Perhaps one of the foremost reasons to be a special education teacher is the chance to positively impact the lives of children with disabilities, developmental delays, and learning disorders. When children who have developmental disabilities—or are at risk for them—receive early intervention, they show positive changes in health, language and communication, cognitive development, and social and emotional development.
Why Study Special Education at CHC?
Our Special Education program is designed with 21st century teaching and learning in mind and built on a tradition of excellence that dates to 1924 when Chestnut Hill College was founded by the Sisters of Saint Joseph.
CHC's programs are accredited through the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) and governed by the General Standards of Chapter 354 of the Pennsylvania Code. All Teacher Education majors must be aware of specific PDE course requirements throughout their program of study. Students must pass required state assessments for teacher certification.
Student Teaching:
Our partnerships with public, private and parochial schools in surrounding urban and suburban school districts offer students a rich tapestry of classroom teaching experiences. Chestnut Hill College education programs require students to begin as observers, advance to teaching lessons two half-days a week, and then take charge of a full classroom of students. These classroom environments increase the opportunities for our majors to gain valuable real-world experience. In fact, it's not uncommon for a student teaching experience to lead to a full-time employment upon graduation.
This program offers:
Major: Special Education (Pre-K to Grade 12)
Minor: Special Education (Pre-K to Grade 12)
Career Outlook
Across the nation, teachers who have been teaching for 25 years or more are retiring from the profession. Since 2010, this mass retirement has opened more than 10,000 new teaching positions per year. New teachers can choose from a variety of classroom settings that match their background, college preparation, and particular philosophies.
Positions are currently available in the following settings:
- Private schools which offer specialized curricular, usually connected to a specific philosophy
- Parochial schools which offer specialized curricular woven with specific faith teachings
- Public schools, including Charter schools which offer curricula aligned to state and national standards, with many varieties of organizational structures
Contact info
If you are interested in becoming an Education major at Chestnut Hill College, please email the Education, Advocacy and Social Justice Center at EASJ@chc.edu
