Academic Programs

All school-based professional preparation programs offered at Shippensburg University are housed within or coordinated through the College of Education & Human Services. All programs are approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), nationally recognized by their content specific Specialized Professional Associations (SPA’s) and other nationally recognized accreditors such as CACREP, and all are accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Colleges of Teacher Education (NCATE). NCATE is the nationally recognized and approved overarching accreditor for school-based professionals and includes teachers, school counselors, reading specialists, special educators, principals, and superintendents. Shippensburg University is a charter member of NCATE and has been continuously accredited by NCATE since 1954.

Being an accredited institution recognizes Shippensburg University as an educational institution that meets or exceeds state and national standards.  This accreditation involves a regular process of alignment with state teacher education program standards and compliance with all aspects of appropriate Pennsylvania state law and code.

NCATE focuses on establishing high-quality preparation for teachers and other professionals. Through the process of professional accreditation of schools, colleges and departments of education, NCATE works to make a difference in the quality of teaching and teacher preparation today, tomorrow, and for the next century. NCATE’s performance-based system of accreditation fosters competent classroom teachers and other educators who work to improve the education of all PK-12 students.

Shippensburg University recognizes that the accreditation process is an important time for self-study and reflection. The accreditation process allows us to continually reflect and implement changes in order to better prepare teacher candidates and other school professionals to impact PK-12 student learning.

The chart below lists the name of each program, the corresponding certification level (initial or advanced), the academic degree awarded, and the name of the Specialized Professional Association (SPA).