A master's degree and teacher education certification designed for people who are committed to ending inequities in urban education.
The Urban Teaching Residency (UTR) program is organized around issues of equity, social justice, and anti-racism as well as research-based frameworks of teaching and learning. UTR offers students the ability to earn a master’s degree while continuing to work full-time. Students who would like to earn their master’s degree plus Pennsylvania general and/or special education certification may also do so.
Compare our three teacher education programs to find the best fit for you.
What Sets Us Apart
About the Program
The Urban Teaching Residency program provides the solid academic training and professional mentoring necessary to create effective teachers, researchers, educators, and community advocates who are interested in the distinct needs of children and families in high-needs contexts.
Year 1 - Fall: 3 courses; Spring: 3 courses
Year 2 - Fall: 2 courses; Spring: 2 courses
Culminating experienceMaster’s capstone research thesis
Duration of program
- 2 years (M.S.Ed., M.S.Ed. plus certification, dual certification)
- 1 year (General or Special Education certification only)
- Full-Time
Coursework and experiences in the Urban Teaching Residency (UTR) program are guided by the following principles and commitments:
- Promoting anti-racist and social justice teaching and learning.
- Taking an asset-based approach to local communities and the stakeholders in them.
- Engaging in the study of educational racism and inequity in urban areas.
- Exploring the dynamic interactions among schools, communities, and governments as well as the competing forces of human agency and structural oppression.
- Fostering an inquiry-oriented approach to urban education based on cycles of reflection, planning, and action.
- Teaching our students to use research and practice-based approaches to teaching, learning, and leading.
- Supporting our students in the development of culturally sustaining pedagogies.
- Promoting a racially literate approach to urban education.
- Contributing to the end of educational inequity, especially in urban communities.
- Positioning teachers as intellectual leaders and innovators in the field of education.
- Partnering with organizations and educators to help recruit and sustain a diverse urban teaching force.
Prospective students interested in earning certification must already have a full-time job as a teacher of record, long term substitute teacher, teaching assistant, or paraprofessional. Once enrolled in UTR, individuals are eligible to apply for intern certification as a part of our alternative route toward state certification.
Individuals interested in a master’s degree only do not need to have a full-time job in a teaching environment but the courses are still designed for working professionals committed to issues of equity in urban education.
Degrees and certifications offered
- Master’s degree (M.S.Ed.) plus General Education Certification in Pennsylvania
- Master’s degree (M.S.Ed.) plus Dual (General and Special Education) Certification in Pennsylvania
- Master’s degree (M.S.Ed.) plus Special Education Certification in Pennsylvania
- Recommendation for Pennsylvania General Education Certification
- Recommendation for Pennsylvania Special Education Certification**
- Recommendation for Pennsylvania General and Special Education Certification
General Certification Options
- PreK-4 (Elementary)
- 4-8 Math
- 4-8 English Language Arts and Reading
- 4-8 General Science
- 4-8 Social Studies
- 7-12 Math
- 7-12 English Language Arts
- 7-12 General Science
- 7-12 Biology
- 7-12 Chemistry
- 7-12 Physics
- 7-12 Social Studies
- World Languages
Special Education Certification
- PreK-12 Special Education
Dual Certification
- General and Special Education certification
**Students not pursuing a master’s degree who would like to enroll in the special education certification-only track must already have Pennsylvania General Certification. Students in the master’s program can pursue any of the certification offerings.
Program Highlights
Penn GSE offers an Ivy League environment that supports both practical knowledge building and high-quality research. Our alumni are recognized as some of the most influential education leaders, and our distinguished professors are pioneers in their fields.
Expert Faculty Committed to Equity in Education
Equity in education is the guiding principle of the Urban Teaching Residency program. Penn GSE renowned faculty members, in partnership with the School District of Philadelphia, wholeheartedly embrace equity in education and strive to work with our teacher-students to increase opportunities for urban students.
