Admissions Criteria

Acceptance for study in Drexel University's School of Education graduate teacher certification program requires:

• Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution.
• Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher (graduate degree GPAs will be considered along with the undergraduate GPA).
• Complete graduate school application.
• Official transcripts from all universities or colleges and other post-secondary educational institutions (including trade schools) attended. Instead of hard copy transcripts, you may supply official electronic transcripts issued by a post-secondary institution directly to Drexel University Online (use our email address, customerservice@drexel.com). You must supply transcripts regardless of the number of credits earned or the type of school you attended.  If you do not list all post-secondary institutions on your application and these are listed on transcripts received from other institutions, processing of your application will be delayed until you have submitted the remaining transcripts. Click here to use our Transcript Lookup Tool to assist you in contacting your previous institutions. If a college or university that you attended offers the option to send transcripts in a secure, password-protected electronic format, you may have the transcript sent  to customerservice@drexel.com.
• Students with transcripts from non-US institutions should have such transcripts evaluated by World Education Service (WES) as described below under International Students - Additional Information.
• Two letters of recommendation - professional or academic.
  • Drexel University Online now accepts electronic letters of recommendation.  Please access the following webpage for instructions regarding their submission: http://www.drexel.edu/apply/recommend.  If a recommender prefers to submit an original, hard copy letter of recommendation, please remind the recommender that it must be signed and submitted in a sealed envelope signed across the flap by the recommender. 
   
• A well written two page (1000-1500 word) essay describing why the applicant is interested in pursuing graduate study in this field and stating intended area of certification (e.g. elementary, secondary foreign language, secondary english)
• Students pursuing Teacher Education Certification must meet the PA State content course requirements for their specific area of certification. Content course reviews are conducted at time of application. Coursework missing from a student's undergraduate background or below the minimum 3.0 GPA cumulative average may be taken concurrently with the graduate program (this is not a requirement for the TSEL program) 
• International Students: must submit a TOEFL score of 550 or higher. Students with transcripts from non-US institutions should have such transcripts evaluated by World Education Service (WES). The TOEFL examination is required for some non-citizens.  Applicants whose native language is English (who list themselves as born in or citizens of the following countries: American Samoa, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British West Indies, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, England, Ghana, Guam, Ireland, Jamaica, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Puerto Rico, Scotland, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Trinidad/Tobago, Uganda, Virgin Islands, Wales, Zimbabwe) are exempt from the TOEFL.  Applicants whose native language is not English are exempt from the TOEFL if the applicant completed 4 years of high school in the United States or completed English 101 and English 102 with a grade of C or better from a US domestic accredited institution. Applicants who received an undergraduate or graduate degree from an academic institution located in the U.S., UK or Canada are also exempt from the TOEFL.

Please note all submitted materials become the property of Drexel University.

The Admissions Committee evaluates all credentials submitted by applicants to determine a student's ability and potential to succeed in graduate study. The applicant’s transcripts are evaluated in relation to state standards for the intended certification area for those seeking to gain certification.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis for all four terms. Apply today! See the above criteria for specific supplemental materials required. 

Download Program Info as PDF