School of Education

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Dean

Stacey L. Bose, EdD

Distinguished Professor Emeritus

Martha E. MacCullough, EdD

Professor Emeritus

Dianne K. Alexander, EdD

Professor

Debbie L. Wolf, PhD, Chair, Music Education (PK-12)

Assistant Professor

Rebecca Cella, MEd, Director of Student Teaching and Field Placement
Barbara J. Cooper, MEd, Chair, Special Education (PK-12)
Elizabeth A. Evangelous, MEd, Program Director, Early Childhood/Elementary Education PK-4
Gregory J. Fanus, MA, Program Director, Health and Physical Education (PK-12)
Charlotte L. Gleason, MLS
Kate B. Mehmel, MS
Marika Ravin, MSEd, Program Director, TESOL
Michael K. Zimmerman, Jr., MA

Adjunct Faculty

Jillian Bair, MS
Rebecca Benjamin, MSEd
Ruth Borrmann, MSEd
Charles Candy, MEd
Juliana Duprey, MA
Katelyn O. Gottier, MS
Nancy Halliday, PhD
Lisa M. Houseworth, JD
Jennifer Logan, MEd
Danny W. Qian, MEd
Judy E. Severns, MEd, Coordinator of International Student Teaching
Laura Ward, MS
Catherine Wayman, MSW

The School

The School of Education at Cairn University exists to prepare highly qualified, biblically-minded educators, practitioners, and leaders who are well-equipped to serve in diverse educational and clinical settings locally and globally.

Teachers must be able to orchestrate experiences that lead to student learning in an environment that fosters the development of the whole person. Teachers must be knowledgeable in their subject areas and understand human development and learning. They must be able to put this knowledge to use in skillful lesson planning, decision-making, and interactive methodology. Teachers must be motivators, facilitators, counselors, curriculum planners, diagnosticians, evaluators, human relations experts, disciplinarians, record-keepers, effective thinkers and learners, and reflective professionals seeking ongoing improvement and excellence. It is important that teachers be role models: people of unquestionable moral character, enthusiastic about life and learning, and committed to the high values of the teaching profession. The Christian educator must be committed to a Christian worldview and should apply these principles in service. The School of Education at Cairn University seeks top quality entrants for the teacher preparation programs.

The School of Education has developed a set of undergraduate competencies that, when fulfilled, will produce a teacher marked by excellence. These competencies may be found in the School of Education Undergraduate Handbook.

Goals

1. Planning and Preparation. The student will demonstrate competence in developing learning goals, assessments, and instructional plans grounded in a biblical worldview that engage students in meaningful learning and evidence knowledge of learning theory, content, pedagogy, PA academic standards, technology integration, and planned differentiation.
2. Classroom Environment. The student will demonstrate competence in establishing and maintaining an inclusive learning community based on biblical principles that foster respect and responsibility, instill a strong sense of safety and worth, and uphold clear expectations for instruction and conduct, while providing differentiated resources, accommodations, and support to maximize each learner’s achievement and growth.
3. Instructional Delivery. The student will demonstrate competence in promoting active student engagement during lesson delivery through effective communication, questioning, and discussion techniques; differentiated instructional and assessment strategies; information technology, critical thinking, and worldview integration; and timely, informative feedback based on progress toward mastery.
4. Professionalism and Character.  The student will demonstrate competency in applying knowledge of University, school, and classroom policies and procedures; in exhibiting integrity, biblically-minded conduct, and professional relationships; in keeping informed through personal study, educational research, and professional development opportunities; and in consistently reflecting to improve current practice.

The Programs

Elementary/Early Childhood Education (PK-4)

Program leads to the PK-4 Pennsylvania Instructional I certification for public school teaching and the Standard Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) Elementary certificate required by many Christian schools worldwide. Students have the option of taking Elementary/Early Childhood Education (PK-4) as a single-degree (BS in Education) or double-degree (BS in Bible/BS in Education) program. Students also have the option of adding certification in grades 5-6 or grades 4-8 through add-on testing.

Secondary Education: English, Mathematics, and Social Studies (7-12)

Programs lead to the 7-12 Pennsylvania Instructional I certification for public school teaching and the Standard 7-12 ACSI certificate for Christian school teaching. Students have the option of taking secondary education as a single-degree (BS in Education) or double-degree (BS in Bible/BS in Education) program.

Health and Physical Education (PK-12)

Program leads to the PK-12 Pennsylvania Instructional I certification for public school teaching and the Standard K-12 ACSI certificate for Christian school teaching. Students have the option of taking Health and Physical Education PK-12 as a single-degree (BS in Education) or double-degree (BS in Bible/BS in Education) program.

Music Education (PK-12)

Program leads to the PK-12 Pennsylvania Instructional I certification for public school teaching and the Standard K-12 ACSI certificate for music education. Students have the option of taking Music Education as a single-degree (BMus) or double-degree (BS in Bible/BMus) program (under the joint administration of the School of Music and the School of Education).

