Drexel​ ​University’s​ ​School​ ​of​ ​Education​ ​offers​ ​a​ ​number​ ​of​ ​post-baccalaureate​ ​and graduate​ teaching​ ​certification​ ​programs​ ​that​ ​prepare​ ​students​ to​ ​obtain​ ​their teacher​ ​certification​ ​in​ ​Pennsylvania​. Students in the MS in Teaching Learning and Curriculum: Teacher Certification program can earn PA Instructional I certification in elementary (prek-4), middle level (4-8) secondary (7-12), and secondary and special education dual certification.

Whether​ ​you​ ​are​ ​interested​ ​in​ ​becoming​ ​a​ ​teacher​ ​in​ ​the​ ​state​ ​of​ ​Pennsylvania​ ​or broadening​ ​your​ ​knowledge​ ​to​ ​advance​ ​your​ ​career​ ​within​ ​the​ ​field​ ​of​ ​education, Drexel​ ​University’s​ ​School​ ​of​ ​Education​ ​Track​ ​1​ ​graduate​ ​degree​ ​program​ ​equips teachers​ ​with​ ​the​ ​skills​ ​to​ ​succeed​ ​in​ ​K-12​ ​education​ ​or​ ​the​ ​workforce.

What ​Can ​You ​Do ​with ​a ​Master’s ​Degree Certification ​in ​Teaching, ​Learning, ​& ​Curriculum?

The​ ​MS​ ​in​ ​Teaching,​ ​Learning​ ​and​ ​Curriculum:​ ​Teacher​ ​Certification​ ​prepares students​ ​academically​ ​and​ ​practically​ ​for​ ​careers​ ​in​ ​K–12​ ​teaching​ ​or​ ​other educational​ ​settings,​ ​including​ ​capabilities​ ​to:

• Demonstrate​ ​professional​ ​ethics​ ​and​ ​independent​ ​and​ ​creative​ ​teacher leadership
• Understand​ ​the​ ​changing​ ​role​ ​of​ ​teachers​ ​in​ ​increasingly​ ​diverse​ ​societies
• Demonstrate​ ​a​ ​strong​ ​academic​ ​background​ ​in​ ​all​ ​subject​ ​areas​ ​that​ ​meet PDE​ ​requirements​ ​including​ ​literacy,​ ​language​ ​and​ ​STEM​ ​areas
• Demonstrate​ ​the​ ​ability​ ​to​ ​create​ ​and​ ​maintain​ ​a​ ​positive​ ​and​ ​democratic classroom​ ​climate​ ​for​ ​students
• Demonstrate​ ​a​ ​thorough​ ​understanding​ ​of​ ​child​ ​development​ ​in​ ​their​ ​ability​ ​to develop​ ​and​ ​implement​ ​learning​ ​opportunities​ ​that​ ​are​ ​unique​ ​to​ ​every​ ​child

As​ ​a​ ​student​ ​nears​ ​program​ ​completion,​ ​Drexel’s​ ​Field​ ​Placement​ ​Office​ ​offers multiple​ ​resources​ ​to​ ​help​ ​prepare​ ​the​ ​student’s​ ​resume​ ​and​ ​professional​ ​network, including​ ​interviewing​ ​and​ ​job​ ​placement​ ​opportunities.

​Master’s ​Degree ​in ​Teaching, ​Learning, ​& Curriculum ​- ​Program ​Options

The​ Master​ ​of​ ​Science​ ​(MS)​ ​degree​ ​in​ ​Teaching,​ ​Learning​ ​and​ ​Curriculum​ ​(Track​ ​1) is​ ​offered:

• Online:​ Drexel​ ​online​ ​programs​ ​offer​ ​the​ ​same​ ​faculty,​ ​curricula​ ​and​ ​degrees as​ ​Drexel's​ ​distinguished​ ​on-campus​ ​programs.​ The online teaching certification program is designed to do offered part-time to provide more flexibility while working to obtain a master's in education with a teacher certification. 
  • Note​ ​that​ ​all​ ​coursework​ ​is​ ​online,​ ​but​ ​field​ ​experiences​ ​must​ ​be completed​ ​on​ ​site​ ​at​ ​an​ ​approved​ ​school​ ​district​ ​in​ ​your​ ​area.
• On​ ​site:​ ​Held​ ​at​ ​Drexel’s​ ​Main​ ​Campus​ ​in​ ​Philadelphia,​ ​PA—The​ ​on-campus master’s​ ​degree​ ​in​ ​teaching​ ​and​ ​teacher​ ​certification​ program​ ​is​ ​offered​ ​in​ ​the evenings​ ​on​ ​a​ ​full-​ ​or​ ​part-time​ ​basis​ ​in​ ​Philadelphia.

