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Available primarily online, with fieldwork and student teaching experiences.

We see you setting the foundation for the next generation of learners. Our Master of Education with a certification in Early Childhood education will prepare you to teach at the Preschool to fourth grade level in public and private school, preschool, and daycare settings.

Educators are a crucial building block of every community. Fueled by a passion for guiding and inspiring growth, you need advanced skills and specialized training to rise above and turn challenges into opportunities.

At Cedar Crest, you will learn the skills you need to empower you with deeper expertise and innovative techniques to help learners from all backgrounds, circumstances and abilities realize their full potential.  

By the end of the program, you’ll be prepared to apply for your Pennsylvania teaching certification so that you can lead in a classroom of your own.

After the completion of your initial certification program, you have the option of adding an advanced professional certification*:

*Note: These certifications require a teaching certification in any area

Student Teaching at Cedar Crest

For students seeking teacher certification, per Pennsylvania Department of Education requirements, you will be required to complete a full semester of student teaching in your final semester of the program. This will require you to teach full-time, during the day, during regular school hours. Additionally, our program features several field experiences that will need to be completed during school hours.

For students already working in a school setting (e.g. as paraprofessionals), you can use your current experience to fulfill your field requirement and as your placement for student teaching so that you don’t have to choose between your professional responsibilities and furthering your career goals.

Program Delivery

We see you and recognize that many of our adult and graduate students have a lot of important responsibilities in your life. That’s why we’ve designed our Master of Education and certification tracks to be as accessible as possible for you. Our M.Ed programs are delivered asynchronously (with the exception of any field work, student teaching, and your professional seminar). You want to take the career to the next level, and now you don’t need to upend your existing career to do so.  

Dive A Little Deeper

Master of Education: Early Childhood Certification, PreK-4 (47 credits)

Required Courses

EDU 505 Law and Policy in Education (3 cr)
EDU 550 Purpose, Pedagogy, and Practices in Education (3 cr)
ECE 501 Foundations for Early Childhood Education (3 cr)
ECE 505 Issues and Advocacy in Early Childhood Education (3 cr)
ECE 530 Teaching Methods for Early Childhood Education I: Content Areas (3 cr)
ECE 531 Teaching Methods for Early Childhood Education II: A Model for Integration (Prereq. EDU 530) (3 cr)
EDU 508 Integrating the Arts across the Curriculum (3 cr)
EDU 511 Emergent and Developmental Literacy in the Primary Grades (3 cr)
EDU 520 Pre-Student Teaching Field Experience I (1 cr)
EDU 522 Pre-Student Teaching Field Experience II (1 cr)
EDU 540 Differentiated Reading Instruction (3 cr)
EDU 559 Curriculum and Instruction for the English Language Learner (3 cr)
SPE 520 Evidence-Based Approaches (3 cr)
SPE 541 The Exceptional Child: Special Education Process: PreK-Transition (3 cr)
SPE 544 Adaptations, Modifications, and Assistive Technology (3 cr)
EDU 572 Student Teaching: Early Childhood Education (3 cr) (Capstone)
EDU 574 Professional Education Seminar (3 cr) (Capstone)

Students must also complete 3 credits in child psychology or educational psychology. Advanced standing may be awarded for equivalency from a former program for this requirement. Otherwise, students should take EDU 102 Educational Psychology as part of their program.

Please Note: All courses and fieldwork must be completed prior to student teaching and professional seminar. The student may not take any other classes during the student teaching semester. After the successful completion of the student teaching semester and passing all state-required exams, the student may apply for Pennsylvania teaching certification using the Teacher Information Management System (TIMS).

Cooperative Agreements

Cedar Crest College collaborates with several academic institutions to provide our students with innovative pathways that help them succeed in their chosen fields.

Cedar Crest Accounting Students in the Classroom

How To Apply

Ready to apply as a graduate student?

Cedar Crest student smiling on campus

Accreditation

Cedar Crest College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education; 1007 North Orange Street, 4th Floor, MB #166, Wilmington, DE 19801

Faculty & Staff

Who’s teaching you is as important as the curriculum you choose.
Let’s put a face to some of the names you’ll be seeing on the course listings!

Julie Borden
B.S. Special Education; Elementary Education Concentration, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
M.Ed. Reading, Kutztown University

Lynn Fuini-Hetten
B.S. Elementary Education, Kutztown University
M.S. Elementary Education; Instructional Technology Certification, Kutztown University
Principal Certification, Penn State University
Superintendent Letter of Eligibility, Wilkes University

Valerie Gulych
B.S. Psychology, Penn State University
M.S. Education, East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
Special Education Supervisory Certification, Penn State University
Principal Certification, CLIU 21

Deborah Hartman
B.S. Special Education and Elementary Education, Kutztown University
M.S. Special Education, Kansas State University

Donna Hibshman
B.S. Certification in Mentally/Physically Handicapped, Bloomsburg University
M.Ed. Certifications in K-8 General Education; Reading Education, Lehigh University

Michelle Johnston

B.S. Computer Science, Kutztown University
M.Ed. Master of Education, DeSales University
ESL Program Specialist Certification, DeSales University
M.A. Educational Leadership and Administration, Lehigh University
Principal Certification, Lehigh University

Leah Naylor

B.S., University of Pittsburgh
M.A., New York University

Kelly Rosario

B.S. Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education, Bloomsburg University
M.S. Educational Leadership; K-12 Principal Certification, Wilkes University

Diana Schantz

M.S. Education Technology, DeSales University
Principal Certification, Penn State University

Amanda Strack

B.A. Criminal Justice; Political Science, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
M.Ed. Master of Education, DeSales University
M.A. Educational Leadership and Administration, Lehigh University

Melinda Watkins

B.S. Elementary Education & Early Childhood Education, Kutztown University
M.S. Education, West Chester University
Middle Level Math Certification
Reading Specialist Certification, Cedar Crest College

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