Fast-Track Teaching Degree 
Become a teacher in just three years!
To help meet the urgent need for teachers in Pennsylvania and beyond, GMercyU is proud to launch a new three-year undergraduate teaching degree in Fall 2025.
Choose from a B.S. in Early Childhood Education (with PreK-4 Certification) or B.S. in Special Education (with PreK-12 Certification).
Start making a difference for yourself and your future students a year sooner!
Same Degree, Lower Costs, Extra Earnings
$26,000
Tuition Savings |
+ |
$14,000
On-Campus Housing Savings |
+ |
$49,000*
Extra Year of Career Earnings |
Total: $89,000+ in savings and earnings by completing your degree in three years instead of four
*The average starting teacher salary in PA is $49,539, according to the Pennsylvania State Education Association.
How It Works
- Take courses in the fall and spring semesters like all other Education majors.
- Take online courses during the summers after your first and second years at GMercyU.
- Complete your degree in time to sit for the required Pennsylvania Department of Education teacher licensure exam, apply for certification in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and start teaching in the fall of what would’ve been your senior year.
It’s a Win-Win-Win
Start making a difference in students’ lives a year sooner!
Help meet the urgent need for more qualified teachers!
Earn an extra year of salary and save on tuition!
Same Great Benefits of Earning Your Degree at GMercyU
- TAP Program – get into a real-world classroom your first semester!
- Support Team – a personal faculty advisor, a field placement coordinator, and a certification and placement specialist
- Access to GMercyU’s Autism Institute
- Access to federal and state financial aid and GMercyU scholarship funding based on eligibility
- And more!
Your Three-Year B.S. in Early Education (PreK-4) Schedule
First Year – 45 credits
Fall – 6 courses, 17 credits
EDU 100 Education in America
UNV 100 GMercyU Success
ENG 101 College English
SPE 205 Exceptional Person
MTH 103 Fundamentals of Math I
EDU 226 Reading Sequence I
Spring – 6 courses, 16 credits
EDU 106 Family, School, and Community Connections
UNV 101 GMercyU Service
HIS 132 American History
GEO Geography Elective
EDU 229 Reading Sequence II
MTH 104 Fundamentals of Math II
Summer - 4 online courses, 12 credits
SEM course
Religious Studies course
Philosophy course
Science Elective
Second Year – 48 credits
Fall – 6 courses, 18 credits
EDU 223 Teaching Science Pre-K
SPE 231 Mild / Moderate Disabilities
EDU 216 Foundations of Teaching and Learning
EDU 314 Reading Sequence III
MUS 104 Music Appreciation
EDU 228 Arts and Humanities
Spring – 6 courses, 18 credits
EDU 224 Teaching Social Studies PreK-4
SEM Seminar
EDU 227 Math Methods for PreK-4
RS/PHL Religious or Philosophy Elective
EDU 316 Reading Sequence IV
SPE 331 Inclusive Practices
Summer – 4 online courses, 12 credits
PSY 200 Developmental Psych
Art, ENG, or Lang. Elective
SEM Seminar
ENG Lit, Elective
Third Year – 30 credits
Fall – 6 courses, 18 credits
EDU 309 Tech. Integration in Ed.
EDU 415 Pre-Student Teaching
EDU 414 Classroom Management
EDU 351 Meeting Needs of ELL
EDU 416 The Culturally Responsive Classroom
SOC Sociology Elective
Spring – 1 course, 12 credits
EDU 498 Student Teaching
Your Three-Year B.S. in Special Education (PreK-12) Schedule
First Year – 45 credits
Fall – 6 courses, 17 credits
EDU 100 Education in America
UNV 100 GMercyU Success
ENG 101 College English
SPE 205 Exceptional Person
MTH 103 Fundamentals of Math I
EDU 226 Reading Sequence I
Spring – 6 courses, 16 credits
EDU 106 Family, School, and Community Connections
UNV 101 GMercyU Service
HIS 132 American History
GEO Geography Elective
EDU 229 Reading Sequence II
MTH 104 Fundamentals of Math II
Summer - 12 credits, 4 courses
SEM course
Religious Studies course
Philosophy course
Science Elective
Second Year – 48 credits
Fall – 6 courses, 18 credits
EDU 223 Teaching Science Pre-K
SPE 231 Mild / Moderate Disabilities
EDU 216 Foundations of Teaching and Learning
MUS 104 Music Appreciation
EDU 228 Arts and Humanities
SPE 232 Students with Complex Needs in the Educational Setting
Spring – 6 courses, 18 credits
SPE 332 Research-Based Practices in the Assessment and Instruction of Students
SEM Seminar
EDU 227 Math Methods for PreK-4
EDU 224 Teaching Social Studies
EDU 316 Reading Sequence IV
SPE 331 Inclusive Practices
Summer – 4 courses, 12 credits
PSY 200 Developmental Psych
Art, ENG, or Lang. Elective
SEM Seminar
ENG Lit, Elective
Third Year – 30 credits
Fall – 6 courses, 18 credits
EDU 309 Tech. Integration in Ed.
EDU 415 Pre-Student Teaching
EDU 414 Classroom Management
EDU 351 Meeting Needs of ELL
EDU 416 The Culturally Responsive Classroom
SOC Sociology Elective
Spring – 1 course, 12 credits
EDU 498 Student Teaching
Meet a GMercyU Education Student
I chose GMercyU partly because of their Teacher Apprentice Program, which puts me in the classroom every semester so I can really learn what it will take to become an amazing teacher.
Have questions?
Contact our Admissions Office today at admissions@gmercyu.edu or 215-641-5510. We're ready to help you!
