Graduate Degrees in Education
Lehigh’s College of Education offers primarily graduate degree programs. Additionally, undergraduates may apply to the college’s 5-year Bachelor’s plus Master of Education and Pennsylvania Teacher Certification program or they can minor in education (see section III). The five-year program is designed to allow students to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in elementary or secondary education in five years instead of the traditional six. The Education minor allows upper level undergraduates to take selected coursework that combines practicum activities with theoretical work and is designed to provide a foundation for further educational studies at the graduate level. Students enrolled in the College of Education should check with their advisers for a list of regulations and requirements governing degree programs.
Financial assistance. Graduate assistantships and research assistantships are available in the college and in various administrative offices on campus. In addition, graduate students may be recommended for a limited number of fellowships and endowed scholarships that are awarded by the college.
Lehigh’s Centennial School, a laboratory school for children with emotional/behavior disorders, provides employment for some Lehigh education students. Graduate students may apply for teaching internships, which cover tuition and pay salaries.
Other opportunities for financial assistance are available through our field-based programs: Community Choices, Lehigh Support for Community Living, and Lehigh University Transition and Assessment Services.
Master of Education (M.Ed.)
This degree is offered in the following professional specializations: elementary education, secondary education, special education, educational leadership, counseling and human services, globalization and educational change, international counseling, elementary school counseling, secondary school counseling, instructional technology and advanced teaching and learning. Degree requirements vary from program to program.
Master of Arts (M.A.)
The master of arts is available in either teacher education (secondary education or the teaching and learning degree programs) or comparative and international education. The teacher education M.A. focuses on enhancing both pedagogical skill and subject matter expertise of teachers. The comparative and international education M.A. examines educational policy and theory on an international level, preparing its graduates to work in educational research and policy organizations, government offices, ministries of education, and international development organizations.
The teacher education student pursuing an M.A. must take graduate work in education plus 12 credits of graduate work in an academic field related to the area of teacher certification (typically, English, mathematics, political science, sociology, and physical and natural sciences). The comparative and international education student pursuing an M.A. must take graduate work in education plus 12 credits in one of four specific academic disciplines (sociology and anthropology, political science and international relations, economics, or history).
Master of Science (M.S.)
The master of science degree is awarded in instructional technology. The master’s program in instructional technology focuses on the systematic planning and use of technology and is targeted toward individuals from varied backgrounds who wish to learn how to incorporate technology more effectively in diverse educational settings (including K-12, higher education, informal learning, and corporate training) or to learn how to train others to make such more effective use.
Master in Business Administration/Master of Education (MBA/M.Ed.)
The MBA and master’s of education joint degree program offers students the opportunity to acquire a solid foundation in both business and education. Designed to increase the administrative skill required in today’s educational systems, the MBA/M.Ed. provides a framework in which excellent education and sound business practices can flourish. The MBA/M.Ed. will provide an additional option for students for business and students of educational leadership. The program should enhance the student’s marketability in private and public sector education while providing students with an understanding of the cultures of both business and education.
Educational Specialist (Ed.S.)
Specialized post-master’s degree programs for practitioners are available in school psychology.
Certification Programs
The college offers programs of study leading to eligibility for Pennsylvania state certifications in various professional specialties including elementary and secondary teacher education, including certification in special education; supervisor of special education, pupil services, or curriculum and instruction; superintendent; and K-12 principal. Certification programs vary in the number of credits required.
Post-Baccalaureate Certificates
The college also offers post-baccalaureate certificate programs in international counseling, international development in education, project management (jointly offered through the College of Business and Economics and the College of Education), special education, teacher leadership, teaching English as a second language, and technology use in the schools. Post-baccalaureate certificate programs differ from the above-described certifications issued by agencies external to Lehigh (such as the Pennsylvania Department of Education). Lehigh’s post-baccalaureate certificate programs are, instead, focused concentrations of 12 to 15 credits that students complete to enhance their professional credentials. Where appropriate, post-baccalaureate certificate programs may be included as part of the coursework of a degree program. www.lehigh.edu/education/academics/certificates.html
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
The College of Education also offers the Ph.D. degree to students enrolled in the fields of comparative and international education, counseling psychology, learning sciences and technology, school psychology, special education, and teaching, learning and technology. The requirements for this degree are the same as those for the Ph.D. in the other colleges and as described in previous sections.
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
The doctor of education degree program provides specialized study in educational leadership. Successful professional experience is required for admission to candidacy. The requirements for the Ed.D. degree parallel those already stated for the Ph.D. degree.
Non-Degree Options
The non-degree options are designed for those individuals interested in taking a few courses in the College but not interested in pursuing a graduate degree. For information on the non-degree program, contact Donna Johnson at 610-758-3231 or email mailto:ineduc@lehigh.edu. There are two non-degree options as well: (1) Regular non-degree and (2) Non-degree for external certification.
Regular non-degree admission is for students who wish to take up to 12 credits of graduate coursework at Lehigh University without seeking a degree. Any transcript or other record from the University will clearly indicate the student status as non-degree. Non-degree students are not permitted to audit courses. University admissions criteria for non-degree graduate students are (a) a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with an overall grade point average of at least 3.0 on a four-point scale (Applicants with undergraduate GPAs slightly below 3.0 may be admitted with approval from the department of Education and Human Services) or (b) to have achieved a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a four-point scale for a minimum of 12 graduate credits at another accredited institution. If English is not your first language, you must submit TOEFL scores.
Non-degree for external certification students are admitted to pursue coursework for the purpose of obtaining certification through an external accrediting agency. Applicants are expected to have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a four-point scale or to have achieved a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a four-point scale for a minimum of 12 graduate credits at another accredited institution. Applicants are assigned certification advisers on admissions and must work with the adviser to assure that they complete all requirements for certification satisfactorily. Students complete the coursework and any other required field experiences for the appropriate certification, with the number of credits and field experiences being dictated by the external accrediting agency. Given this external control of credit requirements, the number of credits will vary and will typically exceed the 12credit limit for regular non-degree students. Certification involves qualitative components as well as credits; a non-degree student seeking such certification must meet the quality standards of the certification program, as well as completing the necessary coursework and field experiences.
Changing from Non-Degree to Degree Status
Non-degree students of either type may seek admission to a degree program. Non-degree students who seek admission to a degree program must meet all regular admissions criteria, complete all regular procedures, and present all documents normally required of degree-seeking applicants to that program. Courses taken by a non-degree student who later enters a degree program will count towards the completion of the program to the extent that those courses fall within the normal requirements of the program and to the extent that the student's performance in the course(s) is acceptable for degree program purposes. Any course that is counted towards the completion of a degree must be completed within the established time limits for that degree, whether taken initially as a degree or non-degree course.