Elementary, Secondary and K-12 Certification

Student planning to teach must complete a major in an academic department of their choice and fulfill all the requirements for the bachelor of arts degree or the bachelor of science degree.  Upon completing a program in teacher education, students eligible for a Pennsylvania Certificate, Instructional I, enabling them to teach in the public schools of the Commonwealth and other states with similar requirements.  Students who pursue teacher certification are required to demonstrate competence in oral and written communication skills and technology literacy prior to certification.  A minimum of forty hours of observation and participation in schools is required during the sophomore and junior years prior to acceptance into the Education Semester.  Students who are seeking an Instructional I Certificate must have successfully completed the Praxis Series of the National Teachers' Exams (NTE) PPST reading, writing, and mathematics (prior to acceptance into the Education Semeter) and specialty area (elementary education or the subject area for which candidates are seeking certification).

The elementary education program is distinctive in giving students the opportunity to concentrate on liberal arts studies and complete an academic major, thus qualifying for the bachelor of arts degree.  Students interested in this program should consult with the Education Department preferably during the first year or no later than the fall semester of the second year.  For elementary education, the Education Semester consists of Education 334 (one course unit) and 476 (Student Teaching, worth three course units).  Education 334 includes a classroom-based case study in reading instruction.  Only these courses may be taken during the Elementary Education Semester.

Gettysburg College offers the following secondary (grades 7-12) and K-12 teacher certification programs: 

Secondary (7-12) Programs:                                        K-12 Programs:
English                                                                             Music Education
Mathematics                                                                     French
Biology                                                                            German
Chemistry                                                                        Latin
Physics                                                                            Spanish
General Science
Citizenship Education
Social Sciences
Social Studies
Early planning beginning in the first year is essential for all of these programs.  For secondary and K-12 education, the Education Semester consists of Education 304 (one course unit) and 476 (Student Teaching, worth three course units).  Only these courses may be taken during the Secondary Education Semester.