Elementary and Early Childhood Education

Why Major in Elementary and Early Childhood Education?

A bachelor of science degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education prepares undergraduate teacher candidates to earn Pennsylvania level I certification to teach in pre-school to fourth grade public school classrooms.

The Elementary and Early Childhood Education teaching option at Penn State Altoona is designed to support the development of teachers of young learners through fourth grade. This program views education as much larger than standards or performance-based assessments, and is designed from research on teaching and teacher education. At Penn State Altoona, we see teaching and learning as a process of collaboration among faculty, teachers, students, parents, and communities. We seek to prepare teacher leaders and advocates, not only for children and schools, but also for the profession of teaching.

As a student in this program, you will work closely with faculty who are leaders in teacher education and education research, and experience high quality mentoring and supervision in classroom/school field experiences. We coordinate in-depth observation and teaching experiences with our partner schools in order to provide you as many hands-on experiences in PK-4 classrooms as possible during your four-year program.

Create Your Professional Identity

Penn State Altoona offers teacher candidates many opportunities to build their professional identity, develop leadership skills, and cultivate their passion and advocacy for children and schools. Students in the program may participate in our Professional Development School (PDS) partnership with Myers Elementary in the Bellwood-Antis School District. The PDS is an intensive, field-based alternative program where teacher candidates (interns) spend an entire school year immersed in an elementary classroom during their senior year.

Penn State Altoona education majors may also join the college’s award-winning and nationally-recognized chapter of Kappa Delta Pi (KDP), an international honor society in education, and our student PSEA group. Both groups actively engage with local children, schools, and community resource centers.