Inquiry and Reflection
Inquiry and reflection are important at Penn GSE, and they permeate the Urban Teaching Residency program. Reflection and inquiry are used to examine ways in which teachers and students become communities of learners within and beyond school walls.
Focus on Student Engagement and Relationships
The Urban Teaching Residency emphasizes the centrality of student engagement in education and strong teacher-student relationships. While students are required to learn certain prescribed material, teachers (and schools) are obligated to hear children’s voices, and to enhance their interests, motivation, and participation.
Site-Based Coaches
All Urban Teaching Residency students pursuing certification engage in instructional coaching. You will select an experienced teacher at your school to be your instructional coach. Coaches all engage in professional development about coaching for equity. UTR’s site-based approach to coaching helps to build partnerships and capacities within each school to better support UTR students and in turn their PreK-12 students.
Curriculum
Coursework and experiences in the Urban Teaching Residency (UTR) program are guided by a commitment to anti-racist and social justice teaching and learning. Our faculty use research and practice-based approaches in their instruction.
You will learn to take an asset-based approach to local communities and the stakeholders in them and how to take an inquiry-orientated approach to urban education based on cycles of reflection, planning, and action.
Foundational courses explore the dynamic interactions among schools, communities, and governments as well as the competing forces of human agency and structural oppression, and methods courses are directly connected to what you (as a teacher) need in your teaching practice.
Our programs of study leverage inquiry, critical thinking, and problem solving to prepare our students to become skilled educators and leaders.
For information on courses and requirements, visit the Urban Teaching Residency M.S.Ed. program in the University Catalog.
Concentrations
In any of our master’s degree programs, students may choose one or two concentrations.
- Elementary Education
- English Language Arts and Reading (Middle Years)
- English Language Arts (Secondary)
- Mathematics (Middle Years)
- Mathematics (Secondary)
- General Sciences (Middle Years)
- General Sciences (Secondary)
- Biology (Secondary)
- Physics (Secondary)
- Earth Science (Secondary)
- Chemistry (Secondary)
- Urban Education
- Special Education PreK-12
- World Languages
- Social Studies (Middle Years)
- Social Studies (Secondary)
Additional Field Experiences in the Urban Teaching Residency Program
For students pursuing special education or elementary certification, additional field experiences are required. We have found that these experiences can be transformative for beginning teachers.
VAST LIFE @ Penn GSE
For students seeking special education or dual certification, VAST LIFE (Vocational, Academic, Social, Transition, Life Skill, Independent, Functional Experiences) is a supervised, formally-evaluated fieldwork experience working with, planning for, and educating students with low incidence disabilities in the areas of domestic, transition, social, functional, community, and leisure skills. VAST LIFE participants are local high school students aged 14 to 19 and who qualify to take the PASA in the State of Pennsylvania. The lessons take place on Saturdays in our spring semester, and are based on theories of universal design and research-based educational practice. Read a feature story about VAST LIFE in Penn Today.
Note: If you are a parent or guardian interested in applying to VAST LIFE for your child, please visit our VAST LIFE application page or contact Dr. Heather Hopkins at hopkinsh@gse.upenn.edu.
KIDS @ Penn GSE
For students in our PreK-4 certification track, the KIDS program (Keeping Instruction Developmentally Sound) is a supervised, formally evaluated fieldwork experience working with, and planning for, preschool children aged 3-4. Teachers are paired with KIDS participants to provide one-on-one support during Saturday lessons in our fall semester. Lessons are based on theories of universal design and research-based educational practice.
Schedule
An Ivy League Education Without Quitting Your Job
Our schedule is designed with working professionals in mind. Students enrolled in a certification track must obtain and maintain a full-time job as a teacher of record, long term substitute teacher, teaching assistant, or paraprofessional while in the program.
Our courses meet in the evenings (1-2 evenings per week) and some weekends. Our master’s program can be completed in just two years.
