MA IN EDUCATION WITH PA TEACHER CERTIFICATION
Our Master’s Plus Teacher Certification program prepares students for secondary school certification and the rewarding profession of teaching through a rich blend of courses and field experiences that engage the mind and spirit.
Our 34-credit program offers the opportunity to complete a master’s degree in education alongside the requirements for Pennsylvania secondary school certification (grades 7-12) in a variety of subject areas. The full-time track allows students to complete the degree in one year. This close-knit program provides valuable field experiences and individualized professional development opportunities, and a 100% job placement rate.
The program is designed for individuals who possess a strong foundation in the subject matter they intend to teach (e.g. through completion of an undergraduate major or postbaccalaureate courses in the discipline). Interested candidates are invited to contact the Program Director for a transcript review to determine if prerequisites have been met.
Through a blend of innovative educational theory and real-world experience, we graduate superior educators for our nation's students and schools. At Villanova you will:
- Build a strong foundation in subject matter
- Explore educational theory and pedagogy
- Apply research to teaching practice
- Define your philosophy of teaching and classroom management
- Ground classroom theory in field placements including full-time teaching experience
- Understand current realities in secondary schools
- Learn with renowned faculty who are dedicated to your learning experience
PROGRAM DETAILS
Inspired by St. Augustine the Teacher, the program seeks to nurture in students the capacity for critical thinking as well as the dispositions of intellectual curiosity, humility, and a commitment to social justice. As reflective practitioners whose work is grounded in theory, graduates of our program are well prepared to serve the diverse and individualized needs of their students, inspiring them to lifelong learning.
The Full-time intensive 12-month program offers individuals without an education background an opportunity to complete a Master of Arts in Education degree while simultaneously completing the requirements for teacher certification. Applicants typically begin this program in the summer.
The Part-time program permits prospective teachers to complete their Master of Arts in Education degree and teacher certification requirements in two years. Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis.
The Masters of Arts in Education plus Certification program requires 34 credits which include courses, field experiences including observations in the schools, and student teaching. The full-time track is normally completed in two semesters and two summer sessions (12 months). The part-time track is normally completed in two years.
Typically, applicants will have an undergraduate major in an academic subject area which they intend to teach (English, Math, etc.) If candidates want to teach a subject in which they did not earn a degree, prerequisite coursework may be necessary before entering the Master's Plus Certification program.
The Master of Arts in Education plus Teacher Certification course sequence includes:
- EDU 8400 Critical Perspectives in Special Education
- EDU 8603 Educational Research
- EDU 8614 Curriculum and Assessment
- EDU 8618 Adolescent Psychology
- EDU 8669 Comparative Education
- EDU 8673 Philosophy of Education
- EDU 8675 Development of the English Language Learner
- EDU 8678 Equity & Social Justice in Education
Offered Fall:
- EDU 8550/8540/8530 Teaching Methods: English & Social Studies, Math & Science, or Language
Offered Spring:
- EDU 7321 Student Teaching Seminar
- EDU 8628 Graduate Student Teaching
Applications are considered on a rolling basis and require the following:
- At least an undergraduate degree in a secondary school teaching area, or the equivalent coursework
- 3.0 GPA or higher
Additional prerequisite courses (or the Praxis II) may be necessary based on your coursework’s alignment to PA standards. Please email a copy of your unofficial transcript to the Program Director, Dr. Lisa Marco-Bujosa, to determine if you will need additional coursework prior to applying.
The state of Pennsylvania requires that certified teachers are U.S. Citizens.
See all application details, deadlines and funding information.
To be recommended for certification students must:
- Have a final 3.0 GPA
- Pass the state-required Praxis exams
- Satisfactory performance in their field experiences including a minimal B- in student teaching
- Successful creation of a presentation electronic portfolio
To obtain PA Instructional I Teacher Certification students must take and earn qualifying scores on the Praxis Subject Area tests for specific instruction areas. Students in in the Villanova Master's Plus Certification program do not need to take the Basic Skills Tests.
Praxis testing is done through ETS testing service. Please visit the ETS website for testing information and PA Certification Test Score Requirements.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Valerie Cunningham '17 MA, Biology and Environmental Science Teacher at Conestoga High School, Berwyn, Pa
“Through the Master’s Plus Program I was able to complete my Master’s degree and my teaching certification in just one year. I started the program in the summer of 2016, and by the fall of 2017, I was employed! As a Master’s Plus student, I valued the small class sizes because I got to regularly engage in group discussion, form relationships with my professors and connect with my peers. My cohort became a little family that supported one another through the twists and turns of student teaching, lesson planning and the job application process!”