Our master’s degree in Elementary Education with Pennsylvania certification in pre-kindergarten through grade 4 is designed for the college graduate who pursued a field other than education and now wants to become a certified elementary school teacher.
Overview
Working with our dedicated faculty, master’s candidates learn best practices for teaching all children, including English language learners and pupils with special needs. Candidates must take a minimum of 14 courses (42 credits) for the Master of Education and PreK-4 Level 1 Teacher Certification in Pennsylvania. A dual certification option in Special Education (PreK-12) or English as a Second Language (ESL) is available for additional course work.
Full-time students can complete the program in two years. A typical course load for such students is three courses in the fall, three in spring and three or four in the summer. There is an option for a part-time course load.
Candidates study elementary curricula and learn the most effective methods for working with students of different abilities and backgrounds. Additionally, candidates are trained in the basic principles of research and testing and techniques for gathering and analyzing educational data.
The prospective educators are required to complete fieldwork for their classes and a full semester, spring or fall, of student teaching in a classroom as the culmination of the program. The College of Education's Office of Professional Certification makes the student teaching placement.
Application Requirements
- Transcripts, minimum GPA of 3.0 (undergraduate)
- Two letters of recommendation
- Proof of English proficiency
- Personal statement
- Undergraduate coursework audit by content area expert in the certification area
- Professional resume
- Acknowledgement of the College of Education policy on background clearances
Quick Facts
Transcript Evaluations: Evaluations are required for applicants who have earned a degree outside the U.S.
Deadline(s): April 15 for summer semester summer, July 15 for fall semester start, December 15 for spring semester start. The application and all supporting materials are due by the listed deadlines.
Modality: On-Campus
Course Requirements: 14 courses (42 credits) including the PreK-4 Level 1 PA Teacher Certification
Typical Course Load: Fall (2-3 courses), spring (2-3 courses), summer (3-4 courses)
Time to Completion: Typically 2 years
Practical Experience Component: Student teaching in the last semester (only for those looking for additional certification)
Program Alumni: Preschool and elementary school teachers
Please Note: Due to Pennsylvania Department of Education criteria, international students are not eligible for PDE certification. Lehigh is unable to provide immigration sponsorship for this program.
Career Opportunities
Once teachers are certified in Pennsylvania, that certification has reciprocity in most states. Educators who have completed Lehigh’s program teach in almost every state in the United States as well as overseas.
Rising school enrollments and teacher retirements have contributed to a teacher shortage in Pennsylvania and around the country. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is predicting that the number of teaching positions for kindergarten and elementary school teachers will rise by 7 percent from 2016 to 2026, adding about 116,300 jobs.
Pennsylvania Department of Education Requirements
It is important for individuals considering teaching as a career to be aware of the fairly rigorous academic, health, and personal character requirements for teacher certification that are required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) for teacher candidates statewide:
- An overall GPA of at least 3.0 (both graduate and undergraduate).
- Clearances through the Office of Professional Certification
Please refer to the Pennsylvania Department of Education for additional information on Pennsylvania Certification.
Curriculum
All courses are 3 credits, unless otherwise noted. Course descriptions can be found in the course catalog.
| course number | course name |
|---|---|
| SPED 33 | Education and Inclusion of Individuals with Special Needs |
| TLT 380 | Child Development and Cognition |
| TLT 404 | Cultural and Linguistic Diversity |
| TLT 405 | Principles and Applications of K-12 Assessment |
| TLT 407 | Instructional Design for K-12 Classrooms |
| TLT 409 | K-12 Classroom Environment and Management |
| TLT 411 | Early Childhood Education |
| course number | course name |
|---|---|
| SPED 465 | Advanced Inclusionary Practices in K-12 |
| TLT 412 | Social Studies in PreK through 4th Grade |
| TLT 420 | Literacy in PreK through 4th Grade: Reading and Its Foundations |
| TLT 422 | Literacy in PreK through 4th Grade: Writing and Its Foundations |
| TLT 426 | Science in PreK through 4th Grade |
| TLT 428 | Mathematics and Numeracy in PreK through 4th Grade |
| course number | course name |
|---|---|
| TLT 444 | General Education Student Teaching and Seminar |
| course number | course name |
|---|---|
| SPED 418 | Alternative Curricular Approaches |
| SPED 419 | Intensive Intervention in Reading |
| SPED 421 | Intensive Intervention in Mathematics and Content Area Literacy |
| SPED 423 | Supporting Transition for Individuals with Disabilities |
| SPED 432 | Positive Behavior Support |
| SPED 452 | Assessment in Special Education |
Dual certification in PreK-12 will require the following to replace TLT 444 above:
| course number | course name |
|---|---|
| TLT 442 | General Education and Special Education Student Teaching and Seminar |
Faculty & Staff
-
Donna Toothman
Program Coordinator, Teaching, Learning, and Technology & Special Education Programs
-
Dr. Alec M. Bodzin
Professor
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Dr. Thomas C. Hammond
Associate Professor and Program Director
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Dr. Shan Li
Affiliated Faculty
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Dr. Zilong Pan
Assistant Professor
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Dr. L. Brook Sawyer
Professor and Associate Dean for Graduate Studies
-
Dr. Juan Zheng
Assistant Professor
