College of Education and Human Services

Edel Reilly, Dean

Nicole Rice, Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs and Educator Preparation

Website: www.iup.edu/education/

Since its founding in 1875 as the Indiana Normal School, Indiana University of Pennsylvania has been widely recognized for its excellent programs in teacher education. Although the scope of the university has been greatly expanded, the College of Education and Communications continues the tradition of preparing outstanding teachers to serve the students of the commonwealth and the nation.

The college comprises four multidimensional departments that offer 25 programs leading to bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Included in the college are the Departments of Career and Wellness Education; Counseling and Human Development; Professional Studies in Education; and School Psychology, Special Education, and Sociology.

The college is well known for its opportunities to integrate hands-on learning. More than 100 students enjoy early field experiences each semester. In addition, the college places roughly 100 student teachers each year in public schools that provide a full semester of supervised teaching experience. Students are encouraged to take advantage of a full range of activities offered in urban, rural, and multicultural settings.

Mission Statement

The college provides leading-edge development and growth opportunities for students and professionals in education and allied fields.

Vision Statement

The college will be known nationally and internationally for the preparation of practitioners in education to serve a global society. The college will be prepared to serve a clientele of graduate and undergraduate scholars from increasingly diverse backgrounds. Teacher-scholars will apply diversified delivery systems to instruction, research, and service to meet the contemporary societal challenges.

Degree Requirements

All bachelor’s degree candidates must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 120 credits to include all Crimson Core and major requirements. All bachelor of science in education degree candidates must also complete the IUP 3-Step Process for Teacher Education as defined by Chapter 354 of the Pennsylvania Education Code and in accordance with university policies.

Associations and Organizations

American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (AACTE)
American Psychological Association (APA)
Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI)
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
Council of Education of the Deaf (CED)
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
National Broadcasting Society (NBS)
National Council of Social Studies
Pennsylvania Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (PAC-TE)
Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE)
Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE)
Teacher Education Council of State Colleges and Universities (TECSCU)

Undergraduate Degrees, Majors, Minors, Certificates and Concentrations

Associate in Applied Science:

Career and Technical Teacher Education, AAS

Bachelor of Arts:

Sociology, BA
Sociology/Human Services, BA

Bachelor of Science:

Human Development and Family Science, BS

Bachelor of Science in Education:

Career and Technical Teacher Education, BSED
Early Childhood Education, BSED
Early Childhood Education/Special Education, BSED
Family and Consumer Sciences Education PK-12, BSED
Health and Physical Education/Community Health Education (non-teacher certification), BSED
Health and Physical Education/K-12 Teacher Education, BSED

Minors:

Child Development and Family Science Minor
Deaf Studies Minor
Educational Technology Minor
Family and Consumer Science Minor
Sociology Minor
Sociology of Human Services Minor
Special Education PK-12 Minor

Certificates:

Career and Technical Teacher Education Certification
Infant-Toddler Development Certificate
Preschool Education Certificate
Secondary School Cooperative Education Teacher/Coordinator Certification
Sociology for Human Services Certificate
Urban Education Certificate

Interdisciplinary Programs, Minors and Certificates

The interdisciplinary degree programs, minors, and certificates are multidisciplinary and are not specific to one university college. Visit Interdisciplinary Programs to view offerings and requirements

Graduate Programs and Certifications

Master of Education: Education, Health and Wellness Education, Literacy, School Counseling, Special Education
Master of Arts: Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Education, Training, and Instructional Technology
Educational Specialist: School Psychology
Doctor of Education: Curriculum and Instruction
Doctor of Philosophy: Administration and Leadership Studies, Counselor Education and Supervision, and School Psychology
Graduate-Level Certifications: Business, Computer and Information Technology, Career and Technical Administrative Director, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Licensure, Principal Post-Masters Graduate Certificate, Reading Specialist, School Counseling, Special Education, Superintendent’s Letter of Eligibility

Information describing master’s and doctoral programs in education may be found in the current issue of the Graduate Catalog.

Change of Major to a Teacher Education Program

Currently enrolled students who wish to make application for a teacher education program may do so via MyIUP. Many PK-12 and secondary education programs are housed in the college of their respective discipline. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for all education majors by Chapter 354 of the Pennsylvania Education Code.

Students admitted to the new major will be advised by a faculty advisor in the major and permitted to register for major courses during the next registration period.