For​ ​graduate​ ​students​ ​that​ ​already​ ​have​ ​a​ ​master’s​ ​degree​ ​and​ ​are​ ​interested​ ​in taking​ ​graduate-level​ ​courses,​ ​Pennsylvania​ ​state​ ​requirements​ ​for​ ​obtaining​ ​your teaching​ ​certification​ ​includes​ ​a​ ​two-tiered​ ​certification​ ​system:​ Instructional​ ​I Certificate​ ​and​ Instructional​ ​II​ ​Certificate​.

Types ​of ​Teaching ​Certifications

Instructional​ ​I​ ​Certification

A​ ​candidate’s​ ​typical​ ​initial​ ​teaching​ ​certification​ ​is​ ​known​ ​as​ ​“Instructional​ ​I”.​ ​For graduate​ ​students​ ​considering​ ​a​ ​career​ ​change​ ​or​ ​to​ ​start​ ​a​ ​new​ ​career​ ​in​ ​the education​ ​field,​ ​the​ ​Instructional​ ​I​ ​Teaching​ ​Certification​ ​program​ ​would​ ​be​ ​the​ ​best graduate​ ​program​ ​option.​ This program would also apply to out-of-state graduate degree candidates looking to earn their initial certification to teach in Pennsylvania.

The​ ​Instructional​ ​I​ ​certification,​ ​as​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the​ ​master’s​ ​degree​ ​in​ ​Teaching,​ ​Learning &​ ​Curriculum​ ​program​ ​at​ ​Drexel​ ​University,​ ​qualifies​ ​teachers​ ​to​ ​teach​ ​for​ ​a maximum​ ​of​ ​six​ ​years.​ ​Your​ ​master’s​ ​program​ ​advisor​ ​can​ ​help​ ​evaluate​ ​your incoming​ ​credentials​ ​to​ ​determine​ ​the​ ​best​ ​plan​ ​of​ ​study​ ​for​ ​you,​ ​including​ ​whether you​ ​qualify​ ​for​ ​the​ ​Instructional​ ​II​ ​certification.

Instructional​ ​II​ ​Certification

The​ ​Instructional​ ​II​ ​Certification​ ​is​ ​considered​ ​a​ ​“permanent”​ ​teaching​ ​certification.​ ​A teacher​ ​interested​ ​in​ ​advancing​ ​and​ ​applying​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Instructional​ ​II​ ​certification​ ​must have​ ​the​ ​following​ ​prerequisites:

• Instructional​ ​I​ ​Certification
• A​ ​minimum​ ​of​ ​three​ ​years​ ​and​ ​a​ ​maximum​ ​of​ ​six​ ​years​ ​of​ ​teaching​ ​experience on​ ​an​ ​Instructional​ ​I​ ​Teaching​ ​Certificate
• 24​ ​semester-hour​ ​(or​ ​36​ ​quarter-hour)​ ​credits​ ​beyond​ ​a​ ​bachelor’s​ ​degree
• Completion​ ​of​ ​an​ ​induction​ ​program​ ​(​provided​ ​by​ ​a​ ​teacher’s​ ​school of​ ​employment)

Once​ ​a​ ​student​ ​has​ ​successfully​ ​completed​ ​the​ ​course​ ​of​ ​study​ ​and​ ​all​ ​exams required​ ​by​ ​the​ ​Pennsylvania​ ​Department​ ​of​ ​Education​ ​(PDE),​ ​Drexel​ will recommend​ the​ ​student​ ​to​ ​the​ ​PDE​ ​for​ ​issuance​ ​of​ ​the​ ​appropriate​ ​teaching certificate.

For​ ​more​ ​information​ ​regarding​ ​certification​ ​descriptions​ ​and​ ​requirements,​ ​students should​ ​visit​ ​the​ Drexel​ ​University​ ​Course​ ​Catalog.

