Independent School Teaching Residency, MSEd
The Independent School Teaching Residency, M.S.Ed. program (ISTR) prepares early educators in our partnered schools with foundational pedagogy and classroom management skills to become successful teachers through a highly mentored, in person and online fellowship. ISTR enables aspiring and early career teachers to receive a master’s degree in education while completing teaching fellowships at host partner schools. With an innovative and comprehensive curriculum designed specifically for the independent schools’ unique settings, ISTR features intensive on-site sessions in combination with innovative and collaborative distance learning.
For more information: https://www.gse.upenn.edu/academics/programs/independent-boarding-school-teaching-residency-teacher-education-masters
The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2026 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.
Curriculum
| Code | Title | Course Units |
|---|---|---|
| Requirements | ||
| EDPR 5010A & EDPR 5010B & EDPR 5010C | Social Foundations of Independent Schools I and Social Foundations of Independent Schools I and Social Foundations of Independent Schools I | 0.50 |
| EDPR 5020A & EDPR 5020B | Introduction to Teaching as Inquiry and Introduction to Teaching as Inquiry | 0.50 |
| EDPR 5030A & EDPR 5030B | Learning Theory and Instructional Design I and Learning Theory and Instructional Design I | 0.50 |
| EDPR 5040A & EDPR 5040B | Field Seminar I and Field Seminar I | 0.50 |
| EDPR 5060A & EDPR 5060B | Reflective Practice in Schools I and Reflective Practice in Schools I | 0.50 |
| EDPR 5070A & EDPR 5070B | Scl Fdntns Of Ind Sch II and Scl Fdntns Of Ind Sch II | 0.50 |
| EDPR 5080A & EDPR 5080B & EDPR 5080C | Adol Dev & Clssrm App and Adol Dev & Clssrm App and Adol Dev & Clssrm App | 0.50 |
| EDPR 5090A & EDPR 5090B | Field Seminar II and Field Seminar II | 0.50 |
| EDPR 5160A & EDPR 5160B | Reflective Practice in Schools II and Reflective Practice in Schools II | 0.50 |
| Select one sequence of the following: | 0.50 | |
| Methods I- World Language and Methods I- World Language | ||
| Methods I- Math and Methods I- Math | ||
| Methods I- Social Studies and Methods I- Social Studies | ||
| Methods I- Science and Methods I- Science | ||
| Methods I- English and Methods I- English | ||
| Methods I- Independent Study and Methods I-Independent Study | ||
| EDPR 6010A & EDPR 6010B | Advncd Mthds Of Inq I and Advncd Mthds Of Inq I | 0.50 |
| EDPR 6020A & EDPR 6020B | Advncd Mthds Of Inq II and Advncd Mthds Of Inq II | 0.50 |
| EDPR 6030A & EDPR 6030B | Social Foundations of Independent Schools: Advanced I and Social Foundations of Independent Schools: Advanced I | 0.50 |
| EDPR 6040A & EDPR 6040B | Advanced Learning Theory I and Advanced Learning Theory I | 0.50 |
| EDPR 6050A & EDPR 6050B | Advanced Field Seminar I and Advanced Field Seminar I | 0.50 |
| Select one sequence of the following: | 0.50 | |
| Methods II- World Language and Methods II- World Language | ||
| Methods II- Math and Methods II- Math | ||
| Methods II- Social Studies and Methods II- Social Studies | ||
| Methods II- Science and Methods II- Science | ||
| Methods II- English and Methods II- English | ||
| Methods II- Independent Study and Methods II- Independent Study | ||
| EDPR 6060 | Capstone Preparation | 0.5 |
| EDPR 6070 | Sharing Practitioner Research in Professional Settings | 0.5 |
| EDPR 6080 | Advanced Field Seminar II | 0.5 |
| EDPR 6090 | Final Master's Portfolio Seminar | 0.5 |