Students must comply with the IUP 3-Step Process for Teacher Education as appropriate to their current status. This information can be viewed on the College of Education and Human Services website at www.iup.edu/teachereducation/forms/.

Appeal Provision

A student who believes that any requirement of 3-Step Process has been inequitably applied or that he/she merits special consideration may appeal through the proper sequence of channels: academic advisor, chairperson, and finally the to Assistant Dean. Appeals must be made before the end of the next regular academic semester following the application.

Every effort should be made to resolve the appeal through the described process. If, at the conclusion of the appeals process, the student is still in disagreement with the findings, the student may request review before the Teacher Education Appeals Committee of the Academy for Teacher Preparation. The committee will be composed of three members representing the faculty of the Academy for Teacher Education Preparation, the Teacher Education Coordinator Council, and senior teacher preparation students.

To initiate an appeal, the student must file a form obtained at the Office of Educator Preparation. Appeals will be heard only during the regular academic semester. The student will be expected to submit written documentation of his/her complaint about the process of review for continuation or eligibility in the Educator Preparation program. The committee will review the materials and make its recommendation to the associate dean for Educator Preparation. A final decision rests with the Assistant Dean for Educator Preparation, who is the certification officer.

Federal Higher Education Act Title II

This act requires all institutions that educate teachers to publish annually the passing rates on Praxis tests for their program completers. The annual report for IUP can be found on the website https://www.iup.edu/teachereducation/accreditation/caep-annual-reporting-measures/index.html.

Student Teaching

Student teaching is designed to be the culminating learning experience for prospective teachers. Student teachers practice teaching and managing a classroom under the supervision of a full-time master teacher in an off campus center. A university supervisor is assigned to work with individual student teachers and their cooperating master teachers. To gain admission to student teaching, applicants must have achieved a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. In addition, students must complete all requirements of the 3-Step Process and should complete all other components of the Crimson Core and professional core before student teaching. Some programs have standards above the minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and/or course grade expectations above the minimum grade of “C.” Each student should counsel with his/her advisor for information about specific program requirements related to qualification for student teaching. He or she should also check the College of Education and Human Services web pages regularly for the most current information (www.iup.edu/education).

Student teaching is the capstone experience in the program of the emerging professional educator. Student teaching assignments are the responsibility of the university. To avoid conflicts of interest, students will not be assigned to districts from which they graduated or to districts in which they permanently reside or to schools in which an immediate family member is employed. Exceptions to this policy may be made in large urban school districts such as Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, where there are numerous elementary and secondary schools so avoidance of assigning student teachers to their “home school area” can be achieved. Any exception to this policy must be approved by the dean, College of Education and Human Services, or his/her designee. All official policies and procedures, regarding the student teaching experience are included as part of the college’s official Handbook for Student Teaching. The handbooks are available for download as part of the Educator Preparation website at www.iup.edu/teachereducation.

All teacher education programs leading to a certificate issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education require that candidates complete field placements including student teaching in a school setting or intermediate unit. Under current law, no placement can be made until a candidate presents Pennsylvania Criminal Record (Act 34) and Child Abuse Clearances (Act 151), Arrest and Conviction Report (Act 24), FBI Fingerprinting Record (Act 114), and evidence of completion of on-line training for Act 126. Candidates for these programs should be aware that some districts or intermediate units may not accept placements if any criminal record is reflected on these background checks. Candidates with a criminal record, even a summary offense, are asked to disclose this history to their program upon entry so that a determination can be made about whether placement will be possible. Some serious offenses, typically involving child welfare, preclude state certification. Students who do not provide the required background checks or for whom the Educator Preparation office cannot find an acceptable placement will be terminated from the program. Copies of candidate clearances must be on file with the Educator Preparation office before the student’s beginning any school or intermediate unit placement.

Field Placements

The Office of Educator Preparation determines final placements for all fieldwork conducted in the public schools. In accordance with university policy, students must be officially enrolled in the course for which the fieldwork is being done. Students entering a classroom without being duly registered are in violation of university policy and may place themselves at risk legally. Therefore, registration for all field placements is mandatory.

All official policies and procedures for field experiences are included as part of the Field Experience I and II handbook, available for download as part of the Educator Preparation website at www.iup.edu/teachereducation.

