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Application Instructions

Through a rolling admission process, prospective undergraduate students — including first-year, transfer, and international students — may apply via the or . To learn more about how to complete your application, please visit our application page.

Financing Your Education

There are options to assist in financing your education and making the tuition affordable. Visit our Student Financial Services page for a detailed overview of the process, including a link to complete the FAFSA application, as well as more information about tuition, the tuition payment plan and the tuition deferment program we offer. Alvernia’s Title IV code for the FAFSA is 003233. The Office of Student Financial Services is available to help with any questions you may have. Call 610-796-8201 or email sfs@alvernia.edu.

Program Mission

The PK-4 Program is built on a solid foundation of the principles of child development.  It focuses on the whole child as it prepares highly-qualified, highly-effective candidates to meet the many and diverse needs of young children in a global society.

Program Requirements

Academic Performance

• Maintain a cumulative GPA 3.0 or better
• Earn Grade C or better in the required general education and professional education courses|
   

Field Experience

Maintain regulatory compliance for the educators' field experiences including: 

• PA Criminal Record Check (Act 34) PA Child Abuse History Clearance (Act 151)
• FBI Clearance (Act 114)
• University Health Requirements
• TB Screening
• Certificate of completion the training Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse: Mandated and Permissive Reporting in Pennsylvania (Act 31)
• Liability waiver
   

Read about the requirements for education field experiences. 
 

Teacher Candidacy

Teacher candidacy signifies a formal admission to the teacher preparation program. Achieving a teacher candidacy status is required for taking the upper division education courses, pre-student teaching, and student teaching. Students must apply by the end of their sophomore year. Mid-degree transfer students must apply by the second semester of their studies at Ë®¹ûÅÉ. The achieve a teacher candidacy status, a student must satisfy the following requirements:

• Earn minimum of 48 credits including 6 credits of math, 3 - English composition, and 3 - American/British literature with earned Grade C or better
• Maintain a cumulative GPA 3.0 or better
• Maintain regulatory compliance for the educators' field experiences
• Apply for teacher candidacy and receive an approval from their education faculty advisor and the Education Department Chair
   

Student Teaching

Student teaching occurs during the last semester in the program and includes two 14-week placements in PK-4 classrooms. To be admitted to student teaching, a student must satisfy the following requirements:

• Complete the required general core and professional education courses except ED 470 & ED 472 with Grade C or better
• Maintain a cumulative GPA 3.0 or better
• Maintain regulatory compliance for the educators' field experiences
   

Read about:

• Teaching certifications in Pennsylvania

Accreditation Statements

• The Grades PK-4 teacher preparation program is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
• Alvernia is an accredited institution and a member of the . MSCHE is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Get To Know Your Faculty

For more information about Alvernia’s Adult Education Early Childhood Education program, contact the Admissions Office at 610-796-8269 or admissions@alvernia.edu.