192 Admission to the Education Department and Admission to Student Teaching
Students seeking admission into the Teacher Education Program (Pennsylvania State Certification) may declare Early Childhood Education PreK-4; Elementary/ Middle Level Education 4-8; or Secondary Education 7-12 as their certification area. Early Childhood Education PreK-4 majors may elect a curriculum track that provides an additional certification in special education PreK-8. Middle level and secondary education certification candidates may opt for an additional certification in special education via a five year, dual degree and dual certification program. Formal admission cannot occur until students have met the following criteria: • Satisfactory FBI Federal Criminal History Record Clearance (Fingerprint) • Satisfactory Act 34 Pennsylvania Criminal Record Clearance • Satisfactory Act 151 Pennsylvania Child Abuse Record Clearance • TB Tine Test Negative Results • 58 hours of approved course work with a 3.0 GPA • 3.0 overall GPA • 3.0 GPA in required education courses with a grade of C or higher in all courses • Membership in Student Pennsylvania State Education Association (SPSEA) • Pennsylvania state passing scores on the Pennsylvania Pre-service Academic Performance Assessment (PAPA) • Formal application including an essay. Admission to the student teaching semester requires the following additional criteria: • Pennsylvania state passing scores on appropriate PRAXIS II Subject Assessments and/or Pennsylvania Educator Certification Tests (PECT) for each certification area
Transfer credits
Credit is granted by transfer in a manner consistent with University policy. Admission to teacher education will be considered on an individual basis for each transfer student.
Retention in the Education Department
Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a 3.0 average in all education courses in order to progress to the fall semester of the junior year. All education courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher. Students may repeat an education course only once. Students must meet all prerequisites listed in the course description before taking that course. If a student fails to meet education department requirements for retention, he or she may appeal the decision to the department chair and to the Dean of Undergraduate Studies. This appeal must be in writing.
Dismissal from the Education Department
If the Education Department faculty finds that a student does not meet standards considered necessary for successful performance as a professional educator, the student will be dismissed. These standards include, but are not limited to, level of achievement, emotional stability, professional disposition, physical health, and personal conduct.
Program Completion and Certification from the Education Department
Upon the successful completion of the major program of study, a student will be awarded a degree from Waynesburg University. Only after successfully completing the student teaching experience and the PRAXIS II Subject Assessments and/or Pennsylvania Educator Certification Tests (PECT) for a given certification area will a