MS ​in ​Teaching, ​Learning, ​and ​Curriculum Program ​Requirements

GPA​ ​Requirements

The​ ​School​ ​of​ ​Education​ ​requires​ ​that​ ​students​ ​have​ ​a​ ​“B”​ ​average​ ​(3.0​ ​GPA)​ ​in content​ teaching​ ​certification​ ​courses​ ​needed​ ​for​ ​teacher​ ​certification​ ​in​ ​addition​ ​to​ ​a grade​ ​of​ ​“B”​ ​or​ ​better​ ​in​ ​each​ ​core​ ​pedagogy​ ​course​ in​ ​accordance​ ​with​ ​the​ ​teacher certification​ ​requirements.

Clearance​ ​Requirements

All​ ​post-baccalaureate​ ​and​ ​graduate​ ​students​ ​are​ ​required​ ​to​ ​obtain​ ​and​ ​submit copies​ ​of​ ​the​ ​following​ ​clearances​ ​to​ ​the​ ​School​ ​of​ ​Education​ ​at​ ​the​ ​time​ ​of acceptance​ ​to​ ​the​ teacher​ ​certification​ ​program​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​participate​ ​in​ ​classroom observations​ ​and​ ​student​ ​teaching​ ​in​ ​Pennsylvania.​ ​All​ ​students​ ​(Pennsylvania​ ​and Non-Pennsylvania)​ ​must​ ​obtain​ ​the​ ​FBI​ ​clearance.​ ​Non-Pennsylvania​ ​students should​ ​contact​ ​their​ ​state's​ ​department​ ​of​ ​education​ ​or​ ​school​ ​district​ ​office​ ​for​ ​a​ ​list of​ ​clearances​ ​required​ ​in​ ​their​ ​state.

• Child​ ​abuse
• Criminal​ ​history
• FBI​ ​clearance
• Tuberculosis​ ​(TB)​ ​(required​ ​by​ ​some​ ​school​ ​districts)
• Recognizing​ ​and​ ​Reporting​ ​Child​ ​Abuse​ ​Training​ ​Certificate

Act​ ​48​ ​Requirements

To​ ​maintain​ ​Instructional​ ​I​ ​and​ ​Instructional​ ​II​ ​Certifications,​ ​the​ ​PDE​ ​requires​ ​a teacher​ ​to​ ​complete​ ​the​ ​minimal​ ​equivalent​ ​of​ ​6​ ​semester-hour​ ​(or​ ​9​ ​quarter-hour) credits,​ ​180​ ​credits​ ​of​ ​professional​ ​development,​ ​or​ ​a​ ​combination​ ​of​ ​credits​ ​and professional​ ​development​ ​hours​ ​every​ ​five​ ​years.​ ​College​ ​credits​ ​must​ ​be​ ​acquired from​ ​an​ ​accredited​ ​four-year,​ ​degree-granting​ ​college​ ​or​ ​university.

Note:​ ​For​ ​those​ ​working​ ​to​ ​acquire​ ​Instructional​ ​II​ ​Certification,​ ​the​ ​24​ ​semester credits​ ​or​ ​36​ ​quarter​ ​credits​ ​needed​ ​to​ ​apply​ ​for​ ​Instructional​ ​II​ ​may​ ​also​ ​count towards​ ​Act​ ​48​ ​requirements.​ ​Undergraduate​ ​credits​ ​from​ ​a​ ​community​ ​college​ ​may not​ ​be​ ​counted​ ​toward​ ​Act​ ​48​ ​credits​ ​for​ ​Instructional​ ​II​ ​Certification.

For​ ​more​ ​information​ ​and​ ​to​ ​apply​ ​credits​ ​to​ ​your​ ​state​ ​record,​ ​visit​ ​the​ ​PA Department​ ​of​ ​Education​ ​Act​ ​48​ ​Continuing​ ​Professional​ ​Education.

​Elementary​ ​Certification​ ​(Grades​ ​Prek-4)

The​ ​PA​ ​Educator​ ​Certification​ ​Tests​ ​(PECT)​ ​are​ ​required​ to​ ​obtain​ ​your​ ​Elementary (Grades​ ​PreK-4)​ teacher​ ​certification​ ​in​ ​Pennsylvania​.​ ​Candidates are​ ​required​ ​to take​ ​the​ ​appropriate​ ​assessment​ ​exam​ ​for​ ​each​ ​area​ ​of​ ​certification​ ​they​ ​wish​ ​to obtain.

For​ ​more​ ​information​ ​about​ ​examinations​ ​and​ ​registration,​ ​visit​ ​the​ PA​ ​Educator Certification​ ​Tests​ ​(PECT).

