Degrees type: Bachelor
Main Campus
Teaching is a demanding vocation that carries with it real responsibilities. Mount Aloysius supports our Education students through one-on-one access, early exposure to the classroom and a commitment to your professional development.
Your education includes learning strategies on child development theory and best practices. You will receive a sturdy grounding in liberal arts balanced with the practical teaching skills and deep experience of excellent professors. Education studies at Mount Aloysius reflect the College’s core values of mercy, hospitality, service and justice. This degree allows you to teach grades Pre-K through 4th grade.
Program Highlights
Teachers enjoy careers in the following areas:
- Teacher (with completion of bachelor’s program)
- Employment at alternative classrooms
- Many have become principals
- Head Start and Pre-K Counts
- Support Services e.g., Pathways to Independence
- Many graduates enroll in Masters programs after graduation and some pursue doctoral studies.
The bachelor’s degree has student teaching assignments. Junior students tutor students in math and reading as part of coursework. Student teaching and tutoring placements occur in local schools and child care centers.
The demand for Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers is expected to rise 6% from 2014 to 2024, an increase of 87,800 jobs.
The average median wage for a kindergarten teacher (excluding special education) in the state of Pennsylvania is $52,790. The average median wage for an elementary school teacher (excluding special education) in the state of Pennsylvania is $61,730.
Graduates from the program will:
- use their knowledge of the liberal arts to engage students in a curriculum that values life-long learning, and that engages the whole child in all facets of learning including creativity, inquiry, and reflection;
- use effective communication strategies when interacting with various audiences such as students, parents, and other professionals;
- base teaching and learning strategies on child development theories and best practices;
- possess a knowledge of technology as an educational resource, an instructional tool, and as a curriculum component;
- use effective methodology in developing instructional plans that include active engagement in learning, problem solving, critical thinking, and inquiry;
- use differentiated instruction to address the learning needs of a diverse student population including English Language Learners;
- demonstrate the use of informal and formal assessment strategies;
- engage in professional development including scholarly research and writing and innovative and reflective practice that leads to lifelong learning;
- demonstrate a passion for learning and teaching that includes advocacy for students and the profession, service to others, and professional collaboration; and
- be able to gain certification in her or his area of study and gain an entry level position in an educational setting and/or pursue graduate study.
Hands-On Learning Outside the Classroom
When you study education at Mount Aloysius College, you’ll have the opportunity to learn in a variety of places outside the classroom. We encourage our students to think outside the box with their education. Many of our students attend conferences, specialized pre-service teacher days, on-campus research symposiums, career fairs, and much more.
Some of the special opportunities our education majors have participated in include:
- Western PA Pre-Service Teacher Day at Duquesne University
- Mount Aloysius Student Research Symposium
- Student PSEA State Conference
- Mount Aloysius Education Department Advisory Board
- Mock Teacher Interviews
- Pittsburgh Education Recruitment Consortium Job Fair
- Senior Presentations: My Growth as a Teacher
- Professionals in Education Panel
- Service Learning Opportunities (Johnstown Children’s Museum, All-Saints Catholic School, etc.)
- Google for Education Certification
Watch a video with Dr. Sara Rutledge, a professor in the education department, talking about indoor physical education for kids.
Watch a video with alum Katie Ellenberger talking about the education program.
Watch a video with Dr. Sara Rutledge, a professor in the education department, talking about the Mountie Trail.
Student Voices & Success Stories
- Tiffani Finnegan, Class of 2015, is teaching at Chestnut Ridge School District.
- Michaela Villa, Class of 2016, is teaching first grade at Northern Bedford County School District.
- Jennifer Mesoras is Principal at Cambria Elementary School, Central Cambria School District.
Guaranteed Master’s Degree Entrance
Students who complete their undergraduate degree in Education at MAC with certification will be guaranteed admission into the SFU Master of Education degree program. Six credits in the bachelor degree at Mount Aloysius will count towards the master’s degree at St. Francis.
Students who take advantage of the agreement will receive a 15 percent tuition discount for their graduate program as well as a fee-waived application.
- Master of Education, M.Ed. (30 credits), Online
- Master of Education, Leadership Specialization (33 credits), Online option
- Master of Education, Reading Specialist Specialization (30-42 credits)
- Master of Education, Autism Specialization (30 credits), Online
- Master of Education, ESL Specialization (33 credits)
- Master of Education, Special Education (prek-8) Specialization (30-42 credits), Online
- Master of Education, Special Education (7-12) Specialization (30-42 credits), Online
- Master of Education, Special Education Supervisory Specialization (33 credits)
- Master of Education, Principal Specialization (34 credits)
- Master of Special Education, MS. Ed. (30 credits), online
- Master of Special Education, Autism Spectrum Disorder (36-39 credits), online
- Master of Special Education, Special Education Supervisory (39 credits), online
- Maintain a 3.0 throughout their undergraduate education
- Indicate intent at some point during your undergraduate education
More Information
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7373 Admiral Peary Highway
Cresson, PA 16630
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