Overview

The Elementary and Early Childhood Education (EECE) major at Pennsylvania State University prepares teachers of children from birth through fourth grade.
Students in this program explore progressive theories of teaching and learning; learn how to be professional educators in diverse school settings; and develop skills in educational leadership, inclusive education, and professional inquiry.
Our program is distinct in the opportunities it offers to work in exceptional preschools, an award-winning Professional Development School, and other educative settings.
Requirements for successful completion of the major include coursework specific to elementary and early childhood learning environments, child development, and field experiences in grades PK-4 classrooms, as well as content and teaching methods courses specific to teaching language and literacy, mathematics, science, and social studies.
Students who successfully complete this major will have met all coursework and field experience requirements for the PK-4 Instructional I Certificate issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE).
In addition, they will have been prepared for the appropriate PRAXIS exams, which are the standardized assessment required by PDE for this certification.

Careers

Graduates of this program who work in public schools usually go on to earn a master’s degree, and often use those studies to earn additional credentials in areas like counseling, reading, teaching English learners, or special education.
Graduates who work in early childhood education or nonformal settings also have the option of earning advanced degrees, and, as with public school teachers, have access to continuing education (CE) through school intermediate units, museums, and other nonprofits, and web-mediated CE systems.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

The Visual Arts in the Elementary School
Teaching English Language Learners
Field Experience for Teacher Preparation
Clinical Application of Instruction
Practicum in Student Teaching - Childhood and Early Adolescent Education
Professional Development Practicum
Instruction in Early Childhood Education Derived from Development Theories
The Young Child's Play as Educative Processes

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-01-12 00:00:00
- Apply before 2025-10-01 00:00:00
Starting 2026-05-18 00:00:00
- Apply before 2025-11-01 00:00:00
Starting 2026-08-25 00:00:00
- Apply before 2025-11-01 00:00:00

Language

English

IELTS

6.5

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Duolingo English Test

120

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Credits

127 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

University Park, United States

Disciplines

Teaching Early Childhood Education View 643 other Bachelors in Early Childhood Education in United States

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

IELTS

6.5

Free IELTS Mock Tests!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

Duolingo English Test

120

Take A Free Practice Test!

Check IELTS test dates and locations. Book an IELTS test now!

Other requirements

General requirements

Application
Official secondary school records
Official test scores: SAT or ACT
English language proficiency, if your native language is not English

Student insurance

Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items, so make sure your student insurance ticks all the following:

Additional medical costs (i.e. dental)
Repatriation, if something happens to you or your family
Liability
Home contents and baggage
Accidents
Legal aid

We partnered with Aon to provide you with the best affordable student insurance, for a carefree experience away from home.

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Starting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time.

Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at Pennsylvania State University and/or in United States, please visit Student Insurance Portal.

Tuition Fee

To always see correct tuition fees

International

43490 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 43490 USD per year during 48 months.
National

43490 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 43490 USD per year during 48 months.
In-State

21098 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 21098 USD per year during 48 months.

Living costs for University Park

1000 - 1500 USD /month

Living costs

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Bachelor's scholarship opportunities for Elementary and Early Childhood Education.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

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