Overview

The Special Education Certificate Program at Lock Haven University is a 30 credit hour program designed to address competencies required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) and the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC).  The 30 credit hour program will provide candidates with coursework and field experiences that address the knowledge, skills, and dispositions required by the Framework for Special Education Grades Pre K-8 and 7-12 Guidelines. 

Candidates completing the 30 hour certificate program must also complete a major program of study in another teacher certification area.  Lock Haven University offers many options to achieve this dual certificate including:  Pre-K to 4, Middle Level, and Secondary Education (including Math, Science, English, and Social Studies).  The companion content area chosen by the candidate pursuing the special education certificate will determine which level of special education the candidate will be eligible to receive; either a Pre-K to grade 8 special education certificate or Grades 7 to 12 special education certificate. 

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Earn a Dual Certification in Special Education

Candidates electing to seek a dual certification in Special Education should make this decision as early as possible in their program of study.  While candidates in each teacher education program must complete the equivalent of 9 semester hours in special education coursework, the dual certificate candidate will NOT complete the same special education service courses.  Dual certification candidates will not complete SPEC 204—Cognitive Development for Diverse Learners and SPEC 309—Instructional Strategies for Students with Disabilities in Inclusive Classrooms.  The competencies addressed in these two courses will be gained through additional special education courses.  Because of the 9 credit hour requirement for all majors, the dual major will actually only take 21 additional credits in special education for a total of 30 credit hours.  

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Earn PreK-4 Certification AND Special Education Certification in just 126 Credits!  

Lock Haven University offers a program that allows Early Childhood Education Majors to add the Special Education Certification by adding just 6 more credits.  The program is a collaboration between the Department of Special Education and the Department of Prek-4/Early Childhood Education.

Coursework includes:

• 42 credits in General Education Study

• Professional Education coursework including Social Foundations and Linguistic Diversity

• 37 credits in required Early Childhood coursework

• 30 credits in required Special Education coursework

• 2 student teaching placements (one in each area of certification)

Early Childhood majors who wish to add Special Education certification should declare their intentions early in their coursework to benefit from the 126 credit program. 

The course requirement checksheet.

For more information you may contact the Early Childhood Education Department Chair.

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National Recognition

The Special Education Program at Lock Haven University has continuously received National Recognition from the Council for Exceptional Children with the most recent recognition occurring in July 2008.  Although the most recent national review included a review of competencies under the old structure for the Special Education Major, the faculty in the Special Education Program are confident that the new structure will continue to satisfy the Council for Exceptional Children. 

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Special Education in Pennsylvania

Mission:

To set high standards for all exceptional students in the Commonwealth receiving special education services and programs.

Role:

To provide effective and efficient administration and management of the Commonwealth's resources dedicated to enabling school districts to maintain high standards in their delivery of a Free and Appropriate Education to exceptional students.

Function:

To provide effective and efficient planning, administration, monitoring, and training activities which result in an appropriate education aimed at increasing standards for all exceptional students.

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