Academic Programs: School of Behavioral Sciences and Education

The Elementary Education program at Penn State Harrisburg embodies the four tenets of our conceptual framework: constructivism, authenticity, reflectivity, and standards-based curriculum. Constructivism entails a student-centered approach in which teachers help learners build their own understandings. Authenticity refers to developing professional and pedagogical skills in authentic classroom settings; for example, in the junior and senior years prior to student teaching, the program offers extensive field experiences in a variety of settings enrolling students with diverse backgrounds and needs. Reflectivity relates to consciously analyzing course content and one's own learning for the purpose of deeper understanding and self-improvement. Standards-based curriculum means that our candidates are steeped in Pennsylvania Academic Standards as well as the standards of relevant professional organizations. Taken together, these tenets enable our candidates to become lifelong reflective professionals committed to the learning of all students.

This major prepares registered nurses as professional practitioners in areas of health promotion and maintenance, illness care, and rehabilitation. The major in Nursing is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The major is offered in two options: 1) Post-license: baccalaureate completion for RNs, and 2) Pre-license: accelerated second baccalaureate degree in nursing.

This major is intended for students who want a strong sociology background in preparation for work in government or social agencies or who are interested in graduate work in sociology. In addition to developing analytical and critical thinking skills, students will gain an understanding of various substantive areas of the field including social structure and institutions, social change, social class, gender, race, and ethnicity. Sociologists are employed in such diverse fields as social and human service agencies, nonprofit and advocacy organizations, research and policy work, telecommunications, human resource management, and college teaching. This major is appropriate for work in any environment where an understanding of social structures and social dynamics is required.

The Master of Arts program in Applied Clinical Psychology offers the educational background to prepare students to work as mental health professionals in various settings. It is intended to provide a broad training program in empirically validated clinical psychology which, when accompanied by an additional 12 credits in advanced graduate studies in psychology and/or counseling, can provide the academic training necessary for graduates to apply for master’s level licensing as a Professional Counselor in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The M.A. program requires 48 credits of course work. Optional 12-credit certifi cate programs are available in the areas of clinical health psychology, and applications in clinical psychology through the School of Behavioral Sciences and Education for students seeking licensure. Additionally, successful completion of this program may be a good indicator of potential to succeed in a doctoral program, and thus may be valuable for individuals seeking to develop their research and or clinical skills to support future doctoral studies. The degree program is intended for both part-time and full-time students, with classes in late afternoon or evenings.

The graduate program in Community Psychology and Social Change leads to a master of arts degree with concentrations in Children, Youth and Family; Diversity Issues; Environmental Issues; and Individualized Studies. The nontraditional program emphasizes planned social change, and is based on both sociology and psychology. The program equips students with skills useful in coping with the multifaceted problems facing communities. Students learn to assess problems at the level of communities or organizations, to plan and implement possible solutions to these problems, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the solutions. Learning takes place both in courses and in a master’s project that entails fi eldwork and the writing of a master’s paper.

The Master of Education in Literacy Education at Penn State Harrisburg is designed to provide full-time and part-time graduate students with a focused program of study in the field of reading education. The program is aligned with the standards of the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Following successful completion of the program, students are eligible to take the Praxis examination for certification as a reading specialist (K-12). Specifically, the goals of the program are to develop in students: (1) specialized, in-depth knowledge about the teaching of reading and writing; (2) the clinical skills necessary for diagnosing and intervening with reading disabled students; (3) the ability to interpret and to evaluate literacy research, (4) the literacy leadership skills necessary to support the professional practices in a K-12 setting; (5) provide rigorous offerings aligned with the standards of the International Reading Association (IRA) and the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE); and (6) prepare students for the complexities they will face as reading specialists in schools serving the K-12 population.

The certificate Advanced Graduate Studies in Psychology: Applications in Clinical Psychology is treatment oriented and is intended to prepare mental health counselors to work in community mental health settings. The four courses will provide exposure to major subfields of applied clinical psychology, to enhance training received in a traditional master’s program. This program of study will enhance mental health professionals’ skills in providing services for individuals and families coping with several psychological issues such as relationship difficulties, depression, decision-making, trauma, anxiety, custody issues, or adjustment.

The certification program in Secondary Education Social Studies is designed for an individual who holds a baccalaureate degree and wants to become certified to teach Social Studies (history, geography, government, psychology, sociology, anthropology and/or economics) in Pennsylvania secondary schools (grades 7-12). The program is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Students who successfully complete the requirements will be recommended for the Secondary Social Studies: Instructional I teaching certificate. Course work is required in both behavioral sciences and education. This program has been recognized by National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS).