Family and Consumer Sciences Education Certificate

The Family and Consumer Sciences Education Teaching Certification offers students the opportunity to meet PA requirements for Level I Certification in Family and Consumer Sciences Education pK-12 as a post-baccalaureate student. The coursework will align clinical experiences, observations, and assessments with competencies and skills needed to equip teachers for the FCS classroom. Candidates will also learn how to accommodate and adapt instruction for students with disabilities in an inclusive setting and assist English language learners. The candidate must successfully pass the Family and Consumer Sciences pK-12 Praxis (5122) during their program to apply for their teaching certificate. Coursework is taught at the graduate level and meets the needs of a post-baccalaureate student. Content will be embedded in multiple course experiences throughout the program. Coursework may be transferred into a master’s program upon formal request.

The Teacher Certification candidate must be a graduate of an accredited four-year college or university with a degree associated with family and consumer sciences or a related field. To meet content requirements for the post-baccalaureate certification alone, applicants will need 12 credit hours (undergraduate or graduate) in family and consumer sciences related coursework or equivalent work/life experience. Certificate candidates will need to meet all PDE requirements for teacher certification.

Family and Consumer Sciences Education Core: 12

EDUC 542 - Pre-Student Teaching Clinical Experience II Credits: 1-3
EDUC 641 - Student Teaching Field Experience Credits: 3-6
FCSE 550 - Teaching Family and Consumer Sciences Education Credits: 3

Education Core: 12

MEDU 761 - Connecting Community and School Credits: 3
MEDU 762 - Teaching Academically-Diverse Learners Credits: 3
MEDU 764 - Educational Technology for Today and Tomorrow Credits: 3
MEDU 765 - Curriculum, Assessment, and Reflection Credits: 3

Total Requirements: 24

Student Learning Outcomes

1 Demonstrate proficiency in all family and consumer science content areas (e.g., cooking, clothing construction, working with children and families, personal finance. This will be assessed using observations and the teacher work sample in EDUC 641 and class assignments in FCSE 550.

2 Establish and maintain a purposeful and equitable environment for learning, in which students feel safe, valued, and respected K-12 by implementing practices that promote social justice and equity in education. This will be assessed through teacher candidate reflections, student questionnaires, and student teacher observations in EDUC 542 and 641.

3 Use formative and summative assessments to improve instructional practice and student learning. This will be assessed using observations and the teacher work sample in EDUC 641 and class assignments in MEDU 765.

4 Use professional standards and ethical guidelines when interacting with students, families, community members, and/or other professionals. This will be assessed using observations and the teacher work sample in EDUC 641 and class assignments in MEDU 762.