Programs & Degrees

The Department of Curriculum and Instruction 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. Admission to a specific teacher certification program occurs only after a student applies to a particular program during or at the conclusion of the freshman year. This department also provides a variety of clinical field experiences, including student teaching.

The RHS major prepares students to work in diverse human service settings that serve people with disabilities. Students in this major work with a variety of clients (children, adolescents, adults, older adults) who often experience problems in physical, personal, social, educational, and vocational aspects of their lives. RHS professionals assist these individuals to improve each person's quality of life. 

Professional skills that RHS students acquire include how to: identify and support client goals, advocate for others, assess client needs, conduct educational and related support groups, consult with other professionals from other agencies and settings, develop client and family treatment plans, identify and use appropriate community resources to address client problems, interview clients, family members, and other support personnel, manage client caseloads, and resolve conflicts.

The goal of the Educational Psychology (EDPSY) program is to engage in research, scholarship, and teaching related to the application of psychology to learning, instruction, and measurement across the life span. As educational psychologists, the faculty engage in scholarly activities such as attending/presenting at conferences and publishing their work in scholarly journals/books. The faculty offer introductory and advanced courses in thematic areas of educational psychology both for those training to become educational psychologists and those in the teacher preparation programs of the College of Education and the University.

The Special Education program is housed in the Department of Educational Psychology, Counseling, and Special Education in the College of Education at Penn State. Our goal, shared with our colleagues in the Department, is an educational system in which families, communities, and educators share responsibility and commitment for preparing future citizens to live independent, responsible, productive, and personally satisfying lives to the fullest extent of their capabilities in our evolving society.

The mission of the Counselor Education Program is to provide counselors-in-training and counselor educators with the skills necessary for providing ethical and culturally competent services to nurture personal development, psychological maturity, and positive social enhancement. The program also places strong emphasis on developing students into social advocates through exposure to diverse learning and outreach opportunities. 

The minor in Rehabilitation and Human Services (RHS) supplements the educational needs of students across disciplines who wish to gain advanced knowledge and skills related to health, disability, and interpersonal interactions. In today’s society, due to medical advances and an aging population, more people are living longer with chronic illnesses and disabilities, and many jobs require advanced interpersonal skills and knowledge of health, disability, and human service skills.