Ninth Semester

If students pursuing certification do not want to or cannot student teach in the fall of their senior year, they may elect to take a "ninth semester." Students who have completed all of the requirements for certification in their discipline and in Educational Studies, except for Practice Teaching and the Curriculum and Methods Seminar, may apply to return following graduation to complete the teacher certification program during a ninth semester. During this semester, they take  EDUC 093: Practice Teaching (2 credits) and EDUC 092: Curriculum and Methods Seminar (2 credits). Students in the ninth semester program have full access to computing and other campus facilities, but are not eligible for campus housing.

Students who were financially aided at Swarthmore take the ninth semester tuition free. Students who have not received financial aid pay the equivalent of one course credit for the semester. The Department of Educational Studies has some funding available for living stipends for ninth semester students who have received financial aid during their time at Swarthmore.