About the College
Kimberly A. Lawless, Dean, College of Education
The Penn State College of Education offers you unique experiences that can be found only here. As a student, you get a solid foundation from your courses. But that’s not all. You are surrounded by a support system of faculty members, advisers, and more who will help you succeed. You can be involved in multiple educational experiences on and off campus, from across the street to across the globe. You’ll discover new cultures and innovative ideas while at Penn State. Soon enough, those new ideas will be coming from you. It is going to be an invaluable chapter in a your life.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE COLLEGE
Mission and Goals
The mission of the College of Education at Penn State is to deepen and extend knowledge about the formation and utilization of human capabilities. This broad and exciting mission permits us to focus on teaching and learning in many different content areas and with learners of many different ages, ranging from early childhood to adults. Our interest in the utilization of human capabilities connects us with many fields such as rehabilitation and human services and workforce education and development.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MISSION AND GOALS OF THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Accreditation
The College of Education educator preparation programs are fully accredited at the Initial and Advanced levels by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The next CAEP program review will be Fall 2026. CAEP advances excellence in educator preparation through evidence-based accreditation that assures quality and supports continuous improvement to strengthen P-12 student learning.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ACCREDITATION AND PROGRAM REVIEW IN THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Departments and Schools
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
The Department of Curriculum and Instruction (C I) at Penn State offers undergraduate and graduate degrees and many options for teacher certification. There is a growing demand for graduates of teacher education programs. This department offers professional programs leading to certification in early childhood (PK-4), middle-level education (grades 4-8), and in a variety of discipline areas leading to certification at the secondary-school level.
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Department of Education Policy Studies
The Education and Public Policy program gives undergraduates a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities in education today. A robust community of students have access to online programs wherever they happen to reside, guided by the same faculty and the same curriculum as in-person students find at University Park.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION POLICY STUDIES
Department of Education Psychology, Counseling, and Special Education
The EPCSE programs aim to help you prepare to work as school counselors, clinical mental health counselors, school psychologists, and special education educators as well as faculty in higher education institutions.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PSYCHOLOGY, COUNSELING, AND SPECIAL EDUCATION
Department of Learning and Performance Systems
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF LEARNING AND PERFORMANCE SYSTEMS
Baccalaureate Degrees
- Education and Public Policy, B.S.
- Elementary and Early Childhood Education, B.S.
- Elementary and Kindergarten Education, B.S. (Education)
- Middle Level Education, B.S.
- Rehabilitation and Human Services, B.S. (Education)
- Secondary Education, B.S. (Education)
- Special Education, B.S.
- Workforce Education and Development, B.S.
- World Languages (K-12) Education, B.S.
Associate Degrees
Minors
Certificates
College Procedures
Change of Campus
Requests to change campuses are submitted in LionPATH. The College of Education will consider change of campus requests for students who: have successfully completed two years at another commonwealth campus; are seeking a temporary change of campus, or are unable to make sufficient academic progress in their intended program/plan of study at their current campus Additional information can be obtained by speaking with an academic adviser in the Advising and Certification Center, 228 Chambers.
Concurrent Majors
A Concurrent Majors Program is one in which students take courses to concurrently meet the requirements of at least two majors, with graduation for all majors in the program occurring during the same semester.
Adding an additional academic plan is requested via the ‘Update Academics’ function in LionPATH. The College of Education will review these requests to ensure that students have all necessary requirements met to enter the concurrent program in which they intend to enroll. Additional information can be obtained by speaking with an academic adviser in the Advising and Certification Center, 228 Chambers Building.
READ SENATE POLICY 60-00: COMPLETING MORE THAN ONE UNDERGRADUATE MAJOR PROGRAM
Academic Warning
A student who fails to earn a 2.00 cumulative grade-point average will be placed on academic warning. A student placed on academic warning will have a hold placed on registration. College of Education students who move into Academic Warning will be required to meet with an academic adviser to determine an educational plan that will help them understand their academic responsibilities and path moving forward. To remove academic warning, the cumulative grade-point average must be 2.00 or higher.
READ SENATE POLICY 54-20: ACADEMIC WARNING
Academic Suspension
A student in academic warning who fails to maintain a semester grade-point average of 2.00 or higher will be academically suspended. A student who has been academically suspended may not schedule courses at the University for two consecutive semesters. (Note: Summer session is equal to one semester.)
College of Education students who are suspended will receive a notification from the College, informing them of their eligibility to re-enroll after two semesters absence from Penn State. Suspended students who wish to re-enroll in our College are required to meet with an academic adviser before re-enrollment's approved.
Honors Programs
Schreyer Honors College
The Schreyer Honors College, regarded as one of the nation’s top programs of its kind, promotes achieving academic excellence with integrity, building a global perspective, and creating opportunities for leadership and civic engagement. Schreyer Scholars, including those admitted after their first or second year of enrollment, are a diverse and motivated group of approximately 2,000 students at University Park and 20 Commonwealth campuses. The College strives to educate students who will have an important and ethical influence in the world, to improve educational practice, and to continue to be recognized as a leading force in honors education nationwide.
Contact
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
274 Chambers Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-2526
edrelations@psu.edu