Prepare to Teach English Language Arts in Just One Year
Prepare to become an English teacher in just one year through the English Grades 7–12 Certificate program. This post-baccalaureate program leads to Pennsylvania state certification to teach English language arts in middle schools and high schools.
By beginning your studies during the summer or fall semester, you can earn your teaching certification, including student teaching, in just one calendar year.
Some highlights of the program:
- Practical experiences in the field
- A teaching model that gives students a full academic year of hands-on experience in a classroom
- Urban, suburban, and rural partner schools
- Connections to working alumni
- Professors who have taught middle- and high-school English
- Faculty with extensive knowledge and track records in preparing public school teachers for success
- Experienced professors who are active researchers and frequently publish on English education
Imagine Your Future
Our English 7–12 post-baccalaureate certificate program is perfect for those who have decided to become English teachers after completing a bachelor’s degree in English or a related field.
Because of IUP’s reputation for preparing exemplary teachers, our graduates have an advantage when applying for teaching jobs.
If you are currently a master’s degree student in English, this program is an option that can help you maximize your career prospects in English education.
Our graduates teach in schools across Pennsylvania and in many other states, including Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas, to name just a few.
Classes and Requirements
Your courses and student teaching experience combine to give you an excellent preparation for entering the classroom as a teacher.
Other Requirements
Students must pass the Praxis II English Language Arts: Content Knowledge test to be cleared for student teaching and to earn a PA Instructional I Teaching Certificate.
While enrolled in the program, students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average to remain eligible for Pennsylvania state teaching certification. A minimum GPA of 3.0 while enrolled in the post-baccalaureate program is required by state law and is the same for all education majors at all colleges and universities in Pennsylvania.
Students must also comply with the requirements of the College of Education and Communications and the Three-Step Process.
Full Academic Catalog Listing
The course catalog is the official reference for all our degree and course offerings. Check it out for a full listing of the classes available and requirements for this degree.
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National Council of Teachers of English
Students can become involved in the IUP chapter of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE-IUP), advised by professor Dana Driscoll.
This organization’s mission is to do the following:
- Create a community among future teachers of English
- Develop professional attitudes and standards through meetings, workshops, and lectures
- Encourage and enhance ties between students and the professional education community, ultimately helping members make the transition from student to professional
Learn more about the IUP chapter of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE-IUP).
Application Requirements
- Students must meet minimum application requirements as established by IUP’s School of Graduate Studies and Research and follow all of the requirements in the College of Education and Communications’ Three-Step Process.
- Students must have three undergraduate credits in each of the following: math, English composition, and English literature.
- Before acceptance, students will undergo a thorough transcript review and recommendation that ensures they have the qualifications required in English by IUP and by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to earn teaching certification.
- Applications are accepted year-round but are encouraged before April 1 to be considered for school placements.
- While enrolled in the program, students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average to remain eligible for Pennsylvania state teaching certification. Reach out to the coordinator if you have questions about what prerequisites you might need.