Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification - Grade 4 through Grade 8 (MGP)

Overview

The Department of Early and Middle Grades Education offers a flexible program leading to Pennsylvania Level I Certification. Certification in Grades 4 through 8 is granted by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The Grades 4 through 8 program is designed for candidates who a) have completed a BA or BS degree in an area other than education, or b) hold a teaching certificate in another grade range or in a content area.

Admissions Procedures

Candidates apply for admission to the Middle Grades Preparation Program through the Office of Graduate Studies. As part of the application process, candidates must submit the following materials:

View Materials

a professional goals statement;
two recommendations;
official academic transcript(s) from all colleges and universities attended, demonstrating a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale;
a copy of a passing score on the PDE mandated content test related to a concentration in either math, science, or social studies.

Once an application is complete, the Dean of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Coordinator for the Department of Early Grades and Middle Grades Education will evaluate the applicant's credentials. Applicable courses may be accepted by the Department of Early and Middle Grades Education to meet program requirements. The applicant will receive written notification of his/her credential evaluation and admission status from both the Dean and the Department. The Approved Program of Study form (APS) and APS guidance sheet are included with the Handbook for the MGP Program. These forms indicate the necessary courses that must be completed in order to obtain certification. These forms need to be reviewed and signed as soon as possible.

Field Information

Middle Grades candidates complete a variety of field experiences in grades four through eight across different school settings. The final semester of student teaching is a full-time fifteen-week field placement in a grades 4-8 classroom in a Pennsylvania public school. All field placements for EGP courses, including student teaching, are arranged in conjunction with the Department of Early and Middle Grades Education and the Office of Clinical Experiences. The Office is located in Wayne Hall 107. Candidates are not to solicit field placements. While candidate needs are considered in assigning placements, no particular placement can be guaranteed. Transportation to and from field placements is the responsibility of the individual candidate. Students should expect that they will be completing the required field hours during the traditional student school day (ranging from 8:15a.m. - 3:45p.m. depending on the instructor’s arrangements with the mentor teachers in the field).

Apply for Student Teaching

MGP majors must apply for student teaching one year in advance of their student teaching semester. The Office of Clinical Experiences facilitates the student teaching application process. All coursework other than MGP 550 must be successfully completed prior to the beginning of student teaching. MGP 550 may be taken just prior to, or during student teaching.

Clearance Information

Students must obtain clearances for each course containing field experience in accordance with Pennsylvania statutes. These include:

Pennsylvania Criminal Record Checks
FBI fingerprinting
Pennsylvania Child Abuse Record checks - required for all who enter a school.
TB

All clearances must be completed prior to the first day of the field course in which you are enrolled and updated every year. Please contact the Office of Candidate Services at 610-436-2999. All other majors - no retest is needed until applying for student teaching except in rare cases. Some school districts hosting early field students and student teachers require a TB test issued within the year they begin their school district assignment.

NOTE: School district requirements take precedence over university policy. Failure to maintain a current set of clearances will prevent you from enrollment and/or may require your dismissal from field-based courses, blocked classes, and student teaching.

MORE CLEARANCE INFORMATION

Curriculum

handbook

Contact Information