As school enrollments rise and older teachers retire, there is great demand for new teachers in Pennsylvania and across the United States. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is predicting that employment of high school teachers will grow by 8 percent from 2016 to 2026.
Overview
The Secondary Education program is designed for the college graduate who wants to become a teacher certified to work with students in grades 7-12. This degree offers graduate courses designed to promote evidence-based instructional practices. The M.Ed. is best suited to students who have sufficient background content knowledge in a secondary certification area, such as history, English, mathematics, or a science. Graduates teach Biology, English, Physics, Chemistry, General Science, Social Studies, Earth and Space Science, and Mathematics in secondary schools in Pennsylvania and beyond.
Master’s candidates work with our faculty to become highly skilled in best practices and effective methods for teaching all learners, including those with special needs and English language learners.
The M.Ed. degree requires the completion of 11 courses (33 credits). Full-time students with content-area prerequisites can complete the program within 18 months.
Students can choose from one of eight certification areas to teach in grades 7-12:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Earth and Space Science
- General Science
- Physics
- English
- Mathematics
- Social Studies
Candidates will graduate with Level 1 Teacher Certification in Pennsylvania in one of these subject areas. Some students opt for dual certifications, for example, in an academic subject and special education.
To be eligible for certification, all master’s candidates must demonstrate competence in their subject areas. On admission, each student meets with a faculty member who is a content expert in the field in which the student seeks certification. The faculty member will review the student’s transcripts and compare the coursework to the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s standards and recommend additional classes if needed.
In addition to learning best practices for working with students of different abilities and backgrounds, candidates are trained in the basic principles of research, testing and techniques for gathering and analyzing educational data.
During the program, master’s candidates gain practical experience working with teachers and students in a practicum of 8-10 hours per week. They spend their final semester student teaching in a classroom, with Lehigh’s certification office making the placement.
Once certified to teach in Pennsylvania, that certification has reciprocity in most states.
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
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 start, 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: 11 courses (33 credits)
Typical Course Load: Fall (2-3 courses), spring (2-3 courses), summer (2 courses)
Time to Completion: 18 months
Practical Experience Component: Student teaching in the last semester (only for those looking for additional certification)
Program Alumni: Biology, English, Physics, Chemistry, General Science, Social Studies, Earth and Space Science, and Mathematics 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.
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.
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. Upon admission, each student meets with the content-area specialist in the field in which they seek 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 that 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 what additional coursework in the content-area is needed, if any. The student is responsible for completing this coursework prior to applying for secondary certification.
Curriculum
All courses are 3 credits, unless otherwise noted. Course descriptions can be found in the course catalog.
| course number | course name |
|---|---|
| SPED 332 | Education and Inclusion of Individuals with Special Needs |
| TLT 404 | Diversity, Families, and School Collaborations in K-12 |
| 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 |
You will choose one of the content-area teaching methods course with the approval of your adviser:
| course number | course name |
|---|---|
| TLT 431 | Social Studies in Middle Level and High School Education |
| TLT 434 | English in Middle Level and High School Education |
| TLT 436 | Science in Middle Level and High School Education |
| TLT 438 | Mathematics in Middle Level and High School Education |
| Plus: | |
| TLT 432 | Reading and Critical Thinking in Middle Level and High School Education |
| SPED 465 | Advanced Inclusionary Practices in K-12 |
| TLT XXX | Elective (with advisor approval) |
| course number | course name |
|---|---|
| TLT 440 | Pre-professional Seminar |
| TLT 444 | General Education Student Teaching and Seminar |
| Additional coursework to add dual certification in Special Education PreK-12 (21 credits; 3 credit elective can be applied) | |
| TLT 411 | Early Childhood Education |
| SPED 418 | Alternative Curricular Approaches |
| SPED 419 | Intensive Intervention in Reading |
| SPED 421 | Intensive Intervention in Mathematics and Content Area Literacy |
| SPED 423 | Transition to Post-school life |
| SPED 432 | Positive Behavior Support |
| SPED 452 | Assessment in Special Education |
| Extended Field Experience (3 credits) | Dual certification in General Education 7-12 and Special Education PreK-12 will require the following to replace TLT 444: |
| TLT 442 | General Education and Special Education Student Teaching and Seminar |
*M.Ed. in Secondary and dual certification in General Education 7-12 and Special Education 7-12 is an option for 15 additional credits (45 credits total with 3 of these credits applied toward the elective above).
Faculty & Staff
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Donna Toothman
Program Coordinator, Teaching, Learning, and Technology & Special Education Programs
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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
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Dr. Juan Zheng
Assistant Professor
