Secondary Education and Special Education (PreK-12) Certification

Program Overview

La Salle University's Secondary Education and Special Education Certificate prepares educators for the 21st century through project-based learning, community engagement, and a focus on individual learner needs. The hybrid and online format allows working professionals to pursue the program, which features courses in child development, exceptionalities, and the role of the teacher. Graduates are equipped for leadership roles in education and diverse career paths, including principal, district administrator, and education policy analyst.

Program Outline

Outline:

• Program Content: The program prepares 21st-century educators through project-based, problem-based service learning and community engagement.
It offers alternatives to the traditional school-as-factory model, viewing each child as an individual learner with unique needs. Graduates develop a comprehensive understanding of individual learners and create state-of-the-art instruction for the "real world" of the school.
• Structure: The program offers a hybrid and online format, making it accessible to working professionals.
However, the program mentions several highlighted courses, which provide insights into the program's curriculum:
• EDC 503 – Cognitive, Social, and Emotional Development
• EDC 510 – Human Exceptionalities
• EDC 613 – The Role of the Developmentally Oriented Teacher
However, the highlighted courses suggest a focus on child development, exceptionalities, and the role of the teacher in fostering individual learning.

Teaching:

• Methods: The program utilizes project-based, problem-based service learning and community engagement.
It also emphasizes video-assisted micro-teaching in both the laboratory and the classroom.
• Faculty: Experienced educators with years of experience in various educational settings teach all courses.
The context provides a link to the faculty team page for further information.
• Unique Approaches: The program emphasizes individual learner needs and fosters critical thinking and analysis of educational institutions and practices.
It encourages the development of educational policy-making skills.

Careers:

• Potential Career Paths:
• Principal
• District Administrator
• Corporate Trainer
• Education Policy Analyst
• Higher Education
• Nonprofit Educational Director
• Childcare Director
• School Counselor
• Career Counselor
• Opportunities: Graduates may find opportunities in various educational settings, including schools, non-profit organizations, and corporations.
• Outcomes: The program prepares graduates for leadership roles in education and equips them with the skills and knowledge to create positive change in the field.

Other:

• The program offers unique alternatives to traditional educational models, focusing on individual learner needs and real-world applications.
• La Salle-educated teachers command a comprehensive understanding of child development and learning.
• The program prepares graduates for diverse career paths in the field of education.

The program offers hybrid and online formats, making it accessible to working professionals, and boasts experienced faculty and innovative teaching methods.