| Total Course Units | 10 | |
Master's Portfolio
Master’s degree candidates must demonstrate thorough knowledge of the field of specialization by creating a portfolio and passing a portfolio review in their area of study. The portfolio serves an educational and evaluative purpose through which students are expected to review and integrate what they have learned in their coursework and fieldwork. Portfolio formats vary.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summer | Course Units | |
| EDPR 5010A | Social Foundations of Independent Schools I | 0.17 |
| EDPR 5020A | Introduction to Teaching as Inquiry | 0.25 |
| Course Units | 0.42 | |
| Fall | ||
| EDPR 5010B | Social Foundations of Independent Schools I | 0.17 |
| EDPR 5020B | Introduction to Teaching as Inquiry | 0.25 |
| EDPR 5030A | Learning Theory and Instructional Design I | 0.25 |
| EDPR 5040A | Field Seminar I | 0.25 |
| EDPR 5060A | Reflective Practice in Schools I | 0.25 |
| EDPR 5160A | Reflective Practice in Schools II | 0.25 |
| Course Units | 1.42 | |
| Spring | ||
| EDPR 5010C | Social Foundations of Independent Schools I | 0.16 |
| EDPR 5030B | Learning Theory and Instructional Design I | 0.25 |
| EDPR 5040B | Field Seminar I | 0.25 |
| EDPR 5060B | Reflective Practice in Schools I | 0.25 |
| EDPR 5070A | Scl Fdntns Of Ind Sch II | 0.25 |
| EDPR 5080A | Adol Dev & Clssrm App | 0.17 |
| EDPR 5090A | Field Seminar II | 0.25 |
| EDPR 5160B | Reflective Practice in Schools II | 0.25 |
| Select one of the following: | 0.25 | |
| Methods I- World Language | ||
| Methods I- Math | ||
| Methods I- Social Studies | ||
| Methods I- Science | ||
| Methods I- English | ||
| Methods I- Independent Study | ||
| Course Units | 2.08 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Summer | ||
| EDPR 5070B | Scl Fdntns Of Ind Sch II | 0.25 |
| EDPR 5080B | Adol Dev & Clssrm App | 0.17 |
| EDPR 5090B | Field Seminar II | 0.25 |
| EDPR 6010A | Advncd Mthds Of Inq I | 0.25 |
| EDPR 6020A | Advncd Mthds Of Inq II | 0.25 |
| Select one of the following: | .25 | |
| Methods I- World Language | ||
| Methods I- Math | ||
| Methods I- Social Studies | ||
| Methods I- Science | ||
| Methods I- English | ||
| Methods I-Independent Study | ||
| Course Units | 1.42 | |
| Fall | ||
| EDPR 5080C | Adol Dev & Clssrm App | 0.16 |
| EDPR 6010B | Advncd Mthds Of Inq I | 0.25 |
| EDPR 6020B | Advncd Mthds Of Inq II | 0.25 |
| EDPR 6030A | Social Foundations of Independent Schools: Advanced I | 0.25 |
| EDPR 6040A | Advanced Learning Theory I | 0.25 |
| EDPR 6050A | Advanced Field Seminar I | 0.25 |
| Select one of the following: | 0.25 | |
| Methods II- World Language | ||
| Methods II- Math | ||
| Methods II- Social Studies | ||
| Methods II- Science | ||
| Methods II- English | ||
| Methods II- Independent Study | ||
| Course Units | 1.66 | |
| Spring | ||
| EDPR 6030B | Social Foundations of Independent Schools: Advanced I | 0.25 |
| EDPR 6040B | Advanced Learning Theory I | 0.25 |
| EDPR 6050B | Advanced Field Seminar I | 0.25 |
| EDPR 6060 | Capstone Preparation | 0.5 |
| EDPR 6070 | Sharing Practitioner Research in Professional Settings | 0.5 |
| EDPR 6080 | Advanced Field Seminar II | 0.5 |
| EDPR 6090 | Final Master's Portfolio Seminar | 0.5 |
| Select one of the following: | .25 | |
| Methods II- World Language | ||
| Methods II- Math | ||
| Methods II- Social Studies | ||
| Methods II- Science | ||
| Methods II- English | ||
| Methods II- Independent Study | ||
| Course Units | 3.00 | |
| Total Course Units | 10.00 | |