America’s classrooms are changing in many ways, but there are constants, too. Regardless of economic, technological, and demographic shifts, our youngest learners need teachers who are able to design and deliver high-quality instruction in a thoughtful, age-appropriate, and caring manner.

Penn State Behrend’s B.S. in Elementary and Early Childhood Education degree and teacher certification program prepare you to teach children in preschool through fourth grade. The degree meets or exceeds all requirements of the Pennsylvania Department of Education for Pennsylvania Level I instructional certification. (It also meets or exceeds certification requirements for any state that requires a bachelor’s degree.)

Why Penn State Behrend?

At Penn State Behrend, you’ll get the best of both worlds: Penn State’s B.S. in Elementary and Early Childhood Education program is award-winning and nationally ranked, giving you a degree recognized around the world. At the same time, Behrend’s size and location make it possible for you to pursue your degree among a small group of students, which allows you to build lasting relationships with your peers and your faculty as you gain teaching experience at rural, urban, and suburban schools.

Penn State Behrend’s degree program, in affiliation with Penn State’s College of Education, is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education, the National Association for Education of Young Children, Middle States, and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Elementary and Early Childhood Education (PreK-4) Program
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What Will I Study in Elementary and Early Childhood Education?

All education majors are required to participate in both a field experience and a student teaching practicum. You’ll be in a classroom as early as your first semester. You’ll also study learning, educational, and play theory, child development, curriculum design, and more.

To see the full Elementary and Early Childhood Education curriculum, visit the Undergraduate Bulletin.

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Who Hires Elementary and Early Childhood Education Majors?

Recent graduates of Behrend’s Elementary and Early Childhood Education program are working at AmeriCorps, charter schools, and public and private schools in the Erie area, as well as around the country.

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More to Love

Education students at Penn State Behrend have on-campus opportunities to enrich their education outside of the classroom—including at a child care center adjacent to campus, in Knowledge Park.

You can also volunteer, work at, or conduct research for our Susan Hirt Hagen Center for Community Outreach, Research, and Evaluation, a nonprofit focused on healthy youth development, or the Prevention of Aggression Resource Center, a faculty-led anti-bullying initiative.

Request info about the EECE major

 

Many U.S. states and territories require professional licensure/certification to be employed. If you plan to pursue employment in a licensed profession after completing this program, please visit the Professional Licensure/Certification Disclosures by State interactive map.