Education with Dual Certification (Grades Pre-K through 4th) and Special Education (Pre-K through 12th)
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Education with Teaching Certification in Grades PreK-4 Major in Pennsylvania
Study at a Christian university and earn your bachelor's in education with a teaching certification! Messiah University’s early childhood (PreK- 4) education degree program prepares you to teach in preschools and grades K-4 in public and private schools.
Study Education with Teaching Certification in Grades PreK-4 at a Christian University
We believe that teachers are problem-solving professionals. Our early childhood education major develops your ability to solve problems and make decisions in critical areas of education such as instructional planning, instructional delivery, assessment and classroom management.
In addition to your education coursework, you will develop a broad knowledge base by studying a wide variety of subjects such as mathematics, history, biology, literature, foreign language, psychology and the arts. As an education student, you will also have the opportunity to deepen your knowledge of an academic subject of your choice by completing a 12-credit disciplinary focus.
As an early childhood education major at Messiah University, you’ll be able to:
- Study in a program that has been named an “Education College of Distinction” by Colleges of Distinction for 2023-2024
- Specialize in an academic area or complete a minor with this flexible program
- Create a professional portfolio for potential employers
- Become familiar with and administer standardized tests
- Study abroad to experience education in other cultures
- Design and implement your own instructional plans
- Elect to complete a department Honors project
- Observe local public school classrooms
- Attend statewide conferences and participate in competitions through the Messiah University Education Association chapter
- Present research findings alongside professors at the state and/or national level
- Spend a full semester teaching in a local public school
- Spend time in our Teacher Exploration Center, a resource room with SmartBoard technology, video recording capabilities, a small laminator, white board tables and materials as needed
As a graduate of the early childhood education program, you will be equipped to secure positions such as:
- Public or private school teacher
- Nonprofit human services agency worker
- Graduate student
For more information on career planning for the early childhood education program, visit the Messiah University Career and Professional Development Center.
Messiah helps place students in a variety of education field experiences. A few examples include:
- Local public school class observations
- Junior-level field experience designing and implementing instructional plans
- Senior-year field work in 12-week student teaching experience
- Education department work study position
Are you a high school student interested in exploring a career in teaching?
Messiah University’s Educators for Tomorrow program offers high school juniors and seniors a chance to explore careers in education through dual enrollment, education events, and hands-on classroom experience. Students earn six college credits while benefiting from Messiah's strong reputation for teacher preparation. The program features online and in-person options, making it accessible and flexible. Learn more about how to gain real-world teaching experience and a head start on college at a significantly discounted rate by visiting messiah.edu/eft.
Programs related to Education with Teaching Certification in Grades PreK-4
In the Education with Teaching Certification in Grades PreK-4 program, you will take a selection of courses that successfully prepare you for a career in a related field. Hands-on experiences and classroom learning within the framework of Christian faith will give you the skills and knowledge to achieve your goals. Our programs offer a wide variety of courses that will not only help you excel in your future career, but challenge you to develop a deeper understanding of your field of study.
Course options for Education with Teaching Certification in Grades PreK-4:
Education with Teaching Certification in Grades PreK– 4 (B.S.)
Education with Teaching Certification in Grades PreK-4 careers and outcomes
Where our grads work
Graduates of the Education with Teaching Certification in Grades PreK-4 program work in positions of leadership in their places of employment, using the tools and knowledge a Messiah University education prepared them with. Each year, eager employers and some of the nation's best graduate schools welcome Messiah graduates into their organizations.
96% of the Class of 2022 respondents were employed or in graduate school within 6-9 months of graduation.
Our Alumni
Regional and national employers seek out Messiah graduates for their academic preparation, work ethic and personal character. The transformation you experience at Messiah readies you to transform the lives of others through your chosen career path.
Teaching experience
As you progress through our Bachelor of Science degree program that prepares you to teach early childhood education, you will combine your passion for teaching the youngest learners (pre-kindergarten through grade 4) with experience working in a placement where you might assume administrative responsibilities, design the curriculum and implement instruction.
As you progress further through the education program, you will also gain extensive, supervised field opportunities offered in a variety of school, classroom and demographic settings throughout central Pennsylvania.
Messiah's unique approach to hands-on learning
Learning in the classroom is important but actually applying that knowledge in a hands-on way can make all the difference. At Messiah University, the Experiential Learning Initiative (ELI) allows Messiah to take this hands-on learning to a new level by giving students the opportunity to apply what they have learned to various real world contexts--such as an internship/practica, service learning, off-campus program, holding a student leadership position, or participating in undergraduate research.
In addition to your education coursework, you will develop a broad knowledge base by studying a wide variety of subjects such as mathematics, history, biology, literature, foreign language, psychology and the arts. As an education student, you will also have the opportunity to deepen your knowledge of an academic subject of your choice by completing a 12-credit disciplinary focus.
Proven success
Our 94 percent pass rate on certification tests across all disciplines is just one indication of how well Messiah University prepares education students for teaching certification and jobs in early childhood education. Human resource recruiters seek out Messiah graduates, and school administrators who interview and hire our education graduates give consistently positive feedback about their instructional design skills.