Teacher Intern Certification Program

Transform Your Passion for Science into a Teaching Career with Etown's Teacher Intern Certification Program?

Joining the Teacher Intern Certification Program at Elizabethtown College is an excellent opportunity for those with a bachelor's degree in biology or a related science field to transition into a rewarding career in education. This program uniquely offers a paid internship under mentorship, allowing for practical, hands-on experience in teaching. This comprehensive approach ensures that graduates are well-equipped for the diverse challenges of modern education.

Program Outcomes:

Articulate established philosophical, socio-cultural, and psychological aspects of secondary education.
Develop innovative curricula, instruction plans, and teaching approaches for diverse learners.
Identify educational resources in diversified communities.
Practice professional and ethical teaching standards within established state and local guidelines.
Demonstrate critical thinking in planning, monitoring, assessing, and reporting learning progress and outcomes.
Paid student teaching internship experience.

Online

Program Format

credits

$525 per credit

Can be Completed in

One Year

Or Less

Etown SGPS Ranked in the top

For Best Online

Colleges in Pennsylvania

by Forbes for 2024

Launch Your Secondary Education Career

The Teacher Intern Certification Program at Elizabethtown College equips graduates with the ability to embark on a fulfilling career as a biology teacher for grades 7-12. The program's comprehensive training, including a paid internship under experienced mentors, hones skills essential for effective teaching in today's diverse classrooms. Graduates of the program will be well-prepared to apply innovative educational strategies, manage classroom dynamics, and contribute positively to adolescent development through their specialized knowledge in biology and related sciences.

Join Us for One of Our Upcoming Information Sessions

Feb. 29 (6 PM)

Understand Tuition Costs and Explore Scholarship Opportunities

The Teacher Intern Certification Program is priced at $525 per credit. Scholarships and financial aid are available to make your Etown SGPS education even more affordable. Below are just a few of the scholarships and programs available to students:

Alumni Scholarship: 15% tuition discount, available to Elizabethtown College alumni.
Affinity Partner Scholarship: 15% discount, offered to employees of organizations partnered with Etown SGPS.
Jay Fellowship Referral Program: This is a referral program that benefits both current students/alumni and prospective students. When a student or alum refers a new student, both the referrer and the referred student receive a complimentary credit for their program of interest.

Tuition and fees are reviewed and subject to change annually.

Tuition & Aid

The Teacher Intern Certification Program

The Teacher Intern Certification Program from Elizabethtown College requires 30 credit hours of academic work. Students in the Teaching Intern Certification program also have two options to secure a paid student teaching experience:

Students who enter the program after obtaining PDE Intern Certification approval and have a teaching position in Pennsylvania prior to beginning coursework. These students may work for a school district for 3 years while they progress through coursework and then sit for their Praxis exam. Students will be completing fieldwork while they are taking the other courses.
Students who enter the program after obtaining PDE Intern Certification approval but have not found a teaching position in Pennsylvania. For these students, SGPS will place students in the schools for field placement or assign virtual observations. These students will progress through coursework the same as those students who have an intern certification.
Students will be required to complete 16 weeks of full-time supervised student teaching. In addition to the criteria and competencies required to exit the Teacher Intern Certificate Program, students will be required to keep a self-reflective journal. The PDE 430 will be completed at the midpoint of classroom teaching experience and again at the final evaluation. These evaluations support the recommendation for a certificate offered by the PDE.

Course Catalog Academic Calendar

Application Requirements & Process

Application Requirements

Pennsylvania School Law requires that all applicants for employment in public and private schools, employees of independent contractors seeking business with public and private schools, and student teacher candidates undergo background checks if they will have direct contact with students. Elizabethtown College requires these backgrounds for provisional acceptance into the Teacher Intern Certification Program. The following three background checks are required:

Department of Human Services Child Abuse History Clearance
Pennsylvania State Police Request for Criminal Records Check
Federal Criminal History Record Information (CHRI)

Additional requirements to be considered for provisional admission to the Teacher Intern Certification Program:

Assessment of Professional Potential: 2 letters of recommendation that speak to your teaching ability.
Completion of TIP 505 Introduction to Education with a grade of 3.0 or greater.

Upon formal acceptance, students must fulfill the following requirements:

Successfully complete all Education Courses, including biology methods courses.
Complete all field placements and maintain a professional portfolio.
Demonstrate professional standards with satisfactory ratings.
Pass the PRAXIS exam relative to specific certification (General Sciences 7-12).

Application Process

Contact or meet with our admissions staff for guidance and to find out more information.
Complete the graduate application via the online portal which includes the submission of a $25 nonrefundable application fee, which is waived for Elizabethtown College graduates.
- You will need to request official transcripts from all undergraduate institutions you have attended and upload your current resume.
- Additionally, prepare a 1-2 page essay addressing your motivation for pursuing the graduate certificate, a statement of professional goals, and goals for the application of the graduate certificate to your professional life.
After submitting your application, the SGPS Team will review it and make an admissions decision.
If accepted, you will receive an initial offer letter via the applicant portal, which you must accept to proceed with matriculation.
If there are any questions or concerns, the admissions team will contact you for further discussion.
After successfully completing your Elizabethtown College graduate certificate, students may complete the Advance in Graduate Certificate or Degree form in the JayWeb student portal to apply to a future graduate certificate or graduate degree. Additional materials may be required, depending on the program of interest.