Teacher Certification in Elementary Education
The Elementary Education Certification program is available to both adult students who hold a bachelors degree, and to certified teachers who wish to add new areas to their current certification. A dual Early Childhood/Elementary Education Certification program and a dual Special Education MPI/Elementary Education Certification are also available.
Certification Requirements
Candidates for teacher certification in Elementary Education through Mercyhurst College must either complete, or show evidence that they have already completed, course requirements in three core areas: the Liberal Core, the Elementary Education Core, and the General Education Core.
Candidates must also meet minimum GPA requirements, obtain state mandated legal clearances, complete a student teaching experience and pass the required PRAXIS exams.
Course requirements in each required core area are listed below.
| Course Requirements* | |
| Number | Name |
|---|---|
| Liberal Core | |
| BIO 120/121 | Human Biology/Lab |
| POLI 100 | American Government |
| POLI 303 | Geopolitics or ANTH 109 World Geography |
| MATH 108 | Math Problem Solving |
| HDFR 110 | Human Growth and Development |
| ENGL | College Writing |
| ENGL | Literature |
| Early Childhood Education Core | |
| ELED 101 | Children's Literature |
| ELED 204/205 | Teaching Literacy in the Primary Grades |
| ELED 206/207 | Teaching Literacy in the Intermediate Grades |
| ELED 225 | Art and Music in Elementary Schools |
| ELED 304 | Materials and Methods for Teaching Mathematics |
| ELED 305 | Project Oriented Teaching/ Science, Health and Social Studies |
| General Education Core | |
| EDUC 174/175 | Seminar in Urban Education Academics and Lab |
| EDUC 201 | Foundations of Education |
| EDUC 211 | Computers for Teachers |
| EDUC 274/275 | Seminar in Inclusive Education |
| Classroom Management and Lab | |
| EDUC 301 | Professional Communications for Teachers |
| EDUC 302 | Educational Psychology |
| ELED/ECED 474 | Pre-teaching Internship |
| ELED/ECED 475 | Student Teaching |
Student Teaching
A 12 week student teaching experience (EDUC 475) is required, and is offered in the fall and spring terms during the day. Students must meet the minimum requirements for student teaching, which include Act 33 and 34 clearances and a 3.0 GPA.
Praxis Exam
All students seeking education certification must complete the core battery PRAXIS I exams in Reading, Writing and Math.