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  • Online Master’s Degree in Secondary Education

    MS in Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum: Teacher Certification Track - Secondary Education

    Drexel's accredited online Master of Science in Secondary Education is designed for Bachelors-prepared students who wish to qualify for state teaching certification while simultaneously earning their Master's degree. Through Interstate Reciprocity Agreements, graduates of this program can become certified to teach in almost any state in the nation.

    A Special Education add-on certification is available by completing seven additional courses and a Praxis exam. Students must obtain the initial certification to continue onto the Special Education Certificate.

    Learn about an exciting new scholarship opportunity!

    Master’s in Secondary Education Online Program Features

    • Convenience - A flexible part-time program that fits into the busy work and personal schedules of today’s professionals
    • Quality - Online courses are developed and taught by the same nationally-recognized faculty of Drexel’s School of Education who teach our on-campus courses
    • Interactivity - Drexel's highly interactive e-Learning method and small class sizes allow extensive interaction with faculty and fellow students
    • Practicality - You'll be provided with essential tools to lead curricular innovations and instructional improvements, especially in mathematics, science, and technology

    The Robert Noyce Scholarship

    The Drexel University Middle School Robert Noyce program is a prestigious funded program from the National Science Foundation (NSF) with the goal of recruiting and preparing STEM teachers for schools in high need.

    To be eligible for the scholarship, you must meet the following requirements:

    • A bachelor’s degree in a STEM field, such as Mathematics, Science, or Engineering
    • For every $10,000 in scholarship funds received, you must commit to teach for 2 years in a high-need school
    • You must work toward completing your degree or certificate program within 14 months

    For additional information, questions, or to apply, please contact Dr. Sheila Vaidya, Program Director, at vaidyasr@drexel.edu. Apply Today!

    CAEP Accredited Provider

    The Council for the Accreditation of Education Preparation (CAEP) accredits Drexel University School of Education educator preparation programs. CAEP promotes excellence in educator preparation through quality assurance and continuous improvement. Drexel University meets rigorous national standards for education preparation set by the Council for the Accreditation of Education Preparation. Drexel University’s MS in Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum Teacher Certification programs include CAEP-accredited programs.

    What Can I Do with A Master’s In Secondary Education?

    Drexel’s master's degree in secondary education prepares you to become a secondary education teacher. Choose from eight different certification areas to tailor our curriculum to your teaching goals. Upon completion of this program, you’ll be prepared to teach at both public and private schools.

    Master’s in Secondary Education Online Certification Areas

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

    Students who wish to become certified teachers without earning a master's degree in secondary education should consider the Post-Bachelor's Teaching Certificate.

    Master’s in Secondary Education Salary Expectations

    Salaries for teachers can vary depending on factors like years of experience and location. However, some average salaries and job titles for secondary education teachers include:

    • English as a Second Language Teacher - $55,350
    • High School Teacher - $62,870
    • Post-Secondary Teacher - $80,560

    Source: BLS, 2020

    Online Master’s Degree in Secondary Education Program FAQs

    Are Drexel’s teacher certification programs entirely online?
    All of the coursework for this program can be completed entirely online. However, you’ll complete field experiences as well as student teaching to gain the real-world experience you need to lead a classroom with confidence. These field placements can be completed in a school district that’s convenient for you.

    Is a background in education required for the MS in Teaching, Learning and Curriculum – Secondary Education program?
    No. While a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with an undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher is required to apply to the program, the undergraduate degree doesn’t need to be in education.

    Can I attend the program if I don’t live in Pennsylvania?
    Yes, you’ll work with Drexel’s field placement office so you can be placed in a school district in your area for field experiences and student teaching. Certification will be obtained in Pennsylvania; however, Pennsylvania has reciprocity with almost every other state. You should check with your state’s department of education for instructions on getting your certification transferred.

    Teaching Certification Requirements in Pennsylvania

    To become a teacher in Pennsylvania, you’ll need to meet certain testing and education requirements. Please note that these requirements may vary from state-to-state. If you plan on teaching outside of Pennsylvania, please check the requirements for your state.

    To gain your teaching certification in Pennsylvania, you must:

    • Have a bachelor’s degree or higher (this degree doesn’t need to be in teaching or education)
    • Hold a minimum GPA of 3.0
    • Attend a teacher education program approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education
    • Receive a recommendation from your college or university
    • Pass a series of exams, including basic skills testing and subject-area specific exams

    Students Intending to Teach Outside of Pennsylvania
    The program will prepare you for a Pennsylvania Instructional I Certificate, which may be converted to an analogous teaching certificate in another state. We recommend you contact your state’s Department of Education to find out these transfer procedures before enrolling. Learn more about interstate reciprocity policies and the requirements in your state.

