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PK–4 Education Master's Degree

Master of Education in PK–4

Offered fully online

Fully Online Program for Aspiring Teachers

Our 42-credit, fully online Master of Education in Pre-Kindergarten through fourth grade is designed to accommodate working adults who aspire to teach in front of the classroom.

Upon completion of this cohort program, you will have earned a master's degree in education and will be eligible for initial teaching certification as a Pre-K through fourth-grade level educator in Pennsylvania (reciprocal in 45 states).

Point Park University is a non-profit university accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Our teacher education programs are approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Our small class sizes (approximately 15 students per class) allow for a student-centered approach to teaching and are taught by faculty from a variety of K-12 backgrounds.

"The faculty and staff in Point Park's School of Education have their finger on the pulse of what is most challenging in education today. They are knowledgeable and incredibly accessible, which, as a working mom, was important to me as I navigated this program."

Melissa Botta-Havran '22, M.Ed. in Pre-K Through 4th Grade alumna and lead teacher at Catalyst Academy of Pittsburgh

Courses & Topics

Some of the courses in our Master of Education in PK–4 include:

  • Special Education and Inclusive Practices
  • Culturally Responsive Schools, Teachers and Classrooms
  • Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports
  • Methods of Teaching Mathematics PK–4
  • Methods of Teaching Science and Health PK–4
  • Student Teaching Seminar and Practicum

Career Options

Upon completion of this program, students will have earned a Master’s in Education and will be eligible for initial teaching certification as a PreK-4 educator in Pennsylvania (reciprocal in 45 states).

Frequently Asked Questions

Program Faculty

Virginia Chambers, Ed.D., dean of the School of Education

Virginia Chambers is committed to providing unique experiences for the students. She coordinates the Student Teaching Abroad programs in Ireland and Spain. Most recently, Chambers has been focused on building literacy and interdisciplinary teaching in maker spaces.

Faculty Bio
School of Education Faculty
Kamryn York, Ed.D., chair

Kamryn York has nearly 20 years of experience teaching PK–6, leading as a teacher mentor and working as a behavioral specialist serving children with autism and their families. She primarily focuses on methods courses in the PK–4 certification program.

Faculty Bio
School of Education Faculty
Christal Edmunds, Ph.D.

Christal Edmunds’ years of classroom experience and expertise are centered in educational philosophies consistent with addressing the whole learner, including the Montessori Method, the High Scope Educational Model, Waldorf Education, the Reggio Emilia Approach and Maker Education.

Faculty Bio
School of Education Faculty

The classes have been developed and adapted to meet PDE competencies. While some M.Ed. courses may have the same name as undergraduate courses, the M.Ed. courses contain advanced graduate-level material designed to meet the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) criteria. These courses cover the most recent work in the field, and your instructors will address how to apply this information in the classroom.

The program is fully asynchronous and online. Instructors will often hold optional virtual meetings. The student teaching practicum is the final semester and is in person at your school placement location in Pennsylvania.
Students are required to student teach for 60 days/420 hours. Placements are typically Monday through Friday, during school hours.
Students looking for alternative schedules will need to work with the Student Teaching Coordinator to determine the placement calendar.
Each week, students will gradually assume teaching responsibilities. The final two weeks of the placement typically has the student teacher teaching the full day.
Graduate students find their own placements. Private and charter schools are acceptable. We can assist any student needing help with a placement.
Once the student completes the program and passes the certification exam, they can apply for an initial teaching Certification in Pennsylvania through the PDE website.
Instructional I certificates are valid for six years from the start of a teaching position. Instructional II certificates can be earned through additional credits and by submitting an application to PDE.  No additional exams are required for Instructional II.
Certified PA teachers can add on certification through passing the exams. All content areas can be added on, excluding Special Education, Physical Education and specific specialized areas. PreK-4, 4-8 and Secondary Education can be added on.

On our website, students can find the books required for their classes. Using the drop-down menus, select the Semester and the appropriate department name (EDUC or SPED), course number, and section (you may use any online section designation as books are the same no matter the section – for example, OAON, O2ON, OCON, etc.) ISBNs are provided for your use. Rental and digital download options may be available from the bookstore. Students can arrange to have books shipped to them for a nominal shipping fee through our bookstore. If a course does not list required books, the instructor may be using a combination of open source materials, research articles, book chapters and online resources.

Learn more: step-by-step guide to ordering books on our website.

The School of Education discount exceeds the 25% Alumni discount. Unfortunately, discounts cannot be stacked.

Learn More

Contact Lynn Ribar, director of the Office of Graduate and Online Admissions, at 412-392-3908 or lribar@pointpark.edu. Schedule a call with Lynn.

Point Park University
201 Wood Street Pittsburgh, PA 15222-1984
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