Education - Early Childhood Elementary PreK - 4, Bachelor's

At DeSales, we not only look at your past academic achievement but also your potential for future growth to determine your admission.

We find that students who have demonstrated significant achievement within a demanding curriculum are best suited for academic life at DeSales. Quality of academic performance plays a critical role in the admissions decision making process. This helps indicate a student's potential for academic growth going forward. DeSales University welcomes applications from all qualified students regardless of race, religion, sex, national, or ethnic origin.

Application Checklist

• Application Fee: None
• Transcripts: Official High School Transcript
• Standardized Tests: This program is SAT optional.
• Recommendations: Completed Guidance Counselor Form and Teacher Recommendation Form

All materials can be mailed to:
DeSales University Admissions Office
2755 Station Ave.
Center Valley, PA 

Additional recommendations

High School Academics - Remember, there is no single preferred high school academic program, but a college preparatory course of study is highly recommended. Here's an example:

• Four years of English
• Three or four years of college preparatory mathematics
• A minimum of two years of modern, foreign, or classical language
• At least two laboratory science courses

Visiting DeSales - A personal, on-campus interview is strongly recommended, but is not required. We encourage you to visit so that you'll have a chance to learn more about DeSales, and we'll have the opportunity to learn more about you, too.

Learn more about Undergraduate Admissions & Aid 

The Early Childhood Elementary Education program at DeSales is well-rounded and well-respected

The DeSales Early Childhood Elementary Education program is the right choice for students whose calling is to teach children in Pre-K-4th grade settings. The program centers on the learning process, the theory behind it, and how to apply it effectively. The field work experiences provide students the environment to practice classroom learning and hone their skills in an active environment.

Program Overview

The Early Childhood Elementary Education program consists of a minimum 128 credit hours. Courses in years one and two comprise the pre-professional sequence, with years three and four representing the professional sequence. Field experience options begin as soon as year two, so you begin developing your classroom skills early in the program. Overall, the program comprises:

• 40 courses of three or more credits
• 3 one-credit Physical Education (PE) courses
• 5 one-credit Field Experiences

Successful completion of the clinical field experience components of the early childhood elementary education program are necessary for admittance to student teaching and/or certification. A minimum of 170 hours of clinical field experiences are required prior to student teaching per the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE).

Once candidates have completed all courses within the professional sequence, they are ready to student teach. Student teaching is offered in four separate courses during the final semester of senior year within a public school. No other course work is permitted during student teaching and candidates may not enroll in EE 430, EE 432, EE 434, or EE 436 unless they have fulfilled all the requirements mentioned above and have been formally accepted into the Professional Educator Program.

Candidates for the Early Childhood Elementary Education Certification are placed in two seven-week, settings during this 14-week full-time experience.

DeSales' Early Childhood Elementary Education program graduates have high employment rates.

More than 75-percent of recent graduates have full time jobs in education. They enter the field tech-savvy, ready to apply relevant knowledge and skills in early childhood education to the classroom. The PA Certification Track leads to Pennsylvania teacher certification, Pre-K­–4.

The Early Childhood Education program is designed by DeSales' highly experienced faculty who know what teachers need to know and what it takes to become successful in the education field.

DeSales can help make your college expenses affordable through a combination of grants, loans, student employment, and scholarship resources.

View a comprehensive list of financial aid forms and undergraduate program information sheets

Cost of attendance for undergrads for 2024-2025

Resident Students

Direct Costs
Tuition - $45,000
Room and Board - $13,800
Mandatory Fees - $1,800
One-time Orientation Fee for First-Year students and Transfers - $200
Total = $60,800 (including first-year/transfer fees)

Estimated Indirect Costs
Books/Supplies - $1,711
Personal Expenses - $4,605
Total cost for resident students: $67,116

Commuter Students

Direct Costs
Tuition - $45,000
Mandatory Fees - $1,400
One-time Orientation Fee for First-Year students and Transfers - $200
Total = $46,600 (including first-year/transfer fees)

Estimated Indirect Costs
Books/Supplies - $1,711
Personal Expenses - $4,605
Transportation Costs - $1,908
Living Expenses - $2,298
Total cost for commuter students: $57,122

Off-Campus*

Direct Costs
Tuition - $45,000
Mandatory Fees - $1,400
One-time Orientation Fee for First-Year students and Transfers - $200
Total = $46,600 (including first-year/transfer fees)

Estimated Indirect Costs
Books/Supplies - $1,711
Personal Expenses - $4,605
Transportation Costs - $1,908
Living Expenses - $9,192
Total cost for off-campus students: $64,016
*First-year students are required to reside on campus or commute from home.

Parking Fee - $100

View a comprehensive list of financial aid forms and undergraduate program information sheets

Dual Degree Undergraduate-to-Graduate Programs

If you are enrolled in an undergraduate-to-graduate degree program — for example a 5-year, 3+2, 3+3, program — the undergraduate tuition and fees apply only to the undergraduate portion of the program. As you progress into the graduate phase of your program, graduate tuition and fees apply. Please see your respective graduate program for more information.