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    Related Programs


    Drexel University offers a variety of Graduate Minors that can be added to any master's degree program.
    State restrictions may apply to some programs.

    Curriculum

    This program is organized into four 10-week quarters per year (as opposed to the traditional two semester system) which means you can take more courses in a shorter time period. One semester credit is equivalent to 1.5 quarter credits.

    Teacher Education Core Pedagogy  
    EDEX 542 Fundamentals of Special Education 3.0
    EDEX 544 Inclusive Practices (Field Experience Required) 3.0
    EDEX 568 Literacy and Content Skill Development PK-12 (Field Experience Required) 3.0
    EDLT 525 Design for Learning with Digital Media 3.0
    EDUC 520 Professional Studies in Instruction 3.0
    EDUC 565 Foundations in Instructing English Language Learners (Field Experience Required) 3.0
    Secondary Education (Grades 7-12)  
    Concentration in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth and Space Science, English, General Science, Mathematics, Physics, or Social Studies  
    EDUC 515 Adolescent Learners (Field experience required) 3.0
    EDUC 522 Evaluation of Instruction 3.0
    Select appropriate methods course for area of certification:  
    EDUC 538 English Teaching Methods (Field experience required) 3.0
    or EDUC 514 Science Teaching Methods
    or EDUC 556 Secondary Social Studies Methods (7-12)
    or ESTM 535 Teaching Secondary Computer Science
    or MTED 519 Teaching Secondary Mathematics
    EDUC 540 Field Experience (12 week full time student teaching ) 3.0
    Professional Electives 15.0
    Total Credits 45.0

    View required content courses for each concentration
    View Course Descriptions

    Admissions Criteria

    • A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution
    • Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher (graduate degree GPA will be considered along with the undergraduate GPA)
      If you're pursuing Teacher Education Certification, you must meet the PA State content course requirements for your specific area of certification
      • Content course reviews are conducted at time of application
      • Coursework missing from your undergraduate background or below the minimum 3.0 GPA cumulative average may be taken concurrently with the graduate program

    Required Documents

    With multiple ways to submit documents, Drexel makes it easy to complete your application. Learn more by visiting our Completing Your Application Guide.

    Tuition

    The tuition rate for the academic year 2023-2024 is $1079 per credit. (A 25% tuition savings off Drexel's regular tuition rate of $1438 per credit)

    For the academic year 2023-2024, students enrolled in an online graduate academic program will be charged a graduate online program fee of $125 per year.

    • This program is eligible for Financial Aid.
    • Special tuition rates available for Drexel University AlumniMilitary members, and members of our Partner Organizations
      • These rates apply only to new online students and students being readmitted.
      • Tuition rates are subject to increase with the start of each academic year in the fall term.
      • All students must contact applyDUonline@drexel.edu within the first two weeks of the term to request tuition savings for which they qualify.
      • Special rates cannot be combined. If you qualify for more than one special rate, you'll be given the one with the largest savings.
      • When receiving special tuition plans with Drexel University Online, you may not combine them with other tuition benefits that may be available from Drexel University.

    Field Experience

    There are four types of field experiences in K-12 classrooms required for certification embedded throughout the program:

    • Observing: EDEX 542, 544, 546, EDUC 520, 565, Methods
    • Participating & Assisting: EDEX 542, 544, 546, EDUC 520, 565, Methods
    • Pre-Student Teaching: 30 Hours for Each Required Methods Course
    • Graduate Student Teaching: Capstone Experience 12 weeks

    You should not take it upon yourself to arrange any field experience on your own, however, you can list your desired school district on all field placement applications. Once you submit all required clearances and the appropriate Observation or Field Placement Application (listing a preferred district), a Field Experience Coordinator from Drexel's School of Education's Field Placement Office (FPO) will make every effort to arrange a school-based, appropriate field placement related to your area of certification in a location reasonably close to where you live or work, providing that the requested school meets PA State requirements. The FPO must receive a confirmation for all field experiences from the School District's Field Placement office prior to allowing students to enter into any school classroom.

    For Graduate Student Teaching, you're required to spend a total of 12 weeks, full-time, under the supervision of a certified cooperating teacher and university supervisor. At a minimum, 6 of the 12 weeks of student teaching must be located within a public or charter school. Once Drexel's FPO locates an acceptable site, you'll work with the school's principal, university supervisor, and certified cooperating teacher regarding meeting the course's objectives/goals. You'll videotape yourself teaching and periodically send tapes to the Field Experience Coordinator for evaluation. In addition, you'll be required to complete the required hours of regular in-class observations and fieldwork in most core Pedagogy courses.

