Established in 1879, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania is approximately 80 miles northeast of Harrisburg. Home to more than 8,800 undergraduate and graduate students, the public university received the 74th-place ranking among all colleges in the northern United States that offer master's degree programs from "U.S. News and World Report" in 2010. The university's special undergraduate special education program results in a Bachelor of Science in education and allows students to specialize in general special education, speech pathology, or education of the deaf and hard of hearing. A dual degree in special education and elementary education also is available, which allows students to teach both typically developing and special needs students from kindergarten through sixth grade. A Master of Science in special education is also offered for licensed teachers. Approximately 77 percent of all students at Bloomsburg receive some type of financial aid, according to the "2009 Barron's Profiles of American Colleges." Pennsylvania residents enjoy discounted tuition rates.
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
400 E. 2nd Street
Bloomsburg, PA 17815
570-389-4316
bloomu.edu
The Sisters of Mercy order of the Roman Catholic Church founded Carlow University for women in 1929 in Pittsburgh. Since that time, enrollment at the school has grown to more than 2,100 undergraduate and graduate students. The college grants a Bachelor of Science in education with a concentration in special education. The program requires 210 hours of student-teaching experience and allows students to specialize in either preschool through eighth-grade education or seventh-grade through 12th-grade education. Students also may complete the requirements for both courses to obtain licensure to teach at all grade levels in the state. Carlow also features a Master of Education designed for students who do not already possess a teaching license in special education. The program results in both the degree and the necessary student-teaching hour experience for licensure. Around 96 percent of all students benefit from financial aid, explains the "2009 Barron's Profiles of American Colleges."
Carlow University
3333 5th Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
412-578-6059
carlow.edu
Located in Huntingdon, a rural community in central Pennsylvania, Juniata College is a private, nonsectarian institution with more than 1,500 undergraduate students. In 2010, "U.S. News and World Report" ranked the university 85th among all liberal arts colleges in the United States. The college offers two baccalaureate degree programs in special education: one that culminates in certification in both early childhood education and special education, and one in special education and elementary education. With either program, graduates can become certified to teach both general and special needs children. Students in both programs complete a semester-long student-teaching placement. All incoming freshmen and 99 percent of continuing students at Juniata receive financial aid, reports the "2009 Barron's Profiles of American Colleges."
Juniata College
1700 Moore Street
Huntingdon, PA 16652
877-586-4282
juniata.edu