Master's Programs
Our teacher education programs prepare highly qualified teachers, ready to transform education using student-centered practices in a variety of school settings.
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Independent School Teaching Residency, M.S.Ed.
Part-time | 10 Courses
Become a teacher for grades 7-12 in an independent day or boarding school in a program that combines a 2-year, school-based fellowship with weekend and summer classes.
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Urban Teaching Apprenticeship, M.S.Ed. with Certification
Full-time | 11-12 Courses
Earn initial Pre-K-12 certification in 10 months while apprenticing in an experienced teacher’s classroom in a wide range of schools in Philadelphia.
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Urban Teaching Residency, M.S.Ed. with Certifications
Full-time | 10 Courses (for M.S.Ed.)
Earn Pre-K-12 certification while working as a teacher, teacher’s aide, or Teach for America Corps member in an urban school in Philadelphia.
Doctoral Programs
Our doctoral programs prepare future educational researchers and scholar-practitioners for careers in academia, school districts, and research organizations.
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Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education, Ed.D.
Full or Part-Time | 12 Courses
Program graduates are prepared to serve as researchers and teacher educators in universities and colleges, curriculum specialists in educational agencies, and instructional leaders and classroom teachers in K-12 schools.
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Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education, Ph.D.
Full-Time | Fully Funded
A doctoral program preparing education researchers, teacher educators, curriculum specialists, and instructional leaders.
Certification Only Programs
The University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education is an approved provider of teaching certification programs in Pennsylvania. Earn a your certification and be prepared to make a meaningful impact in the educational landscape.
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General Education Certification
Hybrid Format | 1 year
Earn your PA Instructional Level I Certification in general education while working full-time. This certification-only option is available to students entering the program through one of our educational or school partners.
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Reading Specialist Certification
Part-Time | 2 years
This certification option prepares Pennsylvania educators to effectively support literacy development among all learners using collaborative and assessment-driven methods.
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Special Education Certification
Hybrid Format | 1 year
Earn your K–12 special education certification. To take part in this program, you must already have a PA Instructional Level I Certification in a general education track.
Continuing Education
Are you a teacher looking for opportunities to expand your knowledge and skills? Penn GSE also offers continuing education and professional development through certificate programs for educators.
Upcoming Admissions Events
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Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm | Location: Online
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Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm | Location: Online
Become a Teacher
Are you still searching for the right program for your path to become a teacher? Find the teaching program that is right for you.
Compare Master's Programs
| Urban Teaching Apprenticeship, M.S.Ed. | Urban Teaching Residency, M.S.Ed. with Certification(s) | Independent School Teaching Residency, M.S.Ed. | Urban Teaching Residency (Certification Only) | |
| Program duration | 10 months | 2 years | 2 years | 1-2 years |
| Enrollment format | Full-time, hybrid | Part-time, hybrid | Full-time, hybrid | |
| Degree + Certification | M.S.Ed. + PA Instructional I | M.S.Ed. + PA Instructional I (general and/or special education) | M.S.Ed. | PA Instructional I (general and/or special education) |
| Grade level preparedness (one or more) | • Pre-K-4 • 4-8 • 7-12 | • Pre-K-4 • 4-8 • 7-12 | • 7-12 | • Pre-K-4 • 4-8 • 7-12 |
| Learn while working in a school | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Student teaching experience | apprenticeship with 800+ hours of hands-on fieldwork–nearly a full year | full-time student teaching in 9th semester | work in one of our partner independent schools | full-time student teaching |
| Assigned a mentor | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Teaching setting | urban public or charter | urban public or charter, independent or private | independent or private | urban public or charter, independent or private |
| Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Program | ✓* | ✓ | – | – |
*The Urban Teaching Apprenticeship program has a special option to accelerate into an M.S. program for Penn, Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Swarthmore juniors and seniors.
Compare Undergraduate Options
| Urban Teaching Minor | Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Program (Urban Teaching Apprenticeship, M.S.Ed.) | |
| Courses | 7 undergraduate courses | 11-12 graduate courses* |
| Enrollment format | Full-time, in-person | Full-time, hybrid |
| Master’s degree | – | ✓ |
| Degree & Certification | PA Instructional I | M.S.Ed. + PA Instructional I |
| Grade level preparedness and concentrations (one or more) | • Pre-K-4 • 4-8 • 7-12 • Urban Education, Policy & Practice | • Pre-K-4 • 4-8 • 7-12 |
| Learn while working in a school | – | ✓ |
| Student teaching experience | full-time apprenticeship in 9th semester | apprenticeship with 800+ hours of hands-on fieldwork–nearly a full year |
| Assigned a mentor | ✓ | ✓ |
| Teaching setting | urban public or charter | urban public or charter |
*As undergraduates, Penn students can complete 4 courses and Tri-College Consortium (Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Swarthmore) students can complete 2 courses.
Related News
With funding from the Neubauer Family Foundation, the program was created in direct response to the School District of Philadelphia’s call for targeted support in Algebra 1 instruction.
On May 17, in the Palestra, Penn GSE commemorated the achievements of the roughly 600 master’s and doctoral graduates at this year’s Commencement ceremony.
This spring, those honors include three Spencer Foundation grants, the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, and more.
Professor of Practice Andrea Kane emphasizes the importance of educators and school leaders engaging with themselves, each other, and their school communities to navigate district policies, state laws, and complex or controversial topics in the classroom.
Educators and scholars explored how educators can model democratic engagement while honoring student voice and diverse perspectives.
The recent graduate of Penn GSE’s Urban Teaching Residency shares her classroom at Muñoz-Marin Elementary in North Philadelphia.
The Project-Based Learning for Global Climate Justice certificate program is a collaboration between Penn GSE and 70 educators around Asia, Africa, and Europe working together on a K–12 education program that emphasizes climate change and social inequalities.
Arrington aims to inspire students to think independently and be creative while demystifying and critically examining academic institutions’ expectations for writing and literacy.
Funded by the NSF, the Create AI workshop aimed to empower students and teachers to build, not just use, AI.