Overview

Lehigh University’s Master’s degree in Elementary Education with Pennsylvania certification in Pre-Kindergarten through 4th grade is designed for the college graduate who pursued a field other than education and now seeks to become a certified elementary school teacher.

Working with talented, dedicated faculty, Master’s candidates learn the best practices for teaching all children, including English language learners and pupils with special needs. Candidates must take a minimum of 14 courses (42 credits) for the Master of Education and PreK-4 Level 1 Teacher Certification in Pennsylvania. A dual certification option in Special Education (PreK-12) or English as a Second Language (ESL) is available for additional course work.

Prospective educators can start the program in any semester, with admissions deadlines of July 15 for the fall semester, Dec. 15 for a spring semester start and April 15 for summer semester.

Application requirements include completing an online application and providing undergraduate and (if applicable) graduate transcripts. Applicants must have achieved at least a 3.0 grade point average as an undergraduate. They should supply two letters of recommendation (academic or professional), a personal statement and an acknowledgement of the College of Education policy on background clearances.

Full-time students can complete the program in two years. A typical course load for such students is three courses in the fall, three in spring and three or four in the summer. There is an option for a part-time course load.

Candidates learn elementary curricula and the most effective methods for working with students of different abilities and backgrounds. Additionally, they are trained in the basic principles of research and testing and techniques for gathering and analyzing educational data.

The prospective educators are required to do fieldwork for their classes and complete a full semester – spring or fall – of student teaching in a classroom as the culmination of the program. Lehigh’s College of Education certification office makes the placement.

Opportunities

Once teachers are certified in Pennsylvania, that certification has reciprocity in most states. Educators who have completed Lehigh’s program teach in almost every state in the United States as well as overseas.

Rising school enrollments and teacher retirements have contributed to a teacher shortage in Pennsylvania and around the country. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is predicting that the number of teaching positions for kindergarten and elementary school teachers will rise by 7 percent from 2016 to 2026, adding about 116,300 jobs.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Education and Inclusion of Individuals with Special Needs in K-12

Child Development and Cognition

Cultural and Linguistic Diversity

Principles and Applications of K-12 Assessment

Instructional Design for K-12 Classrooms

K-12 Classroom Environment and Management

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 24 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-05-26 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-04-15 00:00:00
Starting 2026-08-24 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-07-15 00:00:00
Starting 2027-01-19 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-12-15 00:00:00

Language

English

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Credits

30 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Bethlehem, United States

Disciplines

Primary Education View 312 other Masters in Primary Education in United States

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Academic requirements

GPA

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

110

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IELTS

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Other requirements

General requirements

Application requirements: Two letters of recommendation, transcripts, minimum GPA of 3.0 (undergraduate), proof of English language proficiency, personal statement, undergraduate coursework audit by content area specialist in the certification area, and résumé.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

9900 USD / year

≈ 9900 USD / year
Out-of-State

9900 USD / year

≈ 9900 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

9900 USD / year

≈ 9900 USD / year

Living costs

Bethlehem

United States

1000 - 1500 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Financing

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Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

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Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Elementary Education.

Available Scholarships

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On this page

About

Overview

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

Bethlehem

Financing

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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