FAQ for Prospective Full-Time Students

Answers For Questions Frequently Asked About
Workforce Education and Development

What is this all about?

  Workforce Education and Development (WF ED) at Penn State is a unique college program for young people who complete career and technical education (vo-tech) programs in high school or postsecondary technical colleges. This program aims to prepare young people to teach the occupational area they studied before coming to Penn State. WF ED graduates earn the Bachelor of Science degree and the Pennsylvania state certificate that allows them to teach in public schools.

I went to the career and technical school (vo-tech) and did not take high school courses to prepare for college. Can she/he be accepted?

  Yes. In fact, the technical program you completed in high school is required for admission to this program. Workforce Education and Development is for students who completed technical high school programs, including automotive technology, auto body technology, culinary arts, graphic arts, drafting, cosmetology, machining, welding, carpentry, masonry, HVAC, computer networking, electrical technology, electronics, plumbing, commercial art, and more.

I went to the career and technical school (vo-tech) and did not take high school courses to prepare for college. Can she/he succeed at Penn State?

  Our goal is to help students succeed. Because WF ED is a small program, our advisors and program instructors know and treat each of our students as individuals. We encourage students to ask instructors for help, and we are available to meet with students.

  Penn State also provides a variety of services to help students succeed. Students may be paired with a tutor to get help with specific courses, may work with a specialist to improve study skills, may learn computer skills at workshops, may get help writing papers, or may take advantage of other services that help them learn and perform well in their classes.

What are the job prospects in this field?

  Administrators tell us there is a growing need for qualified technical instructors. Our graduates report that their degree bought them career flexibility. Most alumni report that the degree opens doors to a wide range of careers. Many make a happy career of teaching at their local school. Others begin as high school teachers and move on to high school administration or teaching at the college level. Others transfer the planning, teamwork, and motivational skills they use as classroom teachers to management and executive positions in industry.

We’re not wealthy. How can we afford to pay for college?

  Penn State, through state, federal and private funding, makes aid available to students to ensure that people with financial need can go to college. To apply for the aid, you must complete a “Free Application for Federal Student Aid” application and you must take at least six credits each semester. U.S. law requires males to register for Selective Service. More information about financial assistance is available through the Penn State Office of Student Aid.
 

I know someone who was hired to teach at our tech school, and he didn’t have to go to college before he got that job. Can’t I do that?

  You may be able to do that some day, but not right out of high school. Pennsylvania state law requires vocational technical instructors to have a minimum of 4,000 hours of paid work experience in the trade area before they teach. By the time you get that work experience, you may not be willing to leave full-time work to go back to school as an adult.

  Other Pennsylvania universities require students to get that work experience before they begin teaching. Penn State makes the work experience a requirement for graduation, not admission. That means Penn State is the only school that will accept you right after high school or community college graduation. Most WF ED students earn their work experience through a combination of part-time work, summer jobs, and a year of full-time work before they student teach.

Can I take the required courses at our local Penn State campus or another college?

  Yes. You may begin close to home. In fact, starting at home can save money and may make it easier for you to get the required work experience in her/his technical area. However, you probably will have to take courses at University Park after a year or two.

  The Workforce Education and Development (WF ED) Bachelor of Science degree requires General Education courses in English, speech, mathematics, psychology, sciences, and the arts, in addition to courses with a major focus in WF ED. Students may take the General Education courses at any accredited university or college.  Required WF ED courses are offered at the University Park campus and several outreach sites within the 30 county service region of the Professional Personnel Development Center at Penn State.

I wanted to go to another college to become more advanced in her/his trade area. Can I start there and then transfer to Penn State later?

  Yes. Penn State WF ED accepts students from other accredited colleges or universities. Many of the credits earned at the other college can count as the General Education courses required for the Bachelor of Science degree. Most times, however, not all of the credits for a postsecondary technical degree or certificate count toward the Bachelor of Science degree.

How long will it take to graduate?

  Before Penn State graduation, students must complete successfully the required General Education courses, the required WF ED courses, 4,000 hours of paid work experience in the trade, a test to prove occupational competency, student teaching, and a national teacher test. Most students complete those requirements in five years.

No one else in our family has ever gone to college. Where can we go for help when we have questions?

  The Workforce Education and Development Program has been working with students and families just like you since 1923, so our staff and instructors are experienced at answering questions or referring you to people who can help you. Contact us at 814-863-0804 or via email at crc10@psu.edu. In addition, Penn State has many services to help students succeed. The Student Support Services and the Comprehensive Studies Program are available for first-generation college students and students who need extra support in surviving at college.

What do I have to do to get into the Workforce Education and Development Program at Penn State?

  To be eligible for the Workforce Education and Development Program at Penn State, students must complete a technical training program in high school or at an accredited postsecondary school, be academically and technically competent, and want to teach. Then they must take the SAT exam and apply for admission at the Pennsylvania State University.