352: Topics in Drama

Note: There is a GPA requirement for ALL education classes, whether one is an education major or not. A GPA of 2.75 is required for the first three ECE courses, and the first two EDUC courses. A GPA of 3.0 is required for all other education courses.

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Thiel College
75 College Ave
Greenville, PA 16125
1-800-248-4435