Education
Mission Statement
The vision of the Education Department incorporates the global de La Salle Christian Brothers tradition of teaching excellence and service. Our vision is to provide opportunities for educators to become forward thinking, research-minded, developmentally and social justice-oriented professionals who respond to the needs of all students.
La Salle educators are knowledgeable, intellectually curious, reflective, collaborative, confident, proactive, and committed to equity in education. Through collaborations with partnership schools, community organizations, and education-related agencies and organizations, educators are prepared to cultivate, value, and respond to the cultural and linguistic resources of all students, families, and communities they serve.
La Salle educators set the standard in their schools and communities by going beyond traditional expectations of the profession. The Education Department privileges project-based, problem-posing, service learning, and engaged pedagogies grounded in Lasallian values and dispositions.
Teacher Preparation Programs
La Salle University offers teacher preparation programs in secondary education (grades 7-12), early elementary PreK–4 only, early elementary PreK-4/special education PreK–12 (ESEC), middle- level (grades 4-8) social studies, English, or mathematics with the option of adding PreK-4 special education (ESMD or ESML). These programs are approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) and lead to a B.A in Education. Upon successful completion, recommendation for Instructional I certification in the area(s) pursued by the certification candidate is made by the Education Department to the state.
Students may declare a major in education in the freshman year, however, formal application for admission (candidacy) to the teacher education certification programs must be made by completion of 60 credits (which typically occurs at the end of the sophomore year). GPA and Basic Skills Testing requirements must be met in order to pass PDE candidacy requirements for all areas of certification. Students must also successfully complete all clearances and field experiences required by major and area of certification. The policies and procedures for applying for admission to the programs and for advancement through the various stages of candidacy are contained in the Candidacy Requirements in the Department of Education Student Handbook. All education majors are responsible for knowing and adhering to these policies and procedures for candidacy.
Field Experience and Certification Requirements
Students are required to complete a minimum of two hours per week of fieldwork each semester. Early Elementary and Middle-Level juniors are required to complete one full day of field work in partnership schools. The Director of Placements and Partnerships makes placements for all education majors enrolled in education programs.
In accordance with the provisions of Act 34 of 1985 of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, students engaging in mandatory field experiences each semester and applicants for an Instructional I certificate in the Commonwealth must also undergo background checks yearly. All students are required to obtain both a Criminal History and Child Abuse form. Education majors must have the Act 34 Request for Criminal Background check completed yearly. Prior to entering any field experience, including student teaching, students must submit proof of screening for tuberculosis. This test may be completed at the Student Health Center or by the student’s personal physician. This screening test is repeated yearly. Application forms relating to child abuse, criminal checks, and liability insurance will be distributed during orientation sessions for education majors each fall term. Forms are also available in the Education department office (Hayman 254). Students may be required to show school administrators the results of both the background checks and tuberculin tests and keep copies of the results on file in the Department of Education office.
For more information about these requirements, see the Certification, Accreditation, and Assessment Officer. Further information about applying for certification is contained in the Department of Education Student Handbook and the Handbooks for the Professional Year or Semester. All education majors are responsible for knowing and adhering to the policies and procedures that pertain to applying for certification.
Note: Student Teaching and Teacher Certification Students apply for Stage II candidacy in the education certification programs and, if approved, are recommended for the student teaching experience upon successful completion of all course requirements and pre-student teaching field experiences, with the indexes and grades specified in the Handbook. Department faculty consider the fitness of the individual for the professional position he or she has selected. Upon successful completion of student teaching and passing all relevant tests, a student may apply for Instructional I certification in PA. PDE certification regulations require that an applicant for a teaching certificate be known by the preparing institution as a person of good moral character and possessing sound personal qualities, professional knowledge, professional dispositions, and pedagogical competencies that warrant issuance of a teaching certificate. In addition, all applicants must meet certain physical and medical standards to obtain an Instructional I certificate to teach in the public schools of Pennsylvania.
Any candidate applying for an Instructional I certificate is required by Pennsylvania State Board regulations to pass the appropriate sections of the Praxis Series Tests (Professional Assessments for Beginning Teachers), which are administered by the Educational Testing Service and Pearson (ETS Core or PAPA, and PECT). Information about the Praxis Tests and Pennsylvania Tests is available in the Education department office (Hayman 254). Other states may also require prospective teachers to take these or other examinations.
5th-Year Options
The Department of Education offers several 5th-Year options leading to a Master of Arts degree and/or certification. To apply for any of the 5th-Year/M.A. programs, students must complete the Curriculum Change Form, found in the Education Department, prior to earning their bachelor’s degree. Up to nine-credits of undergraduate course work may count for graduate credit in these programs depending upon the undergraduate major. Students should consult with the Chair of Education and the Graduate Director of Education as to the specific undergraduate courses that will apply to their graduate degree.
Several 5th-Year options are available for early childhood, middle level, or secondary education majors. They are:
- M.A./Secondary Education 7-12 Certification
- M.A./Special Education Certification
- M.A./Choice of Concentration Options Autism Endorsement
- Instructional Coach Endorsement
Candidacy Requirements for All Education Certification Majors
At the end of each semester, an audit is done of each student's file. Any student NOT meeting program requirements will be dismissed from the program. Please note: transfer and Summit students will be reviewed based on “year in the program”. Candidacy begins junior year (Year 3). The audit is based on the following:
Freshmen Audit
- GPA 2.6 (end of spring semester)
- Current Clearances
- Field Placement (satisfactory evaluation at end of spring semester only)
- Basic Skills Tests Passed (end of spring semester) or equivalent qualifying BST coursework (See Certification, Accreditation, and Assessment Officer)
Sophomores Audit
- GPA 2.8 (end of spring semester)
- Current Clearances
- Field Placement (satisfactory evaluation from cooperating teacher both semesters)
- Candidacy Application submission due to Department Chair
- Official Candidacy Letter Sent (summer)
Junior Audit
- GPA 3.0 (end of spring semester)
- Current Clearances
- Field Placement (satisfactory evaluation from cooperating teacher both semesters)
- Student Teaching Application (spring semester)
Students not majoring in education are invited to register for any or all 100 or 200-level education courses. Please contact the Education Department with questions about registering for courses.
For students not seeking Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) certification, the Education Studies major can be combined with any other major if approved by the chair in both departments.