Removal of a Student Teacher from a Student Teaching Placement

The policy for the removal of a student teacher from a student teaching placement can be found at the website www.iup.edu/education.

Certification Requirements

College of Education and Human Services requirements for recommendation for certification as a teacher, as well as the intermediate steps leading to commonwealth certification, are outlined in the 3-Step Process.

Applications for certification cannot be processed until the student completes the BSED degree or its equivalent.

Commonwealth Requirements for Teacher Certification

(Excludes Vocational Instructional Certification. See “Career and Wellness Education.”)

Certification standards for commonwealth public school teachers are established by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Pennsylvania Board of Education. The academic advisor of the student’s major department must verify for the dean of the College of Education and Human Services that all academic requirements are met. The student’s name is then placed on the graduation list.

Applicants for certification must sign a statement attesting to United States citizenship. Applicants who are not citizens must have an immigrant visa that permits them to seek employment within the United States, and they must have declared the intent to become citizens of the United States. Applicants must also submit a physical examination report and certify they are not in the habit of using narcotic drugs in any form, do not use excessive amounts of intoxicating beverages, are not currently under indictment by legal authorities, and have not been convicted of a criminal offense.

Applicants who are unable to meet one or more of these requirements must submit a full explanation with the application. In addition, they must attest to the fact that all information supplied in the application is accurate.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education issues an Instructional I certificate to beginning teachers upon graduation from and recommendation by the College of Education and Human Services.

Professional Certification Application Fee

All applicants for teacher certification or professional education certifications from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through IUP will be assessed a $260 application fee. Applicants for add-on and second certifications processed through IUP will also be assessed this fee. Requests for processing out-of-state teacher certification applications will be assessed a $35 processing fee per request.

Centers and Clinics

The five centers and one clinic supported by the college offer a variety of services to the university community and citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to include experiential learning, diagnostic testing, academic support, and learning resources.

The Bill and Judy Scheeren Literacy Center, housed within the Department of Professional Studies in Education, provides opportunities for graduate students in the MEd— Literacy program to gain experience toward a Reading Specialist Certification. The center offers assessment and instruction in reading and writing for children and adolescents. These instructional sessions are offered in the fall, spring, and summer. Family literacy services are also available.

The Center for Career and Technical Personnel Preparation offers professional certificates and degree programs that prepare career and technical teachers and administrators to receive required state certifications.

The Center for Creativity and Change seeks to advance the knowledge base of undergraduate and graduate students as well as mental health professionals through the promotion and creation of professional trainings. The center is staffed by faculty members from the Department of Counseling and Human Development.

The Child Study Center is a psycho-educational clinic that provides comprehensive educational and psychological assessments for children, adolescents, and young adults. Common referral concerns include learning disabilities, emotional and behavioral challenges, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, school readiness, and vocational planning. In addition to assessments, the center offers consultation and educational support for parents, focusing on strategies for addressing academic difficulties and behavioral concerns. These services include tailored recommendations for interventions and support to enhance children’s learning and behavioral outcomes. The center also provides consultation services to schools, external agencies, and other professionals involved in the care and education of children.

The Labyrinth Center provides a comprehensive and holistic approach to support IUP students with Autism Spectrum Diagnosis (ASD) as they build relationships, gain independence, experience academic success, and graduate from IUP with the professional and personal skills needed to embark on a fulfilling life and career.

The Larry F. Sobotka Science Discovery and Outdoor Learning Center is an outdoor classroom facility where students and educators have access to state-of-the-art facilities and a lush natural environment for versatile learning on campus. The center is open to use by IUP students, faculty, local community educators, members of the community, and local groups such as garden clubs and scout troops. This 7,150-square-foot facility consists of a large pavilion with seating for instructional presentations, projection and presentation equipment, and cabinets for storage of materials.

Founded in 1988, the Mid-Atlantic Research and Training Institute for Community and Behavioral Health (MARTI) is a powerhouse organized around a consortium of academic and professional experts in the field of alcohol abuse treatment, domestic violence intervention, and related mental health issues. Since 2012, the institute’s early focus has expanded to include new initiatives—among them, alcohol and drug research, veterans’ reintegration, family and mental health issues, training conferences for health professionals and educators, and community outreach. The institute’s long and consistent track record in the community continues, and its credibility and high regard among various constituencies remain resilient.