Middle Level (Grades 4-8)

The Praxis examinations are required for all Middle Level Certification candidates. Students must pass the PA Grades 4-8 Core Assessment subtests in Pedagogy, English Language Arts/Social Studies and Mathematics/Science as well as the subject area concentration test(s) for the area of certification they wish to obtain.

For more information about examination and registration, please visit the Praxis website.

Secondary​ ​Certification​ ​(Grades​ ​7-12)

All​ ​post-bachelor’s​ ​students​ ​seeking​ ​Secondary​ ​(Grades​ ​7-12)​ teaching​ ​certifications in​ ​Pennsylvania​ must​ ​pass​ ​the​ appropriate​ ​Praxis​ ​II​ Licensure Exam(s)​ required ​for​ ​each​ ​area​ ​of​ ​certification​ ​they wish​ ​to​ ​obtain.

For​ ​more​ ​information​ ​about​ ​examination​ ​and​ ​registration,​ ​please​ ​visit​ ​the​ Praxis Series.

Note:​ ​PA​ ​state​ ​teacher​ ​certification​ ​requires​ ​U.S.​ ​citizenship​ ​or​ ​a​ ​declaration​ ​of intent​ ​to​ ​become​ ​a​ ​U.S.​ ​citizen.​ ​Students​ ​not​ ​living​ ​in​ ​the​ ​U.S.​ ​should​ ​contact​ ​the School​ ​of​ ​Education​ ​at​ ​215.895.6770​ ​for​ ​specific​ ​requirements​ ​for​ ​international​ ​field experiences,​ ​PECT​ ​or​ ​Praxis​ ​exams,​ ​and​ ​certification​ ​application​ ​requirements before​ ​matriculating​ ​into​ ​the​ ​program.

Secondary Education/Special Education Dual Certification

While other programs require students to complete one certification at a time, Drexel offers students the ability to earn PA instructional I secondary certification and Instructional II special education (grades 7-12) with enough credits to complete a master's degree. This track saves students time and makes them more attractive in the job market. Students gain an edge in experience by completing 270 hours of field experiences and 14-16 weeks of student teaching. The School of Education's Field Placement Office works closely with students to secure all placements based on PA Department of Education's requirements.

Teaching, ​Learning, ​and ​Curriculum: ​Teacher Certification ​Courses ​& ​Curriculum

The​ ​MS​ ​in​ ​Teaching,​ ​Learning​ ​and​ ​Curriculum:​ ​Teacher​ ​Certification​ program​ ​at Drexel​ ​University​ ​offers​ ​a​ ​curriculum​ ​that​ ​reflects​ ​the​ ​latest​ ​trends​ ​and​ ​practices​ ​in teaching​ ​and​ ​learning.​ ​Students​ ​must​ ​successfully​ ​complete​ ​a​ ​minimum​ ​of​ ​45 credits​,​ ​allowing​ ​them​ ​to​ become​ ​certified​ ​to​ ​teach​ ​in​ ​the​ ​following​ ​areas:

• Elementary​ ​education​ ​(PK–4)
• Middle level education (4-8)
• Secondary​ ​education​ ​(7–12)
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Earth​ ​and​ ​space​ ​science
• English
• General​ ​science
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Social​ ​studies
• Special​ ​Education*

*Note:​ ​Certification​ ​is​ ​available​ ​as​ ​an​ ​add-on​ ​certification​ ​with​ ​additional​ ​coursework

All​ ​graduate​ ​students​ ​must​ ​also​ ​select​ ​professional​ ​electives​ ​with​ ​guidance​ ​from​ ​one of​ ​our​ ​master’s​ ​program​ ​advisors.​ ​Professional​ ​electives​ ​may​ ​be​ ​taken​ ​from​ ​any graduate​ ​course​ ​offered​ ​at​ ​the​ ​University​ ​providing​ ​the​ ​student​ ​has​ ​adequate preparation​ ​and​ ​it​ ​is​ ​deemed​ ​appropriate​ ​by​ ​the​ ​program​ ​advisor.​ ​The​ ​professional electives​ ​may​ ​comprise​ ​a​ ​combination​ ​of​ ​the​ ​School​ ​of​ ​Education's​ ​master​ ​electives and/or​ ​approved​ ​transfer​ ​credits.

