Our teacher certification and degree programs are built upon the premise that teachers must simultaneously be subject matter experts and highly skilled at helping others’ understand the content as well. Good teachers know enough about the subject to be sensitive to those aspects that will be especially hard for new students to master and are able to adapt the design of their instruction accordingly. In other words, we believe expert teaching occurs at the intersection of discipline-specific knowledge and pedagogical knowledge. For this reason --and unlike other four-year undergraduate education programs-- our teacher education coursework is in addition to (not in place of) the depth and breadth of coursework required to get a complete bachelor’s degree in a discipline-specific area.

We are accredited by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to offer Teacher Certification Programs in the following areas:

• Elementary K-6
• Environmental Education K-12
• Secondary Biology 7-12
• Secondary Chemistry 7-12
• Secondary Citizenship Education 7-12
• Secondary Earth and Space Science 7-12
• Secondary English 7-12
• Secondary General Science 7-12
• Secondary Mathematics 7-12
• Secondary Physics 7-12
• Secondary Social Sciences 7-12
• Secondary Social Studies 7-12

Those interested in teaching can begin education coursework while pursuing their Lehigh bachelor’s degree or start later as part of a post-bachelor’s or post-certification program (click the blue links for a .PDF with additional program details):

• The Education Minor: A 15-credit undergraduate minor offered jointly with the College of Arts and Sciences and aimed at helping Lehigh undergraduates learn more about teaching and learning.


• The Five-Year Bachelor's + Master of Education and Teacher Certification Program: Four-year bachelor’s in content area plus an additional year for the education master’s degree and Pennsylvania certification in either elementary or secondary education.


• The Post-Bachelor's Teacher Intern Program: Post-bachelor’s master’s degree plus Pennsylvania certification in either elementary or secondary education.


• Master of Education Program: A master's only degree program in either elementary or secondary education for those who are already certified or not interested in becoming certified.

PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (PDE) REQUIREMENTS FOR TEACHER CERTIFICATION

It is important for those considering teaching as a career to be aware of the fairly rigorous academic, health, and personal character requirements for teacher certification that are required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education for teacher candidates statewide:

• A cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0.


• A minimum of 6 undergraduate credits in mathematics, 3 credits in English composition, and 3 credits in English/American literature.


• An undergraduate course work audit by content area specialist in the certification area.


• Passing scores on the PRAXIS (NTE) Tests (Level I and Intern certificates) in all subject areas prior to student teaching.


• Clearances: Submission upon matriculation and yearly renewal of all of the following clearances:
  
  * Mantoux Tuberculosis Screening or chest X-ray
  * FBI Federal Criminal History Record (Act 114)
  * Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Records Check (Act 34)
  * Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance (Act 151)
  
  Before the teacher candidate will be placed the schools as part of his/her certification or degree program, the Mantoux or chest X-ray must be negative and all 3 required criminal background checks must indicate that “no record exists.” These forms must be submitted upon matriculation into a teacher education academic program and must be renewed yearly while pursuing your studies. Forms are available from the TLT Program Secretary, Iacocca Hall, Room A108. Click here for more information about our clearances policy.

To learn more about our academic programs in Teaching, Learning, and Technology, click the links in the dark blue area on the right or contact the TLT Program Coordinator (TLTProgram@Lehigh.edu, 610-758-3230).