Sport and Event Management Minor
Advantages
Study your passion for athletic programming while acting as a mentor for students enthusiastic about sports.
Outcome
Sports Coach
Undergraduate Major with Certification
Elementary Education: The Early Years and Special Education (PK-12) (BA)
Prepare for a rewarding career tackling the educational challenges of the 21st century with Widener’s early elementary education and special education undergraduate program.
At a Glance
Click to Open
Offered as
Major
4+1 Bachelor's + Master's
College/School
Campus Location
- Chester, PA
Explore the Elementary Education Major
As an educator, you will have the opportunity to not only teach and mentor but the ability to help shape future generations. Teaching can be a rewarding and fulfilling career as you watch your students grow their skill sets and succeed in their educational journey.
You can prepare for certification in early elementary education and special education, opening you to a great range of job opportunities. If you are interested in working in education-related fields that do not require certification, like museums, nonprofits, and curricula development, we have a pathway to success for you too.
At Widener, our experienced faculty are dedicated to helping you succeed from the start. You will receive hands-on experience from your very first education course, by taking part in field experience at our cooperating schools.
Program Options for Elementary Education Majors
Certification Track
This track prepares you for elementary education and special education certification and includes student teaching requirements necessary for state teacher licensure. This will prepare you for a wide-range of education careers.
View the Loading... for curriculum and coursework requirements.
Non-Certification Track
This track gives you a strong foundational background in the field of education so you can thrive in education-related careers that do not require certification/state teacher licensure, such as non-profit sector education, educational advocacy/policy, curriculum development, creating educational programming, working in museums and refugee centers, and teaching in private or charter educational agencies.
View the Loading... for curriculum and coursework requirements.
Our program prepares you to apply for Instructional I certification in Elementary Education grades PK–4 and Special Education PK-12 through the State of Pennsylvania.
Teacher candidates in the Elementary and Special Education dual certification program participate in the Community Engaged Teacher Education (CETE) program beginning in the fall semester of their senior year and the following semester, continue on to complete student teaching, providing students with a full year of public school residency and teaching before graduation.
The culminating experience in preparing students seeking certification is a full-time, 14-week, student teaching experience during the senior year. This experience builds on the Community Engaged Teacher Education (CETE) program and is designed to provide candidates with the opportunity to put into practice all the principles and techniques learned throughout their coursework.
Each state/jurisdiction has requirements that candidates must meet in order to obtain licensure and/or certification to teach. It is the student’s responsibility to seek appropriate guidance before beginning any academic program. If you intend to seek certification outside of Pennsylvania, the University recommends that you contact the appropriate state licensing agency to obtain specific licensure/certification requirements per state and the most up-to-date information.
To view Widener’s licensure eligibility by state/jurisdiction, please visit the Center for Education: Program Licensure page.
At Widener, you can earn a bachelor's and a master's degree with only one additional year of study—regardless of your chosen major. Through our Accelerated Advantage 4+1 program, you'll earn your bachelor's of choice and choose from a range of master's degrees that will enhance your job opportunities and prepare you for rapid career growth—all while saving you time and money.
Pair Your Elementary Education Major with a Minor or Certificate
Before adding a minor or certificate, Elementary Education Majors will need to contact their advisor.
Outlook & Outcomes
Why Study Elementary Education at Widener?
Gain Field Experience Right From the Start
At Widener, we give you hands-on experience from your very first education class, where you’ll work with children at local schools. You will also have the opportunity to do fieldwork at the Widener Child Development Center.
We are committed to helping you become a capable teacher, to close the opportunity gap for students in diverse urban settings. Our CETE program places you in a Stetser Elementary School classroom—and with a community mentor in the city of Chester—with the intent of developing cultural proficiency and culturally-relevant pedagogy.
Learn more about our career inside track
Learn more about our leadership development
Experience Mentorship & Support From Day One
We want to get to know you and see you succeed. Professors will pay attention to how you learn and what you want to accomplish. Your Personal Student Success Team—faculty and peer mentors and liaisons for campus resources—will make sure your first year runs smoothly.
Without skipping a beat, you’ll have what you need to make Widener your second home. And you’ll know how to invest in the greater community, from professional opportunities in Philadelphia to volunteer experiences in your new backyard.
Lean more about faculty mentorship
Explore resources for academic & career support
Find support for health & wellbeing
Expand Your Network & Engage on Campus
Elementary and Special Education majors have the opportunity to join various clubs and organizations across and outside of campus to expand their network, including the Kappa Delta Pi, the Widener Student Education Association (WSEA), and many more.
Our Faculty
It takes someone special to teach someone special. Our pre-service educators are dedicated to learning, growing, and teaching the next generation.
"Learning to be a teacher requires discipline and hard work. Learning to be great teacher requires passion and a deep dedication to the many and diverse children that we serve."
"My interests include brain development, literacy development, and applications of technology in research and instruction. My greatest excitement in teaching comes from the way that working with graduate students spills over to my teaching of undergraduates and vice versa."
"My teaching focuses upon cognitive processing and application. In this regard, critical literacy complements the cognitive learning process. Critical literacy is the ability to actively read a text that promotes an understanding of social concepts and human relationships."
