Urban Teaching Residency

Urban Teaching Residency Program (UTRP)

The Urban Teaching Residency program provides solid academic training and professional mentoring necessary to create effective urban educators. The curriculum is set around four core principles: unwavering focus on children; teacher inquiry and reflection; broad understanding of education and commitment to equity and social justice. The program began as a partnership of Penn GSE, the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and the Teach For America Greater Philadelphia Region.

To meet the needs of people working full time, the Urban Teaching Residency program is an executive-style format program with a hybrid of online and in-person coursework.

Our program offers two tracks. One with Pennsylvania certification (Every Teacher Certified, or ETC) and one without (Urban Professionals Program, or UPP).

Every Teacher Certified Options:

1. M.S.Ed. in Urban Education with PA Instructional I certification  

   • The M.S.Ed. in Urban Education with recommendation for the Instructional Level I Certification allows you to work towards a Pennsylvania teaching certification while simultaneously completing coursework required to earn a master's degree in education.

2. M.S.Ed. in Urban Education with dual certification in PA Instructional I and special education 

   • The M.S.Ed. in Urban Education with recommendation for the Instructional Level I Certification and K-12 Special Education Certification allows you to work towards a PA content-area certification and certification in Special Education in two years. You must opt into this track by the first semester of your first year.

3. Certification Only - General Education or Special Education 

   • General Education Certification Only is for students who are entering the program through one of our educational and school partners.

4. Special Education Certification Only is for teachers who are already certified in a general education track.

Urban Professionals Program track

M.S.Ed. in Urban Education

The M.S.Ed in Urban Education is designed for teachers, researchers, educators, and community advocates who are interested in the distinct needs of children and families in high-needs contexts. It explores issues related to equity, access, institutional and school-level policy, as well as the needs of children living in poverty. Drawing from critical and sociocultural perspectives, the M.S.Ed in Urban Education considers how communities, schools, and policy intersect to impact families in high-needs schools.

Offline Recommendation

Penn strongly prefers that recommenders submit letters of recommendation online through the admissions system. If, however, your recommender is unable to submit an online recommendation, please follow these instructions:

1) Select the “Recommendation Form PDF Download” and download the form.
2) Complete the first section. Be sure to include the address of the appropriate admissions office — refer to the "Contact Graduate Admissions" list below. 
3) Print out the form and provide it to your recommender.

Please note:

• If you are applying to a program in Nursing, print out and provide your recommender with these special instructions for completing your letter of recommendation.
• If you are applying to a program in the School of Social Policy & Practice, print out and provide your recommender with these special instructions for completing your letter of recommendation.

4) Your recommender should send the form directly to the admissions office you designate, along with the letter of recommendation.