Program Codes:
BAQSPECED
Bachelor of Arts
Mission Statement
The mission of the Department of Education at Mercyhurst University is to develop teachers who are intellectually and spiritually sensitive, professionally and socially responsible; namely, those who seek to bring out these same qualities in their own students. To accomplish this mission, our teacher preparation program enables pre-service teachers to facilitate growth in intellectual curiosity, self-confidence, knowledge, responsibility, and interpersonal relationships.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
The Education Department Early Childhood/Special Education faculty has developed six-broad based learning outcomes that serve as the framework for the program’s curriculum. Upon completion of the pre-service teacher preparation program, graduates will be able to:
Certification Programs
Undergraduate degrees leading to teacher certification from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are available in the following areas: Art Education K-12; Early Childhood Education PreK-4; Early Childhood Education PreK-4/Special Education PreK-12; Spanish Education K-12, and Music Education K-12.
Accreditation
All Certification Programs have full accreditation endorsements by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The State Board of Education adopted changes that affect all of PA’s teacher certification programs by adding 9 credits or 270 hours or equivalent combination for adaptations and accommodations for diverse students in an inclusive setting and 3 credits or 90 hours or equivalent combination to meet the instructional needs of English Language Learners. New regulations for certifying teachers became effective on January 1, 2013.
Minor
The Education Department offers a minor in Special Education PreK-12.
Admission
All students intending to complete a Bachelor Degree in Education must make formal application for admission to the Education Department during the spring semester of their sophomore year, or upon completion of 48 credits of university level study. Those students earning teacher certification in Secondary Education 7-12 or K-12 Education must make formal application in the specific academic department in their area of study. Transfer students must complete one Mercyhurst Education course prior to applying for admission.
All students must meet the published admissions criteria. Admission to an Education program constitutes admission to the Education Department. Dismissal from an Education program constitutes dismissal from the Education Department. Mercyhurst University complies with the Pennsylvania Department of Education regulations for teacher certification. Should these regulations change, Mercyhurst will change requirements accordingly and students will be responsible for meeting the new guidelines for program completion and certification.
Procedures for Admission Review
Minimum requirements for admission to the Education Program are:
Students eligible for admission to the Education Program have their applications examined as follows:
Retention
Students placed on any kind of probationary status by the admission/retention committees of the Early Childhood Education, Secondary, or Special Education Departments may not enroll in any Education Department courses unless specifically approved by the Chair of the Education Department.
A student receiving a final evaluation of unsatisfactory in any course clinical experience may not enroll in any other Education Department course until the department faculty agree to permit the student to repeat the clinical experience and such is completed at a satisfactory level by the student.
A student may be dismissed from the Education Department should they receive, at the conclusion of either the first or second half of the Capstone Clinical assignment, an evaluation of unsatisfactory. The final determination of unsatisfactory performance in the Capstone Clinical program is made by the university supervisor, the Director of Field Placements and the Chair of the Education Department.
Mandated Grading Scale
The faculty in the Education Department uses a unified grading scale in the assessment of student achievement in all education courses. Above average grades will be reserved for “exemplary” work only.
100-95 % (A) 94-90% (B+) 89-85 % (B) 84-78% (C+) 77-70 % (C) 69-65 % (D+) 64-60 % (D) Below 60 % (F)
Clinical Experiences
All students will complete the Capstone Clinical; a vital experience in the program of the emerging professional educator. As part of the Capstone Clinical experience, each student will present an accepted Professional Portfolio. Capstone Clinical assignments/placements are the responsibility of the university. To avoid conflicts of interest, a candidate will normally not be assigned to districts from which he/she graduated or to districts in which he/ she permanently resides or to schools in which an immediate family member is employed.
Most course offerings of the Education Department require that a student successfully complete an assigned clinical experience in order to pass the academic course. Students who register for courses with a clinical experience are required by PA state law to obtain ACT 24/82, ACT 34, ACT 114 and ACT 151 clearances, a clear TB test and the Mandatory Reporter Training Course. Copies of these clearances must be presented to the course instructor during the first week of class and submitted to the Education Office.
