Accelerated MS Degree Programs in Education

Accelerated Program in Special Education²

A student enrolled in any of the Education Department’s undergraduate programs may apply for admission to an accelerated graduate program leading to a second instructional certification during their sophomore year. The application deadline to the program is March 1st. Later applications may be accepted as program capacity allows. Full admission to the graduate program requires an earned Bachelors of Science in education and submission of application for initial teacher certification to PDE.

Provisional admission to the program is contingent upon successful satisfaction of the following requirements:

• completion of 60 credit hours of undergraduate work;
• cumulative GPA of 3.20;
• advanced to teacher-candidacy; and
• positive record of professional dispositions and behaviors.

An accelerated student may complete a maximum of 12 hours of graduate work while still classified as an undergraduate student. Generally, an accelerated undergraduate student may register for three or six graduate credit hours per semester. An accelerated student is limited to a maximum of 15 credit hours during any semester that he/she is registered for a graduate level course. Exception to the 15 credit hours limit should be approved by the Dean of the college. Undergraduate students enrolled in an accelerated program are not permitted to be enrolled in graduate courses during their student teaching.

In order to maintain the enrollment in an accelerated graduate program, an undergraduate student must:

• maintain a 3.00 cumulative undergraduate GPA;
• maintain a 3.00 in “Education” courses and “Teaching Area” courses;
• maintain a 3.00 cumulative graduate GPA;
• maintain a good record of professional dispositions and behaviors; and
• pass all Praxis Series or PECT test(s) required for the initial certificate prior to taking graduate work in their 5th year.

Failure to meet these performance standards will negate the provisional acceptance into the accelerated program. To ensure timely completion of the program, students are encouraged to adhere to the program of study offered by the Education Department. The completion of the graduate course work may require summer and intersession course and field work.

Accelerated MS in Secondary Education

A student pursing a non-education undergraduate major that is consistent with PDE content area certification in grades 7-12 (e.g., English, Citizenship/History, Citizenship/Political Science, Biology, Physics, Communication, Modern Language (French, German, Spanish), Latin, Chemistry, General Science, Mathematics_¹⁾ may apply for admission to the Accelerated MS in Secondary Education program. The student should review specific graduate admissions criteria and contact his/her advisor to receive a list of undergraduate courses required for PDE certification. The student may make application to the Accelerated MS program as early as the spring semester of their sophomore year. The application deadline to the program is March 1st. Later applications may be accepted as program capacity allows. 

Provisional admission to the program is contingent upon successful satisfaction of the following requirements by a date established by the Education Department:

• completion of 60 credit hours of undergraduate work;
• cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.20; 
• GPA in Major 3.00;
• GPA in Cognate of 3.00;
• positive record of professional behaviors.

An accelerated student may complete a maximum of 12 hours of graduate work while still classified as an undergraduate student. Generally, an accelerated undergraduate student may register for three or six graduate credit hours per semester. An accelerated student is limited to a maximum of 15 credit hours during any semester that he/she is registered for a graduate level course. Exception to  the 15 credit hours limit should be approved by the Dean of the college where an undergraduate student is pursuing their undergraduate degree. The twelve graduate credits taken as an undergraduate will contribute toward both the BA or BS and MS degrees. Graduate courses are usually completed towards BS/BA undergraduate electives.

The student will need to have Act 24, Act 34, Act 151, the FBI fingerprint clearances, and valid TB test results prior to enrollment in graduate courses that have a field component.

In order to maintain the enrollment in an accelerated graduate program, an undergraduate student must:

• maintain a 3.00 cumulative undergraduate GPA;
• maintain a 3.00 cumulative graduate GPA;
• maintain a 3.00 GPA in Cognate area;
• maintain a good record of professional dispositions and behaviors; and
• pass all Praxis Content Knowledge Series test(s) before beginning the graduate student teaching.

To be eligible to receive the MS degree, a non-education undergraduate major accepted into the Accelerated MS program must meet undergraduate requirements for initial certification; complete with a grade of C or above minimum 6 credits of English (3 credits Composition and 3 credits Literature) and minimum 6 credits of Math. Students should consult with their undergraduate advisor, as well as with the Director of Graduate Programs for Education to chart out a program completion plan.

¹Mathematics or BA Mathematics programs are eligible to apply. 

² Current students will need to consult with their undergraduate advisor, graduate program director and receive approval of the Dean of the college to be admitted to an accelerated program.