After​ ​successful​ ​completion​ ​of​ ​the​ ​required​ ​content​ ​courses,​ ​core​ ​education,​ ​field experiences,​ ​Praxis​ ​and/or​ ​PECT​ ​exams,​ ​and​ ​receipt​ ​of​ ​the​ ​application​ ​and​ ​all supportive​ ​documents,​ ​Drexel’s​ ​certification​ ​officer​ ​will​ ​recommend​ ​the​ ​candidate​ ​for Pennsylvania​ ​Instructional​ ​Certification.

Students​ ​on​ ​Track​ ​I​ ​who​ ​do​ ​not​ ​wish​ ​to​ ​pursue​ ​PA​ ​Instructional​ ​I​ ​Certification,​ ​or who​ ​do​ ​not​ ​qualify​ ​for​ ​PA​ ​Instructional​ ​I​ ​certification,​ ​may​ ​complete​ ​the​ ​Master​ ​of Science​ ​(MS)​ ​degree​ ​in​ ​Teaching,​ ​Learning​ ​&​ ​Curriculum​ ​without​ ​a​ ​concentration​ ​by completing​ ​15.0​ ​credits​ ​of​ ​Core​ ​Pedagogy​ ​and​ ​30.0​ ​credits​ ​of​ ​MS​ ​Electives.

For​ ​full​ ​course​ ​details​ ​for​ ​the​ ​MS​ ​in​ ​Teaching,​ ​Learning​ ​and​ ​Curriculum:​ ​Teacher Certification​ ​curriculum,​ ​visit​ ​the​ Drexel​ ​University​ ​Course​ ​Catalog.​

Field ​Experience ​& ​Student ​Teaching

The​ ​School​ ​of​ ​Education​ ​takes​ ​great​ ​pride​ ​in​ ​the​ ​level​ ​of​ ​extensive​ ​clinical​ ​and field-based​ ​experiences​ ​that​ graduate​ ​program​ candidates​ ​have​ ​prior​ to​ ​completing their​ ​teacher​ ​certification,​ ​including​ ​up​ ​to​ ​20​ ​hours​ ​in​ ​a​ ​PK-12​ ​classroom​ ​(depending on​ ​the​ ​specific​ ​course​ ​requirements).

Additionally,​ ​students​ ​are​ ​required​ ​to​ ​complete​ ​up​ ​to​ ​60​ ​hours​ ​of​ ​pre-student teaching​ ​immediately​ ​prior​ ​to​ ​student​ ​teaching.​ ​This​ ​allows​ ​candidates​ ​the opportunity​ ​to​ ​put​ ​into​ ​practice​ ​their​ ​learned​ ​pedagogical​ ​skills​ ​in​ ​preparation​ ​for​ ​their student​ ​teaching​ ​experiences.

Once​ ​completed,​ ​both​ ​online​ ​and​ ​on-campus​ ​students​ ​are​ ​required​ ​to​ ​complete​ ​a full-time,​ ​minimum​ ​12-week​ ​student​ ​teaching​ ​field​ ​placement​ ​in​ ​a​ ​carefully​ ​selected public​ ​or​ ​charter​ ​school​ ​under​ ​the​ ​immediate​ ​supervision​ ​of​ ​a​ ​highly​ ​competent cooperating​ ​teacher.​ ​This​ ​unique​ ​student​ ​teaching​ ​opportunity​ ​encourages​ ​students to​ ​demonstrate​ ​instructional​ ​skills​ ​and​ ​curriculum​ ​management​ ​in​ ​a​ ​professional setting.

Since​ ​this​ ​is​ ​a​ ​full-time​ ​program​ ​commitment,​ ​student​ ​teachers​ ​are​ ​encouraged​ ​to​ ​be free​ ​of​ ​external​ ​responsibilities,​ ​as​ ​they​ ​will​ ​serve​ ​as​ ​a​ ​full-time​ ​member​ ​of​ ​the​ ​staff in​ ​the​ ​school​ ​to​ ​which​ ​they​ ​have​ ​been​ ​assigned.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​a​ ​mandatory​ ​requirement​ ​of all​ ​students​ ​seeking​ ​a​ ​teacher​ ​certification.

How ​to ​Apply ​to ​the ​MS ​in Teaching,​ ​Learning, and​ ​Curriculum​ ​Program​ ​or​ ​Get​ ​Your​ ​Teacher​ ​Certification

Students have multiple options to apply to the Master of Science in Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum: Teacher Certification program:

• Online program, PreK-4 Teaching Certification
• Online program, Middle Level Certification
  
• Online program, Secondary Teaching Certification
• Online program, Secondary Teaching and Special Education Certification
  
• On-Campus program in Philadelphia