    Drexel students are also able to complete student teaching at Department of Defense Dependent Schools (DoDDS.)

    Clearances

    Drexel University policy requires that School of Education Faculty, Staff, and Students who may come into contact with minors, either through field-based supervision or research experience in school settings, to obtain and present to the Field Placement Office (FPO) the following clearances prior to entering a PK-12 school setting.

    Some schools and/or school districts may require clearances on file to be valid through the end of a field experience within a year of date of issuance. Non-PA students may need to obtain additional clearances for their state of residency prior to engaging in a field experience.

    Although the process may seem lengthy, it is extremely important when considering the safety and welfare of PK-12 school children. Schools and districts take clearance policies very seriously. A candidate may not enter a PK-12 building for purposes of conducting a field experience without the proper clearance information.

    Please submit all clearance items electronically via StuTeach@drexel.edu with the subject heading: "Clearance Submission" followed by your full name.

    Specifically, students conducting field experiences within PA State borders are required to obtain and submit:

    • FBI Federal Criminal History Record (Act 114)
      Use Service Code 1KG6RT for Colleges/Universities Teacher Education Program. Information about how to obtain your FBI clearance is available at the PA Department of Education. Upon registering for the fingerprint check, you will be assigned an unique Universal Enrollment ID (UEID). Please email your UEID to the Field Placement Office at StuTeach@Drexel.edu so that we may access your FBI clearance electronically. Be sure to process this clearance through the PA Department of Education and not another government agency requiring a FBI Clearance, e.g., Department of Public Welfare or Department of Banking.
    • Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting Training (Act 126)
      Teacher candidates must complete the mandated reporter training and forward a copy of the certificate to the FPO. The online training can be found at the PA Child Welfare Resource Center.
    • Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Records Check (Act 34)
      Request your record through the PA Access To Criminal History (PATCH) system and forward it to the FPO.
    • Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance (Act 151)
      Information related to background checks/clearances can be found at PA Child Welfare. The clearance document is to be forwarded to the FPO.
    • Arrest / Conviction Report and Certification Form (Act 24)
      Teacher candidates must complete and forward the PDE-6004 form to the FPO to have on file. Please note that individual schools may also request a candidate to sign a form for their files. Forms can be found at the PA Department of Education.

    Although Background Checks and Clearances are viable for five (5) years from date of issuance for Drexel students who remain continuously enrolled, some school districts and schools require the Background Checks and Clearances to be valid within the year of their dates of issuance. It is your responsibility to maintain updated clearances in such situations. Also, some districts and schools may also require proof of a clear Tuberculin skin test.

    If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the FPO at StuTeach@drexel.edu.

    International Students

    If you wish to complete the field experience requirement outside of the United States, you must contact the School of Education's Field Placement Office to be aware of the international deadline and procedures to submit your field placement application. All field experiences must be completed in a U.S. accredited school, or an approved international school whereby English is the language spoken in all classrooms, and the school is following PA Department of Education and US Department of Education guidelines. You should not choose field placements which include working with students with special needs or students whose first language is not English.

    Typically students living overseas student teach in a U.S. affiliated school, such as on an Army base, under the guidance of a U.S. fully certified teacher at the grade level and subject appropriate for the intended area of certification. The cooperating teacher needs to be certified in the U.S. with a minimum of 3 years teaching experience in the area of certification being pursued. All international field placements will be arranged by the School of Education's Field Placement Coordinator.

    • All PA certification candidates living overseas must submit the original PDE required Health form signed by a US Licensed Physician or US Licensed Physician's Assistant prior to completing the TIMS certification application.
    • PreK-4 students can only take the PECT exams in the USA, Canada, Puerto Rico or Virgin Islands.

    Any student (U.S. Citizen or otherwise) living overseas or planning to move overseas should contact their advisor to discuss their situation prior to enrolling in the program or completing courses and certification requirements. 

    Academic Calendar

    2023-2024 Academic Year

    Term

    Classes Begin

    Classes End

    Exams Begin

    Exams End

    Fall 2023

    September 26, 2023

    December 9, 2023

    December 11, 2023

    December 16, 2023

    Winter 2024

    January 8, 2024

    March 16, 2024

    March 18, 2024

    March 23, 2024

    Spring 2024

    April 1, 2024

    June 8, 2024

    June 10, 2024

    June 15, 2024

    Summer 2024

    June 24, 2024

    August 31, 2024

    September 3, 2024

    September 7, 2024

     

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