Special Education (PK-12)

Program leads to the PK-12 Pennsylvania Instructional I certification for public school teaching in special education and the Standard K-12 ACSI certificate for special education. Students have the option of taking Special Education PK-12 as a single-degree (BS in Education) program or adding Special Education PK-12 certification to a PK-4, secondary education 7-12, or PK-12 certification program in the School of Education.

TESOL

Students who complete the TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) program will receive a Bachelor of Arts degree and will be equipped to work with immigrants, refugees, international students, business professionals, and others, both in the US and around the world. They will also have opportunities for missions work through the path of teaching English and will be well-versed in intercultural communication.

Autism Spectrum Disorders Endorsement

An endorsement in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is also available. A minimum of 12 credits of focused study in ASD is required. Completion of the requirements lead to the add-on ASD endorsement from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

ESL

Program may be added to any of the above certification programs and leads to the add-on English as a Second Language (ESL) Program Specialist PK-12 certificate from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (in conjunction with PA certification program above) and/or ACSI endorsement (in conjunction with an ACSI certification program above). This additional program prepares the student to teach English as a second language in various contexts, focusing on PK-12 schools.

Dual-Level BS in Bible/MS in Education or BS in Education/MS in Education

Students who qualify may enter one of the dual-level programs and earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in a reduced amount of time (normally five years and one summer). Five of the above certification programs are available in this format: Elementary/Early Childhood Education (PK-4); Health and Physical Education PK-12; and Secondary Education: English, Mathematics, or Social Studies. Students may add certification in ESL or Special Education PK-12. All of these programs lead to two degrees, the MS in Education and either the BS in Bible or the BS in Education. 

Dual-Level BS in Education/MS in Special Education (Instruction)

Students who qualify may enter this dual-level programs and earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in a reduced amount of time (normally five years and one summer). Five of the above certification programs are available in this format: Elementary/Early Childhood Education (PK-4); Health and Physical Education PK-12; and Secondary Education: English, Mathematics, or Social Studies. Students earn PK-12 Special Education certification and may add certification in ESL. All of these programs lead to two degrees, the BS in Education and the MS in Special Education.

Cross-cultural Education Minor

A minor in cross-cultural education is also available. A minimum of 18 credits of focused study in cross-cultural education is required and may be added to any of the existing undergraduate degree programs in the University.

Education Minor

A minor in education is also available. A minimum of 18 credits of focused study in education is required and may be added to any of the existing (non-education) undergraduate degree programs in the University.

Special Education Minor

A minor in special education is also available to all majors other than education. A minimum of 18 credits of focused study in special education is required and may be added to any of the existing (non-education) undergraduate degree programs in the University.

TESOL Minor

A minor in TESOL is also available. A minimum of 18 credits of focused study in TESOL is required and may be added to any of the existing undergraduate degree programs in the University.

Urban Education Minor

A minor in urban education is also available. A minimum of 18 credits of focused study in urban education is required and may be added to any of the existing undergraduate degree programs in the University.

TESOL Certificate

A certificate in TESOL is also available. A minimum of 12 credits of focused study in TESOL and 3 credits in Bible is required. Completion of this program leads to a TESOL Certificate.

Related Program Information

Requirements

Requirements for admission to and completion of a Teacher Education program are found in detail in the School of Education Undergraduate Handbook and the School of Education Student Teaching Handbook. Briefly, these include the following:

Admission to a Teacher Education Program

Full admission to a Teacher Education program is a two-step process: first, the student’s declaration of intent to become a member of the School of Education (often during the University admission process), followed by application for certification candidacy (after meeting certain requirements).

Membership in the School of Education
Students may become members of the School of Education after meeting all published entrance requirements, often during the process of the student’s admission to Cairn. A student officially becomes a member of the School of Education upon choosing a degree program offered by the School. (Note: A degree-granting program itself does not lead to certification.) Students who submit combined SAT scores that are below 1000 may declare education as their major after successfully passing the required tests of basic skills.

Application for PA Certification Candidacy
After completion of 48 credit hours, but prior to completion of 60 credit hours (usually the third or fourth semester), an Education major should apply for acceptance into a specific certification program. Acceptance is conditioned upon the following:

• Minimum overall GPA of 3.0 at time of application
• Successful completion of EDU 101 - Foundations of Education with a grade of C or above and EDU 102 - Field Observation with a grade of S
• Completion of ENG 101 - English Composition AND one literature course with grade of C or above
• Completion of two mathematics courses with grade of C or above
• Recommendation by the Office of Student Life
• Recommendation by two (2) faculty/staff members
• Passing score on Basic Skills Tests or exemption due to SAT or ACT scores
• Completion of Stage 1 & 2 Competency Portfolio

Program completion

The student must:

1. Obtain a minimum GPA of 3.0.  (The University requires a 2.0 to earn a degree; a 3.0 is required for certification.)
2. Complete all courses in the chosen curriculum. 
3. Successfully complete EDU 593 - Student Teaching, measured by the PDE-430 evaluation process. A grade of C or above is required. A student earning a lower grade must take an additional student teaching experience after a one-semester intervention. 
4. Be approved for certification by the School of Education faculty. 

Certification

The student must meet all program completion requirements as noted above. Candidates seeking PA certification must also pass the related exit exams specific to their area of certification.

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