Major in Education Studies (BS Degree)

No matter your major, all GMercyU classes are taught by full-time or part-time faculty members – no teaching assistants. In fact, the professors in our Education Programs have more than 130 years of combined experience as educators!

As an Education Studies major, your support includes:

• A personal advisor who will guide you through all four years.
• Field Placement Director, Dr. Cheryl Malfi, who will help ensure that you have a successful student teaching experience.
• A Certification and Placement Specialist. Once on the teacher certification track, Dr. Pat McAleer will ensure you meet all requirements to become a certified teacher in Pennsylvania.

BONUS: GMercyU’s Student Success Center is another great resource for you as you earn your degree – it’s your one-stop-shop for your academic and career needs with services such as test prep and tutoring.

As an Education Studies major, you could progress to one of the following programs that leads to teacher certification:

• Early Childhood Education (PreK-4)
• Early Childhood Education (PreK-4) and Special Education (PreK-12)
• Special Education (PreK-12)

Some Education Studies graduates ultimately return to GMercyU to pursue an online graduate degree in Education, which can also lead to certification.

This unique pathway for Education Studies majors allows you to prepare for a future career as a speech-language pathologist, a top-rated and well-paid role that offers flexibility of job settings and solid earning potential. 

With this pathway, you'll complete all of the prerequisites courses to meet the admissions curriculum criteria for GMercyU's Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (MSSLP) program, as well as for other speech-language pathology graduate programs with similar requirements. 

Learn more about careers in Speech-Language Pathology:

• 7 SLP Career Settings
• Speech-Language Pathologist Salaries

Gain leadership skills, grow professionally, and make friends by getting involved!

Education Outreach Club
Its mission is to provide an opportunity for those with a passion for helping the community to come together to learn, collaborate, and share educational experiences. This club offers its members the option to connect with professionals, participate in educational and social events, and volunteer. Being a member of this club will promote understanding, education, and best practices for the GMercyU community.

Best Buddies
Our Best Buddies chapter matches GMercyU students with members of the community who have Intellectual and developmental disabilities, hosts monthly events, and participates in fundraisers.

Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society
It is the oldest and largest honor society in education. Invitations to join are based on academic achievement, a commitment to education as a career, and a professional attitude that assures the member’s steady growth in the field of education.

In addition to general education requirements, you will complete the courses below for a bachelor’s degree in Education Studies. 

As an Education Studies major, you can also earn an undergraduate minor that best suits your personal and professional goals.

Core Courses -  54 Credits 

Credit Requirements
A minimum of 120 credits is required for a bachelor’s degree in education studies. This program requires a criminal background check, child abuse clearance, and certain immunizations and other health-related clearances in order to participate in student teaching experiences.

Here’s a closer look at just a few of the courses you’ll take as an Education Studies major at GMercyU.  

EDU 216 Foundations of Teaching & Learning PreK-4
This is a foundation course in the teaching and learning process of children in pre-kindergarten to 4th grade. Students will be required to demonstrate knowledge of learning as a process that integrates all areas of a child's development. Students will examine curriculum models and developmentally appropriate practices for individual and group needs, with special emphasis on developmental and learning theories. Course content is based on the competencies of the PA Early Learning and Academic Standards.

EDU 309 Technology Integration in Education PreK-8
In this course, students will become familiar with the PDE Standards of Science and Technology as well as the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) for both teachers and students. Students will design lesson plans and learning activities that integrate technology from Pre K to Grade 8. Students will be introduced to the various tools of technology including assistive technologies for students with special needs. The use of technology for assessment, management and other administrative procedures will also be addressed.

EDU-395 Field Experience I
During this stage of Field Experience, the Education Studies major will spend one day per week or equivalent in a school setting to observe in the teaching and learning process. Major focus will be on observing and understanding the four domains of effective teaching. As the semester progresses, the student will begin to work with individual students and teach in a small group setting. A University Supervisor will evaluate the student in the classroom.

For all courses in GMercyU’s Education Studies program, please refer to the undergraduate catalog.

Deb Schadler, PhD, CPCRT, PRSE
Position: Professor and Undergraduate Education Department Chair
Did You Know? Dr. Schadler is also the Director of GMercyU’s Autism Institute. She has developed and taught GMercyU’s undergraduate special education curriculum.
Read bio
 

Cheryl Malfi, EdD
Position: Assistant Professor & Field Placement Coordinator
Did You Know? Dr. Malfi was an elementary school teacher for 13 years, an elementary principal for 18 years, and a Director of Elementary Education and Federal Projects for four years.
Read bio

Patrick McAleer, EdD
Position: Certification and Placement Specialist, Adjunct Professor
Did You Know? Prior to GMercyU, Dr. McAleer spent 33 years as a teacher and administrator in the Pitman (NJ) Public Schools, including 11 years as Superintendent of Schools.
Read bio

There is demand for teachers in Pennsylvania! According to the Pennsylvania State Education Association, between 2012-13 and 2024-25, the number of newly certified teachers in Pennsylvania dropped by 65%. That means there were 12,400 fewer newly certified teachers last year than there were nine years ago.

In these districts and more, GMercyU students have recently completed student teaching and landed teaching positions after graduation:

• Abington School District
• Bensalem School District
• Central Bucks School District
• Colonial School District
• Council Rock School District
• Hatboro-Horsham School District
• Lower Moreland School District
• MAST Charter School
• Methacton School District
• Neshaminy School District
• North Penn School District
• Perkiomen Valley School District
• Philadelphia School District
• Phoenixville School District
• Springfield School District
• St. Malachy School
• Upper Dublin School District
• Upper Moreland School District
• Wissahickon School District

In 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, elementary school teachers in the Philadelphia area earned a median annual wage of $73,980, with the top 10% of teachers earning more than $101,860.