MANSFIELD, PA — The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has re-approved Mansfield University’s teacher certification programs as part of PDE’s “Major Review” process conducted every seven years. The university’s re-approved certification programs include Early Childhood Education, grades PK-4; Special Education, grades PK-8; Music, grades PK-12; Earth and Space Science, grades 7-12; English, grades 7-12; Mathematics, grades 7-12; and Social Studies, grades 7-12. The certifications were approved at both the undergraduate and post-baccalaureate levels.
According to PDE, the Major Review process is defined as a “comprehensive review of a provider’s approved certification programs to document and evaluate the level of program compliance with all PDE framework guidelines and regulations.” Dr. John M. Ulrich, Interim Provost and Vice-President for Academic Affairs, explained the work involved in demonstrating that Mansfield’s teacher certification programs meet PDE’s standards and expectations: “The Major Review process requires considerable documentation of each program’s requirements, course materials, field experiences, student learning outcomes, student growth, competency-based assessments, and continuous improvement plans. My congratulations to Dr. Sheryl Monkelien, who led our PDE Major Review team, to Dr. Nanci Werner-Burke, chairperson of our Education and Special Education department, and to all the members of our Teacher Education Unit who dedicated their time and energy to make sure this process had a successful outcome.” Dr. Monkelien added, “We have been training quality teachers at Mansfield University since 1862. PDE and the major review process confirmed that we have strong education programs with exceptional faculty, and Mansfield University will continue to train quality teachers for the long term.”
Mansfield University offers a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education with optional Special Education Certification; a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education with concentrations in Earth and Space Science, English, Mathematics, and Social Studies; and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education. At the graduate level, the university offers a Master’s of Education in Special Education, with optional Special Education Certification. For more information about Mansfield’s Education programs, please visit www.mansfield.edu/edspeced/.