Education Programs

The Program for Teacher Education is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and meets the educational requirements to obtain teacher certification in Pennsylvania. Determinations regarding professional licensure and/or certification eligibility associated with this program are outlined below. 

With Pennsylvania Certification, the Teacher Education Program meets the educational requirements for teaching certification in the following states: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The Teacher Education Program also meets the educational requirements for teaching certification in the District of Columbia. 

To obtain teaching certification in Alabama, Alaska, Montana, New Mexico, South Carolina, South Dakota, or Texas, students must complete additional educational requirements. Students who are planning to teach in one of these states are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the educational requirements in the relevant state. The state’s Department of Education can provide this information. 

This information is, to the College’s best understanding, accurate and current. It is strongly recommended that students pursuing employment outside the state of Pennsylvania exercise due diligence regarding examination of state-specific educational requirements related to professional licensure. 

The King’s College Education Department has an assessment system that collects and analyzes data on applicant qualifications, candidate and graduate performance, and unit operations to evaluate and improve the unit and its programs. King’s faculty and local school faculty will use performance-based assessments to evaluate education students during courses, field experiences, and advisement sessions. To pass through the assessment, students will be expected to demonstrate satisfactory development of a teaching portfolio (as determined by the student’s advisor during advisement sessions), earn a C or better in all education classes, and meet other requirements outlined in the Teacher Education Handbook. Students will also be required to take the appropriate PRAXIS II or PECT Tests during their final semester at King’s College. 

Preparation for certification must include at least 60 semester hours of general education. The distribution of the courses will cover the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences and conform to the college’s Core Curriculum. Students seeking certification in secondary education will major in one of the following content areas: Biology, Chemistry, English, General Science, History, Political Science, Economics, Mathematics, or Physics. Foreign Language certification (PK-12) is offered in Spanish and French. At King’s, students pursuing a certificate in Citizenship Education will major in history, political science, or economics and complete additionally prescribed courses for a social studies core. 

All education students will take a minimum of 37 hours of professional education courses. They will include courses in educational foundations, field experiences, reading skills, educational psychology, teaching diverse students, general and special methods of teaching, teaching the exceptional child, and student teaching practices. 

All students seeking certification must meet the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s requirements at the time of certification. Currently, these requirements include six credits in mathematics (numbered 100 or above at King’s) and six credits in English (three in writing and three in literature). 

Act 55 of 2022 Basic Skills Assessment Moratorium, signed into law by Governor Tom Wolf on July 8, 2022, requires the Secretary of Education to waive the requirement to satisfactorily complete the assessment of basic skills required under section 1207.3 and 22 Pa. Code § 49.18(c) (relating to assessment) for three years from July 8, 2022, through July 8, 2025. This applies to all students who enter preparation programs during this period as well as otherwise qualified candidates for licensure who submit an application during this period. 

Formal application to the education program will be made by the end of the sophomore year after having completed 48-60 credits. At that time, the Education Department will assess the student’s progress. In order to be accepted into the education program, students will submit a formal application that attests to demonstrating a positive attitude toward teaching, have earned an overall G.P.A. of 3.00 or higher, developed a satisfactory teaching portfolio, completed two English and two Math courses, and met the state requirements for health. If all of these conditions are satisfied, as well as those outlined in the formal application, the student will be formally admitted to the teacher education program. Any student who does not gain formal acceptance into the teacher education program will not be eligible for student teaching. 

During the senior year all students in the teacher education certification program are required to participate in a professional semester. This includes a student teaching orientation followed by supervised full-time student teaching with diverse students. Education majors are placed in student teaching positions at various early childhood, elementary, middle schools, and high schools in a thirty-mile radius of King’s. Education majors are required to apply for student teaching with the field experience coordinator no later than 6 p.m. on the second Monday of May for the following fall semester or 6 p.m. on the second Monday of November for the following spring semester. During the student teaching semester, students are discouraged from taking any course except EDUC 440, Inclusive Education. In order to be eligible for student teaching, students must have satisfied all content areas and education coursework and have met all requirements outlined on the student teaching application. 

In addition, we offer courses that are tied to undergraduate majors that lead to certifications in various content areas.  These include: 

• Citizenship/Social Studies Grades 7-12 (with a major in History, Political Science, Economics) 

• General Science Grades 7-12 

• Biology Grades 7-12 

• English Grades 7-12 

• Mathematics Grades 7-12 

• Chemistry Grades 7-12 

• French Grades PK-12 

• Physics Grades 7-12 

• Spanish Grades PK-12 

• Special Education PK-12 

• Health and Physical Education PK-12 

The Department of Education also offers the coursework required for the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential and the Director’s Credential. 

The Office of Graduate Admission reviews each applicant's interest, aptitude, and potential for achievement in graduate studies. The structure of the programs lends itself both to recent college graduates and to professionals looking to pursue graduate studies. 

All applicants should possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. Before an applicant is evaluated, he or she must submit: 

• complete the free online application. 

• an official transcript from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended, showing completion of a baccalaureate degree and graduate courses for transfer consideration (up to 9 credits); 

• a personal interview with the director of the graduate program, if required; 

• letters of recommendation from instructors or supervisors 

• a photocopy of teaching certification, if applicable; 

• a professional résumé, if applicable; 

The application form and all supporting documents should be submitted to the Graduate Office at least three weeks prior to the date of final registration in the session or semester in which the applicant seeks to enroll. Written notice of the action of the Graduate Admissions Committee will be sent to each applicant. 

At the applicant's request, an interview can be scheduled to answer any questions he or she may have concerning the graduate programs. Additionally, once accepted, students are encouraged to arrange for an interview to design the program of study. 

King's College does not discriminate against any applicant because of race, color, creed, sex, or physical handicap. Admission is based solely upon an applicant's qualifications and ability to meet the established admission requirements.