Master's (M.ED.) in Special Education with Special Education Pre-K12 and General Education 7-12 PA Teacher Certification

Overview

This master’s program is designed for students seeking Pennsylvania certification as Special Education PreK-12 teachers with General Education 7-12 dual certification eligibility. The general education program of study prepares students for certification as secondary content-area teachers in one of the following subject areas:

• Biology 7-12
• Chemistry 7-12
• English 7-12
• Earth and Space Science 7-12
• General Science 7-12
• Mathematics 7-12
• Physics 7-12
• Social Studies 7-12

Special Education teachers work with students who have a broad range of learning, mental, emotional and physical disabilities. They adapt general education lessons and teach such subjects as reading, writing and math to students with mild and moderate disabilities. They also teach basic skills, including literacy and communication techniques, to students with severe disabilities. 

Classes are arranged in the late afternoons or evenings to make the program convenient for those who work full-time. Students can begin in any semester, with admissions deadlines of July 15 for the fall semester, Dec. 15 for the spring semester and April 15 for the summer. 

Those wishing to apply should complete the online application and provide undergraduate and (if applicable) graduate transcripts.  A grade point average of at least 3.0 is mandated for undergraduate work. Prospective students should also supply two letters of recommendation (academic or professional), a personal statement and an acknowledgement of College of Education policy on clearances. 

Extensive fieldwork is integrated into the courses and master’s candidates student teach for a semester before graduating.  Lehigh operates the nationally-acclaimed Centennial School as a lab Special Education day school that works with children with emotional disturbance and students ages 6-12 with autism while preparing graduate students to become highly-qualified Special Education teachers. 

Opportunities

Lehigh’s faculty in Special Education are noted experts in such areas as autism, learning disabilities, academic intervention and emotional behavior disorders and Positive Behavior Support. Master’s candidates learn the best practices for designing instruction and working with students with a wide variety of disabilities.  

Once graduates of the program are certified to teach in Pennsylvania, that certification has reciprocity in most states. 

Curriculum