1997-1998 - The University of Scranton

EDUCATION
DR. WILEY, Chairperson
DR. KHAZZAKA, Director of Secondary Education
DR. NIMEROSKY, Director of Elementary Education
The Department of Education endeavors to contribute to the improvement of education by preparing
informed, inquiring, and skilled professionals who, as scholars and decision makers, are prepared for positions
in the educational community. More specifically, the Department aims to provide persons with a
breadth and depth of knowledge and understanding in their specialized area of professional practice and to
provide training to ensure competence in the specific area of functioning. To this end, individual program
competencies have been developed. Additionally the Department endeavors to offer opportunities for continued
professional growth to practicing educators, to assist in the educational growth and development of
the community served by the University, and to foster the advancement of knowledge through research in
education.
The Department of Education offers degrees in Early Childhood, and Elementary Education, both leading
to certification. Special Education is approved as a major and state approval is pending. Secondary
Education concentrations lead to certification in:
Biology English German Physics
Chemistry French Latin Social Studies
Communication General Science Mathematics Spanish
Elementary Education leads to state certification (Pennsylvania, K-6) and ECE (pre-K - 3).
The department’s programs are accredited by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The
University is also accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
Accreditation, reciprocity and interstate agreements between Pennsylvania and selected states assure that
courses taken will be considered for certification in most states. Competency tests are required for
Pennsylvania Teacher Certification.
A student may enter the secondary education program either as a major in education or in his/her subject
area. However, in both cases the student must be approved by the Department and follow the prescribed
courses if he/she desires certification. All aspects of the state-approved program must be completed
to ensure recommendation for certification.
Double majors, including both a subject area and education, may be arranged in the case of exceptional
students. These must be approved by both departments involved and by the CHEHR dean. A specific program
will be designed in each individual case. Double certification programs may also be arranged with
the approval of the appropriate program directors.
Education majors are evaluated regularly at a meeting of the Education Department faculty to access
each individual student’s continuing potential to become a teacher. This determination is based on academic
and personal qualities consistent with the competencies stated in The Education Student Handbook,
(available from the Education Department and in the Weinberg Memorial Library). The academic standard
of the Education Department is a 2.5 cumulative GPA in Education classes, in teaching area and cognate
courses, and overall. Additionally, a grade of “C” or better is required in all major and teaching area classes
to student teach and to elicit a recommendation for certification. Students whose professional development
is unsatisfactory are subject to departmental probation and may be recommended to the Dean of the college
for dismissal from the education program. The department’s probation policy and other information is presented
in The Educaton Student Handbook. In addition, all Education majors are required to perform 10
hours of community service per academic year. Service hours are to be performed in the semester opposite
a field experience.
Additionally, as a matter of University policy, all Education majors are required to submit a completed
Act 34 clearance (and, in some cases, the Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance) to the Education
Department prior to being placed in any field experience that would put them in direct contact with children.
This clearance is collected by the University on behalf of the school entity wherein the field experience
will occur. The completed Act 34 form will be delivered to the school entity by the Education
Department after the clearance form is obtained by the student. The University will not maintain a student's
Act 34 clearance form or background check after delivery of the clearance form to the school entity wherein
the field experience will occur.
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