Our Partners
The Urban Teaching Residency works with many community partners in the tri-state area to recruit future educators. Below is a list of our partners. Applicants do not need to be a member of these organizations in order to apply.
Our partners
- Teach for America
- School District of Philadelphia
- Christina Seix Academy
- Fellowship of Black Male Educators
- Universal Charter Network
- Americorps
- Teachers Institute of Philadelphia
- Racial Empowerment Collaborative
- Philadelphia Writing Project
- Nativity Prep School
- Belmont Charter Schools
Funding Opportunities
In addition to the funding opportunities available to students applying to any of our master’s degree programs, the following opportunity is available specifically for students applying to the UTR program.
Franklin Fellowship
The Franklin Fellowship is an exclusive opportunity for undergraduate students from Franklin and Marshall College (F&M) who express an interest in long-term teaching in the Philadelphia area. The Franklin Fellowship guarantees eligible students a minimum $15,000 scholarship that can be combined with other Penn GSE merit and/or need-based scholarships.
Field Experiences with VAST LIFE
Through the VAST LIFE program, students in Penn GSE's Urban Teaching Residency program experience hands-on learning in special education.
Our Faculty
Our expert faculty help our students discover the kind of educator they want to be, prepare them for their role as a teacher-leader, and help them explore ways to use their foundational experience to pursue a career outside of the classroom.
Program Leadership
Nicole Mittenfelner Carl
Program Director
Patrick Sexton
Executive Director, Teacher Education Programs
Roshonda Scipio
Program Manager
rscipio@gse.upenn.edu
Affiliated Faculty
Brad Latimer
Instructor
M.S. in Education, University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Anne W. Kimani
Instructor
Ph.D Capella University - Instructional Design for Online Learning
Cherylann Schmidt
Instructor
Ed.D., University of Pennsylvania
Alicia Montague-Keels
Our Graduates
Alumni of the Urban Teaching Residency program are working as teachers, leaders, researchers, and policymakers who are committed to ending educational inequality and making an excellent education a reality for all children.
Alumni Careers
- 3rd / 4th Grade Learning Support, Emlen Elementary School, School District of Philadelphia
- Assistant Principal, Upper Moreland Elementary School
- Assistant Superintendent, School District of Philadelphia
- Chemistry Teacher, KIPP Philadelphia
- Community Coordinator, Trenton Public Schools
- Director of Special Education, Mastery Charter, Camden
- Educational Consultant, Peabody College at Vanderbilt University
- English Teacher, Frankford High School, School District of Philadelphia
- Mathematics Curriculum Developer, School District of Philadelphia
- Middle School Learning Support Teacher and Gifted Liaison, Southwark School, School District of Philadelphia
- Policy Advisor, Mayor 's Office, Philadelphia Principal, People for People Charter School
Admissions & Financial Aid
Please visit our Admissions and Financial Aid pages for specific information on the application requirements, as well as information on tuition, fees, financial aid, scholarships, and fellowships.
Contact us if you have any questions about the program.
Financial Aid
Graduate School of Education
University of Pennsylvania
3700 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 898-6415
admissions@gse.upenn.edu
finaid@gse.upenn.edu
Roshonda Scipio
Program Manager
rscipio@gse.upenn.edu
Please view information from our Admissions and Financial Aid Office for specific information on the cost of this program.
Penn GSE is committed to making your graduate education affordable, and we offer generous scholarships, fellowships, and assistantships.
Related News & Research
The Penn GSE Perspectives on Urban Education journal is an electronic, student-run publication and interactive forum to investigate critical issues in urban education.
The Philadelphia Writing Project (PhilWP) is network of over 800 teacher consultants who work with teachers and other educators to explore literacy, writing, teaching, and learning in their classrooms and schools regardless of grade or discipline.
The Racial Empowerment Collaborative (REC) is a research, program development, and training center that brings together community leaders, researchers, authority figures, families, and youth to study and promote racial literacy and health in schools and neighborhoods.