4+1 Accelerated Master's, Elementary & Secondary Education

Distribution of coursework across undergraduate and graduate study:

• Sophomore Year (3 credit hours)
• Junior Year (3 credit hours)
• Senior Year (12 credit hours)
• College of Education - Summer (12 credits)
• College of Education - Fall (9 credits)
• College of Education - Spring (6 credits)

Distribution of coursework across undergraduate and graduate study:

• Sophomore Year (3 credit hours)
• Junior Year (6 credit hours)
• Senior Year (6 credit hours)
• College of Education - Summer (6 credits)
• College of Education - Fall (9 credits)
• College of Education - Spring (3-6 credits)

The University requires that master’s degrees carry at least 30 credits minimum. This means students in the 5-year program must have credits “left over” from their bachelor’s program to move across to the College of Education towards their master’s degree. Students unable to accrue enough credits outside their undergraduate degree programs may need to take additional credits after beginning graduate study to reach the requirement.

In order to be eligible for secondary certification, by the time a student finishes the program he or she must have demonstrated competence in the subject matter area of that certification. On admission, each student meets with the content-area specialist in the field in which the student seeks secondary certification. 

The content-area specialist, who is a faculty member in the College of Arts and Sciences, reviews the student’s transcripts and compares the student’s coursework with the content-area guide sheet approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). Following this audit, the content-area specialist will identify if any additional coursework in the content-area is needed. The student is responsible for completing this coursework prior to applying for secondary certification.

Students in this program who wish to obtain the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree rather than the M.Ed. degree may petition to change to that degree after admission to graduate study. The M.A. degree requires 42 credits instead of 33 credits and has specific content-area expertise requirements. See the M.A. degree description for its requirements.

Lehigh undergraduate students can earn their bachelor's degree (in their major of choice) and Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree in General Education Elementary Education or Secondary Education plus Pennsylvania Teacher Certification in 5 years. 

We are accredited by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to certify general education teachers in: 

• Preschool and Elementary Education: PreK-4th grade 
• Secondary Education (Grades 7-12)  in Specific Content Areas:
  • English
  • Mathematics
  • Science (science has very specific certification areas): General Science, Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, and Physics
  • Social Studies 

You must meet the following requirements to complete the program:

• Technically, you need 121 credits to complete your undergraduate degree. However, in order to complete the 5 year program on time, you will need to be able to count at least 1 course (3 credits) that you took as an undergraduate toward your graduate degree. For this reason, you need to complete your undergraduate degree with a minimum of 124 credits.  
•  
• Your master’s degree will require a minimum of 30 credits.
• To be eligible for PDE Certification, you must complete all of the coursework and fieldwork required in your certification area.

Technically, no.

For PreK-4th Grade Certification, there are no prerequisites. Students may major in any area they choose. For Secondary Certification, it is strongly recommended that you major in the content area in which you’re seeking certification (e.g., individuals who wish to teach English will be best served by having an undergraduate major in English). If you major in another area, then you will likely need to take additional content area courses in order to meet PDE’s requirements for certification. Once you are admitted to the Secondary Certification program, we will complete a transcript review with you to officially determine your program of study.  

If you have questions about this, please contact Dr. Hammond, program director, for more information.

Yes!  COE also offers PA certification or pathways to additional endorsements in:

• Special Education: PreK-12th grades - Contact Minyi Dennis, SPED program director, to answer questions about special education certification: mis210@lehigh.edu
• English as a Second Language - Contact Sara Kangas, SPED faculty, to answer questions about ESL certification: sak516@lehigh.edu
• Social Emotional Behavioral Wellness Endorsement - Contact Tom Hammond, TLT program director, to answer questions about the social emotional behavioral wellness endorsement: tch207@lehigh.edu
• Certificate in Behavior Analysis - Contact Minyi Dennis, SPED program director, to answer questions about behavior analysis certificate: mis210@lehigh.edu

Adding on certifications requires additional time beyond 5 years. If you are interested in additional certifications, please contact the faculty listed above. Beyond those listed, we do not certify in other areas (e.g., Foreign Language, Music, Art, or Business Education). 

Pennsylvania! Pennsylvania certification “travels” well to most other states (approximately 45 other states). Please contact the receiving state’s Department of Education to determine how to transfer your license.

While you are an undergraduate, you will still be working toward your undergraduate degree/major. You will have both an undergraduate and a graduate COE advisor who will help guide you through a specific course plan, so that you stay on track to complete your undergraduate degree in 4 years and your master’s degree + PA certification one year later.

You will meet with both your undergraduate and COE advisor each semester. Please stay in close contact with both of your advisors to be sure you stay on track to complete the program on time.

Typically the pace of courses is as follows:

• For PreK-4 certification: 1 course sophomore year (300 level only), 1 course junior year (or 2 if you start as a junior), 4 courses senior year (2 per semester). 
• For 7th-12th grade certifications: 1 course sophomore year (300 level only), 1 course junior year (or 2 if you start as a junior), 2 courses senior year (1 per semester)

Yes! For the vast majority of COE courses, you will get experience in local classrooms (“fieldwork”).  Fieldwork experiences are set up for you through our Office of Professional Certification. In order to complete fieldwork, you will need to hold clearances to work in schools.  For more information, see the College of Education’s Clearance Policy.

No. This can be confusing to many students, so make sure you talk with your COE advisor about this. While you are an undergraduate, the courses you take in the COE automatically count toward your undergraduate degree.  

In order to complete the 5 year program on time, you will need to be able to count at least 1 course (3 credits) that you took as an undergraduate toward your graduate degree. For this reason, you need to complete your undergraduate degree with a minimum of 124 credits.  

To have a COE course count toward your graduate degree, you will complete the Undergraduate Petition to Reserve Courses for Graduate Degree. Complete this petition during the fall of your senior year. Students typically petition to have 3-6 credits moved toward their graduate degree. 

Yes. If you are taking 1 graduate course, you are limited to 18 credits per semester. If you are taking 2 graduate courses, you are limited to 15 credits per semester.

Yes! We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity. Often our students study abroad during their junior year. If you plan to study abroad, please discuss this (and your timing) with your COE advisor.

No, COE courses may be taken as part of your regular Lehigh tuition. However, if you take courses in the winter or summer, there is an extra cost.

You cannot apply until you are a sophomore. We recommend applying during the fall of your sophomore year. 

You need a 2.75 undergraduate GPA to be eligible for enrollment. Donna Toothman will provide you with a Google survey application; email her at djt2@lehigh.edu. You will answer several questions about your interest in the program, and we will verify your undergraduate GPA. You do not need letters of recommendation and will typically hear a decision within 4 weeks of your application.

Yes. During your senior year, you need to officially apply to the COE Graduate School.  Requirements are a 3.0 undergraduate GPA (or 2.75 for conditional acceptance), personal statement, resume, official transcript, and 2 letters of recommendation. GREs are not required. You will typically hear a decision within 4 weeks of applying.

No. You'll pay the COE tuition rate. If you plan your program optimally and do not add on additional certifications, you will likely pay for 24 credits.

If you have additional questions, please reach out to:

• Donna Toothman, Teacher Education program coordinator, who can answer questions about requirements and processes of applying.
• Tom Hammond, Teacher Education program director, who can answer questions about general education certification or the social emotional behavioral wellness endorsement.