PA Graduate Intern Teacher Certification- Secondary Education

An accelerated path for qualified candidates who wish to teach in Pennsylvania and enter the teaching profession in only 9 to 16 months for Secondary education.

The Graduate PA Intern Teaching Certification is designed exclusively for candidates who wish to teach in Pennsylvania, hold a Bachelor's degree and who seek to qualify for the PA Instructional I Certificate, in order to teach at the Secondary level (7-12). Candidates may begin teaching while completing the remainder of the required blend of online courses and field experiences.

Completion of the following requirements will lead the candidate to be recommended for PA Intern Teaching Certification:

• EDUC 520 Professional Studies in Instruction
• EDUC 542 Fundamentals of Special Education
• Methods Courses: (Including Pre-Student Teaching)
• Secondary: Methods course specific to certification subject area
• EDUC 540 Field Experience: Graduate Student Teaching with Online Seminar
• Praxis II
• Certain undergraduate content courses (depending on your area of certification) - please contact the School of Education for further details at 215-895-6770.

Drexel University offers Secondary (7-12) PA Intern Teaching Certification areas in: 

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Earth and Space Science
• English
• Environmental Education (K-12)
• General Science
• Mathematics
• Physics

This program is ideal for highly qualified candidates who are already in a teaching position, but are not certified. They should be in the field that they are seeking certification in, or have a broad liberal arts background.

Students completing the program have the option to continue coursework to earn the MS in Teaching, Learning and Curriculum: Teacher Certification Track degree. All graduate credits earned in this certificate program may be applied toward the Master’s degree.

Students Intending to Teach Outside of Pennsylvania

Students who want to teach outside of Pennsylvania are not eligible to participate in this program. The Graduate PA Intern Teaching Certificate feature is only available to qualified students who plan to teach Secondary (Biology, Chemistry, Earth & Space, English, Environmental Education, General Science, Mathematics and Physics) in Pennsylvania. Secondary Social Studies is NOT available as a PA Intern Certification. 

However, those students are eligible to participate in Drexel’s Post-Bachelor’s Teaching Certificate.  The curriculum for this program is identical to the Graduate Intern Teaching Certificate but does not grant the temporary teacher certificates. The Post-Bachelor’s Teacher Certification program is ideal for those who want to teach anywhere in the nation. We recommend prospective students contact their state's Department of Education to find out these transfer procedures before proceeding. Learn more about interstate reciprocity policies eligibility, and requirements in your state.
 

PA Intern Teaching Certificate Program Key Features

• Convenience - Program is flexible, 100% distance, and can fit into your busy work and personal schedule. The only face-to-face requirements are the various field experiences and student teaching in your subject/grade specialization, conveniently arranged in an approved and appropriate school in your area.
• Quality - Online courses are developed and taught by the nationally recognized faculty of the School of Education - the same faculty who teach Drexel's on campus courses.
• Interactivity - Drexel's highly interactive e-Learning method and small class sizes allow extensive interaction with faculty and other participants.
• Practicality - Provides participants with the tools to lead curricular innovations and instructional improvements, especially in mathematics, science and technology.
• Innovation - The School of Education at Drexel University seeks to enrich knowledge and practice related to lifespan learning, based on the most current and appropriate research and practice.

Drexel University is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. The teaching certificate programs are approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and can be applied nationwide.

In addition, students enrolled in Drexel's teacher education programs are eligible to participate in Student Teaching at the Department of Defense Dependant Schools (DoDDS). Click here for further information.

View additional benefits for military education at Drexel.

Interested in learning more?

View the curriculum for our Graduate Intern Teaching Certificate program or select on of the links on the upper left hand side for additional information about the program.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis for all four terms. Apply today! See admissions criteria for specific supplemental materials required. 

Download Program Info as PDF