"I have authored or co-authored 15 publications in top-tier education journals and am honored to be a highly rated online professor of Widener students."
Recent News
Urban Excursions Inspire Deeper Connections Between the Classroom and World
Student Riya Sembhi '25 shares her experience about the education department’s excursion to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C that expanded her perspective on the devastation of the Holocaust.
Widener Teacher Candidates a Semester Ahead on Classroom Experience
Widener prepares future teachers with extra classroom experience prior to their student teaching placements.
Widener Teacher Candidates Help Elementary Student “Scientists” Shine at Virtual STEM Fair
A series of science fairs hosted by Widener elementary teacher candidates shows the creativity and resiliency of the students, their teachers, and a community-focused program.
Admissions & Aid
Our admissions and financial aid teams are here to support you every step of the way. Have a question? Ask away!
Admissions Information
Applying to Widener is easy—and free! Simply complete our Widener Application or the Common Application. You'll also need your official high school transcript and either an admissions essay or your SAT/ACT scores. We're a test-optional school, so there's no need to submit both.
Know you're interested in applying to Widener but unsure if you're ready to zero-in on a major? You can apply as an Exploratory Studies student with an undecided major. This program will help you start your college journey on the right foot while you explore which undergraduate program is the right fit for you.
When to Apply
We accept applications on a rolling basis—there are no hard deadlines. Apply when you're ready and we'll take a look as soon as we receive your app.
Key dates to keep in mind:
- October 1: FAFSA opens for the next academic year (Widener's school code is 003313)
- November 1: Early Action deadline and decision notifications begin
What to Expect After Applying
Once we receive your application and all materials, you can expect to hear back from us quickly. Along with your application decision, you'll also find out about any merit-based scholarship awards. You're automatically considered for merit scholarships as soon as you apply—you don't need to apply separately.
If you apply before November 1, you are considered an Early Action applicant which comes with benefits like:
- Receiving your admissions decision by Thanksgiving
- Early consideration for merit-based scholarships
- Early notification of financial aid offers, including need-based awards
- Priority enrollment for summer registration—where you sign up for classes!
All applications are non-binding, so why wait? Apply today!
Our admissions team will help you make the most of college-level credits earned after high school. We maintain strong partnerships and articulation agreements with numerous local community colleges and also accept a wide range of course credits earned at accredited colleges and universities.
Curious about how many credits may transfer? Email your transcripts to transfer@widener.edu and our transfer coordinator will personally review your coursework as an unofficial credit evaluation. Applicants are given priority during busy seasons, but you don't have to apply to work with our transfer coordinator.
Transferring doesn't have to be a guessing game—share your stats and we'll take it from there!
Widener University serves as a "second home" for students from around the world. We are located just outside of Philadelphia and close to New York City and Washington, D.C.—offering many unique professional and personal opportunities to explore.
Want to know what it's like to be an international student on campus or need assistance navigating English proficiency requirements? We're here to help, and our international admissions director will support you through the application process.
This support doesn't end with admissions—our International Student Support team will serve as a valuable resource throughout your Widener journey—meeting Visa/immigration requirements, getting acclimated to campus, and much more.
Financial Aid
Because Widener is a private institution, we're able to offer financial assistance that brings an exceptional education within reach. Complete your admissions application today to determine your financial aid package, including scholarships and grants.
Submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step to getting you the financial assistance to make the cost of college—an investment in your future—affordable. This free, online application is the gateway to grants, loans, and other forms of financial aid. Every year, the U.S. Department of Education offers billions of dollars in financial aid to eligible students. Widener gets in on the action, too, annually awarding aid to students with need.
You and at least one parent or caregiver will need a separate FSA ID to access the Federal Student Aid's online system and serve as your legal signatures. Make sure to create your unique FSA IDs before you get started. Our school code is 003313.
Nearly 100% of Undergrad Students Receive Financial Aid
Nearly 100% of new full-time undergraduate students receive significant financial aid offers that reduce out-of-pocket costs and make a Widener education not only affordable, but well worth the investment. In fact, once your total financial aid is calculated, the cost of a Widener education is often equal to if not lower than other competitive universities–but with far superior outcomes for your career and earning potential.
The first step to see how much aid you qualify for is submitting the FAFSA.
Scholarships Start at $90,000 Over 4 Years
(including $20,000 per academic year for transfer students)
Funding you don't have to pay back after graduation? That's a win-win! Scholarships and grants are a way for the university and other organizations to honor the academic, merit, and talent-based achievements of our students.
4+1 Students Save Time & Tuition
In the Accelerated Advantage 4+1 program, you can save up to a year of tuition by pursuing a master's degree—resulting in thousands of dollars in savings. During your fifth year of study, you can also apply for graduate-level scholarships and assistantships to further reduce education costs. To learn more about graduate scholarships and assistantships, please speak with your academic advisor during the spring semester of your senior year.
Undergraduate Admissions Office
-
Muller Hall
- 888-WIDENER
- admissions.office@widener.edu
Teacher Education & Certification
-
503 E. 13th Street
Room # 113 - (610) 499-4373
- cfed@widener.edu
Patricia A. Newman
Director of Teacher Education and Certification
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503 E. 13th Street
Chester, PA 19061
Room 113
- (610) 499-4630
- panewman@widener.edu