Education with Dual Certification (Grades Pre-K through 4th) and Special Education (Pre-K through 12th) Major in Pennsylvania
The Education with Dual Certification (Grades Pre-K through 4th) and Special Education (Pre-K through 12th) program is ideal for students passionate about teaching and supporting diverse learners in a Christian environment. You can pursue a career as an elementary or special education teacher and make a meaningful impact.
100%
of first-year
students receive financial aid
students receive financial aid
98%
of the class of 2025 were
employed or in a graduate program
within 6 - 9 months after graduation
employed or in a graduate program
within 6 - 9 months after graduation
12:1
student to faculty ratio
Study Education with Dual Certification (Grades Pre-K through 4th) and Special Education (Pre-K through 12th) at a Christian University
If you are preparing to teach children in special education, or children with disabilities in regular education, or want to work with individuals with disabilities in settings other than schools, Messiah University offers options to pursue these interests.
Messiah University’s Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in education degree with Dual Teaching Certification in Early Childhood (Pre-K through 4th grades) and Special Education (Pre-K through 12th grades) is best for those who want to teach children with disabilities in either regular education or special education settings. You’ll have increased opportunities for employment in regular or special education.
As an early childhood and special education major at Messiah University, you’ll be able to:
- Study in a program that has been named an “Education College of Distinction” by Colleges of Distinction for 2023-2024.
- Integrate sociocultural and developmental understanding toward high expectations for learners with disabilities.
- Design evidence-based supports and interventions to promote social, emotional, and behavioral well-being.
- Get extensive opportunities for supervised field work in a variety of school, classroom and demographic settings as both a regular and special educator.
- Spend a semester in public school and a semester in a full-inclusion or intermediate unit classroom.
- Implement evidence-based interventions and adaptations to advance learning.
- Integrate faith, identity and vocational calling with standards of ethical practice.
- Collaborate to serve and seek justice for learners with disabilities.
- Integrate expertise in early childhood instruction with expertise in special education interventions.
- Create a professional portfolio for potential employers.
- Study abroad to compare education in other cultures.
- Spend time in our Teacher Exploration Center, a resource room with SmartBoard technology, video recording capabilities, a small laminator, white board tables and materials as needed.
- Start in the classroom your sophomore year, observing suburban, urban and rural teaching settings. By your junior year, you will be out full days to teach!
As a graduate of the early childhood and special education program, you will be equipped to secure positions such as:
- Teaching regular education Pre-K through middle grades with expertise in children with disabilities
- Teaching special education with expertise in regular education curriculum
- Education policy, administration or education leadership
For more information on career planning for the early childhood and special education program, visit the Messiah University Career and Professional Development Center.
Messiah helps place students in extensive field experiences beginning in sophomore year, including:
- Local public school class observations
- Junior-level field experience in regular education classrooms designing and implementing instructional plans
- Senior-year student teaching experience in special education
- Senior-year clinically supervised internship in specialized classrooms for students with significant physical, intellectual, social and behavioral difficulties
- Option to complete part of student teaching internationally
Are you a high school student interested in exploring a career in teaching?
Messiah University’s Educators for Tomorrow program offers high school juniors and seniors a chance to explore careers in education through dual enrollment, education events, and hands-on classroom experience. Students earn six college credits while benefiting from Messiah's strong reputation for teacher preparation. The program features online and in-person options, making it accessible and flexible. Learn more about how to gain real-world teaching experience and a head start on college at a significantly discounted rate by visiting messiah.edu/eft.
Programs related to Education with Dual Certification (Grades Pre-K through 4th) and Special Education (Pre-K through 12th)
In the Education with Dual Certification (Grades Pre-K through 4th) and Special Education (Pre-K through 12th) program, you will take a selection of courses that successfully prepare you for a career in a related field. Hands-on experiences and classroom learning within the framework of Christian faith will give you the skills and knowledge to achieve your goals. Our programs offer a wide variety of courses that will not only help you excel in your future career, but challenge you to develop a deeper understanding of your field of study.
Course options for Education with Dual Certification (Grades Pre-K through 4th) and Special Education (Pre-K through 12th) :
Education with Dual Teaching Certification in Grades PreK-4 and Special Education (B.S.)
Careers and outcomes
Where our grads work
Graduates of this program work in positions of leadership in their places of employment, using the tools and knowledge a Messiah University education prepared them with. Each year, eager employers and some of the nation's best graduate schools welcome Messiah graduates into their organizations.
98% of the Class of 2025 respondents were employed or in graduate school within 6-9 months of graduation.
Our Alumni
Regional and national employers seek out Messiah graduates for their academic preparation, work ethic and personal character. The transformation you experience at Messiah readies you to transform the lives of others through your chosen career path.
Messiah's unique approach to hands-on learning
Learning in the classroom is important but actually applying that knowledge in a hands-on way can make all the difference. At Messiah University, the Experiential Learning Initiative (ELI) allows Messiah to take this hands-on learning to a new level by giving students the opportunity to apply what they have learned to various real world contexts--such as an internship/practica, service learning, off-campus program, holding a student leadership position, or participating in undergraduate research.
Our Prek-4/special education program
The dual certification will allow you to complete certification requirements for both Pre K-4 and special education. Completion of your dual teaching certification requirements in Pre-K and special education qualifies you to work in a regular educational setting in Pre K-4 or as a special education teacher in preschools, elementary schools and middle schools. If you have a passion for teaching a broad age range of students with diverse learning needs, this major may be for you.
Prek-4
This major will provide you with the knowledge and skills to meet the needs of all your learners. Through the core curriculum, you will acquire a foundation for effective thinking, systematic planning, decision making and differentiating instruction in the classroom.
Special education
The special education program builds in-depth perspectives on learners with special needs, and skills in behavioral intervention strategies, assessment, and individualized academic intervention strategies. For authentic experiences across the range of disabilities and settings, many assignments serve specific schools, students and organizations.
Proven success
Graduates from our special education program are highly competitive candidates for employment. School administrators who interview and hire our graduates give consistently positive feedback about the instructional design skills of our students.
View data of Messiah’s consistent 100% employment rate here.
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