Department of Education

The Education Department believes the most significant challenge in education is the quality preparation of candidates for the professions. To achieve this goal, we help our students to develop as critical thinkers and keen decision makers who are skilled in the principles of human growth and development, are receptive to change and innovation, and who have had a chance to practice their classroom skills in the real world. We work to develop strategy-based educators and managers who empower their students with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to become lifelong learners. Just as importantly, we educate future teachers and practitioners who are committed to their own lifelong learning and best practices.

The Department of Education is committed to providing pre-service and professional teachers with focused and challenging educational experiences ensuring teaching success in any PreK through Grade 12 classroom. Accomplished through a concentrated emphasis on research-based practices, we prepare aspiring and practicing teachers well versed in the dynamics of human growth, skilled in appropriate classroom methodologies, and competent in developing the cognitive and affective needs of all students. Engaging instruction, in concert with practical field experiences, underscore the Department’s commitment to providing educators with energetic, successful, and proven programs that effectively address current educational challenges.

Programs of Study

The department currently offers a baccalaureate degree in Early Elementary Education (PreK-4), Early Elementary Education (PreK-4)/Special Education (N-8), Middle level Education (4-8) with areas of expertise in English, Math, Science and Social Studies, General Music Education (K-12), Spanish Education (K-12), as well as degrees in several secondary certification programs (7-12) in cooperation with other academic departments. Secondary certification options include: Biology, English, General Science, Mathematics and Social Studies.

Pre-Professional Educator Status (PPES)

Students enrolled in Education majors must successfully complete their first 48 credits at york College of Pennsylvania with an overall GPA of 2.8 (preferably 3.0 or higher). This includes 12 credits of pre-education coursework and observational field experience with a minimum grade of 3.0 in each. The state of Pennsylvania also requires passing performance on the Pre-service Academic Performance Assessment (PAPA) Reading, Writing and Mathematics exams. Students meeting these requirements will be allowed to progress into professional education coursework with classroom field experience opportunities.

Field Experience

At York College, Field Experience is part of your class requirements in education. It will be one of the most rewarding phases of the Teacher Preparation Program as it will provide a host of exciting, stimulating and practical experiences in the field. These experiences will form the cornerstone of the education major’s classroom training program. In short, students will have the opportunity to take the ideas and theories learned in their college classes and observe and or apply them in an educational setting on a regular basis. All education majors are required to complete a minimum of 150 hours of Field Experience preceding the Student Teaching semester.

Student Teaching

The professional semester is the final semester and the culmination of the education major’s teacher preparation. During student teaching, the student will put into practice skills and theories learned in the courses at YCP as well as skills and theories of the assigned cooperating teacher. As the student teaching semester progresses, the student teacher will acquire responsibilities until he or she has full responsibility for the entire day.