Skip to main content
Penn State Harrisburg
Report a Concern Visit Apply Give
  • Academics
    • Undergraduate Degrees
    • Graduate Programs
  • Admissions and Financial Aid
    • Office of Admissions
    • Tuition and Financial Aid
  • Research
  • Information For
    • Future Students
    • Parents & Families
    • Alumni & Supporters
    • Current Students
    • Faculty & Staff
    • Workforce Professionals
Full site navigation menu

This dialog contains the full navigation menu for this site.

Penn State Harrisburg
Enter the terms you wish to search for.
Search type:
Report a Concern Visit Apply Give
  • This is Penn State
    • Vision, Mission and Values
    • Diversity and Inclusion
    • Academic and Administrative Leadership
    • Chancellor's Office
    • Board of Advisers
  • Academics
    • Academic Calendar
    • Undergraduate Degrees
    • Graduate Degrees
    • Accelerated Degree Programs
    • Fast-Track Degree Programs
    • Minors and Undergraduate Certificates
    • Graduate or Postbaccalaureate Certificates
    • Education Certifications and Endorsements
  • Admissions
  • Tuition & Financial Aid
  • Research
  • Athletics
  • Student Life

Find Information For:

  • Future Students
  • Parents & Families
  • Alumni & Supporters
  • Current Students
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Workforce Professionals

Helpful Links

  • Contact Us
  • Give Today
  • Directory
  • Events Calendar

Connect With Us

  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • flickr
  • youtube
  • instagram
  1. Home
  2. School of Behavioral Sciences and Education
  3. Teacher Education
  4. Elementary Education (4-8): English (Certification)

Courses

Education Course Requirements (21 Credits Required)

  • EDUC 353: Teaching Elementary Social Studies (3)
  • EDUC 454: Teaching Elementary Science (3)
  • EDMTH 301: Teaching Elementary Math I (3)
  • EDUC 477. Literacy Instruction and Evidence-Based Interventions (3)
  • EDUC 466: Foundations of Teaching ESL (3)
  • EDUC 458: Behavior Management Strategies for Inclusive Classroom (3)
  • EDUC 805: Curriculum Foundations (3)

Field Experience Requirements (3 Options)

Option One: Year-long Clinical Residency

  • Participate in the year-long clinical residency during the final academic year in the program. This includes enrolling in EDUC 495B: Senior Field Experience (3 additional credits) in the Fall semester and EDUC 490: Student Teaching (3 credits) in the Spring semester. *Residency can only run from fall to spring.

Option Two: Traditional Approach (clinical residency optional)

  • Take EDUC 495A: Junior Field Experience (spring semester) or EDUC 495B: Senior Field Experience (fall semester) (3 additional credits);
  • Take EDUC 490: Student Teaching (3 credits) in the final semester. 

Option Three: Candidate-directed Experience (clinical residency optional)

  • Candidate arranges own clinical observation experience over the course of the first year, with required documentation and assignments.
  • Take EDUC 490: Student Teaching (3 credits) in the final semester.

Additional Requirements

  • Take and pass the Pennsylvania Grades 4-8 Subject Concentration: English Language Arts (5156) exam by the beginning of the second semester in the program.
  • Take and pass with a C or better any English content coursework deemed to be necessary based on transcript analysis and background (to be determined during the intake interview). Such coursework may include courses in literature, poetry, writing, rhetoric, and/or others. 

Note: Three additional exams are required for PA certification at the end of the program:

  • PA Grades 4-8: Module 1- Pedagogy (5153) with a passing score of 162
  • PA Grades 4-8: Module 2- ELA & Social Studies (5154) with a passing score of 152
  • PA Grades 4-8: Module 3- Mathematics & Science (5155) with a passing score of 164

Elementary Education (4-8): English (Certification)

  • Curriculum
  • Courses
  • Program Contacts
Pennsylvania map showing Penn State campuses with Penn State Harrisburg highlighted

Penn State Harrisburg

A comprehensive college in southcentral Pennsylvania offering more than 70 undergraduate and graduate programs.
  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • flickr
  • youtube
  • instagram
Visit Apply Give
  • This is Penn State
    • Vision, Mission and Values
    • Diversity and Inclusion
    • Academic and Administrative Leadership
    • Chancellor's Office
    • Board of Advisors
  • Academics
    • Undergraduate Degrees
    • Graduate Degrees
    • Academic Calendar
  • Admission
    • Office of Admissions
    • Housing Options
    • Veterans Services
  • Tuition & Financial Aid
    • Office of Student Aid
    • Bursar's Office
  • Research
    • Office of Research and Outreach
    • Harrisburg LaunchBox
  • Student Life
    • Office of Student Engagement
    • Division of Student Affairs
    • Student Initiated Fee
  • Community Safety & Health
    • University Police and Public Safety
    • PSUAlert
    • Weather Policy
Penn State University
777 West Harrisburg Pike, Middletown, PA 17057 717-948-6000

Footer Legal Menu

  • Privacy
  • Non-discrimination
  • Accessibility
  • Copyright
  • Directory
  • The Pennsylvania State University © 2025
  • We Are Penn State