Teacher Intern Certification Program
Teacher Intern Certification Program
The Teacher Intern Certification Program (TICP) offered through Elizabethtown College’s School of Graduate and Professional Studies provides a teaching certification for individuals with a bachelor's degree in biology or related science. Students in the online TICP will complete a paid internship under trained mentor teachers throughout the program. Upon completion, this certificate allows students the opportunity to become a full-time professional biology teacher for grades 7-12.
Students will develop foundational skills related to adolescent development, integrating technology in the classroom, educating students with special needs, and cultural diversity.
Want to know more?
Join us for one of our Info Sessions!
REQUEST INFOarrow_right_alt APPLY nowarrow_right_alt
Program Formats:

Credits Required: 30
Tuition:
- $525/Credit
- 15% Alumni Scholarship
- 15% Affinity Partner Scholarship
Tuition and fees are reviewed and subject to change annually.
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.
Certification 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).
Core Courses
Students complete credits in the following courese:
- TIP 505 SGPS Introduction to Education
- TIP 551 SGPS Adolescent Development
- TIP 561 SGPS Integrated Technology in the Classroom
- TIP 509 SGPS Biology Education Methods
- TIP 522 SGPS Educating Students with Special Needs
- TIP 541 SGPS Linguistics and Cultural Diversity
- TIP 570 SGPS Formal and Informal Assessment & Evaluation
- TIP 575 SGPS Student Teaching/Professional Internship*
- TIP 597 SGPS Senior Seminar
Student Teaching Experience
Students in the Teaching Intern Certification program 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.
Our experienced Admissions staff is here to help. Fill out a brief contact form and one of our counselors will reach out to guide you on your way.