Program Overview

Program Overview

Drexel University's online part-time Post-Bachelor's Teaching Certificate in Middle Level Education is designed for those who already hold a bachelor's degree and want to qualify for state teacher certification for grades 4-8. This program provides a thorough and highly specialized look at middle level education, with a mix of online classes and in-person field and student teaching experiences.

What is a Certification in Middle School Education?

The Post-Bachelor's Teaching Certificate in Middle Level Education prepares students to become educators for grades 4-8 in one of the following subject areas:

• English
• Math
• Science
• Social Studies The curriculum mixes foundational pedagogy classes with courses that focus on teaching a specific subject area.

Program Features

• Prepares students for Pennsylvania Instructional I Certification, which can be converted to a teaching certificate in most states through interstate reciprocity agreements.
• Drexel's teacher education programs are approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
• Classes are completely online, with the only face-to-face requirements being field experiences and student teaching.
• Drexel's field placement office works with students to secure appropriate school placements.
• Credits earned in this program may be applied toward the MS in Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum.

Curriculum

The program is organized into four 10-week quarters per year and consists of the following core courses: | Course | Title | Credits | | --- | --- | --- | | EDEX 542 | Fundamentals of Special Education | 3.0 | | EDEX 544 | Inclusive Practices | 3.0 | | EDEX 568 | Literacy and Content Skill Development PK-12 | 3.0 | | EDLT 525 | Design for Learning with Digital Media | 3.0 | | EDUC 515 | Adolescent Learners | 3.0 | | EDUC 520 | Professional Studies in Instruction (Middle) | 3.0 | | EDUC 522 | Evaluation of Instruction | 3.0 | | EDUC 540 | Field Experience | 3.0 | | EDUC 562 | Middle Years Social Studies Methods | 1.5 | | EDUC 564 | English/Language Arts Teaching Methods for the Middle Years | 1.5 | | EDUC 565 | Foundations in Instructing English Language Learners | 3.0 | | EDUC 567 | Middle Years Science Methods | 1.5 | | MTED 563 | Middle Years Mathematical Methods (4-8) | 1.5 |

Total Credits: 33.0

Admissions Criteria

• A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Students pursuing teacher certification must meet the PA State content course requirements for their specific area of certification.

Required Documents

• A completed application
• Official transcripts from all universities or colleges attended
• Two letters of recommendation
• Resume
• Essay describing why you're interested in pursuing graduate study in this field
• Additional requirements for international students

Tuition

The tuition rate for the academic year is $1144 per credit, with a 25% tuition savings off Drexel's regular tuition rate of $1525 per credit.

Field Experience

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

1. Observing
2. Participating & Assisting
3. Pre-Student Teaching
4. Graduate Student Teaching

Clearances

Students conducting field experiences within PA State borders are required to obtain and submit:

• FBI Federal Criminal History Record (Act 114)
• Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting Training (Act 126)
• Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Records Check (Act 34)
• Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance (Act 151)
• Arrest / Conviction Report and Certification Form (Act 24)

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.

Academic Calendar

The academic calendar consists of four 10-week quarters per year, with the following schedule:

• Fall 2025: September 22, 2025 - December 6, 2025
• Winter 2026: January 5, 2026 - March 14, 2026
• Spring 2026: March 30, 2026 - June 6, 2026
• Summer 2026: June 22, 2026 - August 29, 2026

Quarter to Semester Converter

A quarter to semester converter is available to calculate the difference between quarter and semester credits.