Information on obtaining these clearances can be found in the Education Office or on the Pennsylvania Department of Education website at: https://www.education. pa.gov/Educators/Clearances/Pages/default.aspx. Effective December 31, 2014, employees who have direct contact with children will be required to obtain new clearances every 36 months.
The nature of a course (location, number of hours, types of assignments, number of visits, student responsibility, etc.) is determined by the specific subject matter and content of the academic course. Specific information concerning a course clinical is found in the course syllabus.
An unexcused absence from an assigned course clinical and/or an unsatisfactory final clinical evaluation from either the course instructor or the classroom clinical supervisor will result in a grade of “F” for the course and the student being given notice of automatic placement on final probationary status within the specific department and the Education Department.
Capstone Clinical
Students accepted in the Education Department must make formal application for Capstone Clinical assignments at least one year prior to the semester in which they expect to do the Capstone Clinical experience. All assignments will be for a fourteen-week period. Capstone Clinical is done during the fall semester or the spring semester.
EDUC 475: Capstone Clinical K-12
After the application has been received and approved, each student accepted will be granted a conditional Capstone Clinical assignment. All Capstone Clinical assignments are conditional upon the academic results of the previous semester. Students accepted into the Capstone Clinical program must follow the rules and regulations governing admission/retention in this program.
Final approval for Capstone Clinical will be sent to students who have:
The Department will recommend for program completion and teacher certification only those candidates who have met the following requirements:
At any time during the Capstone Clinical assignment(s), unsatisfactory performance as determined by the University supervisor the Director of Field Placements and/or the Chair of the Education Department may result in a student being withdrawn from the course with a final grade of “F” and dismissal from the Education Department. It is the responsibility of the student to have knowledge of and be in compliance with all existing Pennsylvania State rules and regulations for certification.
Application for Capstone Clinical
All eligibility requirements must be completed and forwarded to the Director of Field Placements by the designated date to qualify:
Dismissal of a Candidate from Capstone Clinical Placement
Purpose
To establish reasons or a process for removal of a candidate from the Capstone Clinical assignment. The first two items are consistent with Act 34, Criminal Record Check; the third item establishes a procedure for removing a student if the candidate’s behavior is not consistent with appropriate expectations of the school district; the fourth item establishes a process and assures that the student learns of unsatisfactory progress as early as possible; and the fifth item is an appeal process.
Policy
Students ultimately are guests of the cooperating school districts and may be removed at the request of the principal/superintendent.
A student may also be removed by Mercyhurst University from the student assignment for any of the following reasons:
Decisions made under this policy may be appealed to the Dean of the Hafenmaier College.
Transfer Students
Transfer students seeking to complete their bachelor’s degree at Mercyhurst University and teacher certification are required to take a minimum of one -half of the Education Department Course requirements and one-half of the certification content area course requirements at Mercyhurst University. Transfer students holding a Bachelor Degree from accredited institutions other than Mercyhurst may receive Mercyhurst University recommendation for teacher certification upon completion of all requirements established on the basis of an evaluation of prospective candidates’ academic and experiential credentials by both the Chairperson of the Education Department and the Department Director of the certification area.
Factors considered in this evaluation include: date of course work, date of degree, and compatibility of academic and experiential credentials with the current academic and professional education requirements of the certificate.
Non-Traditional Students
Access to education programs leading to certification is available for adults planning mid-career changes, certified persons wishing to add new areas to their certificate, and the self-support students who must work while completing a program. The non-traditional student should meet with an Education Department faculty advisor to develop a plan of study that utilizes a variety of options for completion of certification requirements. The non-traditional student must meet all admission/retention standards of the Education Department as well as all the specific standards of the program offering the certification program.
K-12 Education Major
Teacher certification for grades Kindergarten through grade 12 is available in the following academic areas of study: Art (K-12), Spanish (K-12), Music (K-12). K-12 Education majors must fulfill the requirements for admission to the K-12 Education Program and to the selected academic department of the major.
Students who are seeking certification in any of the K-12 education areas must complete the prescribed courses in their major area and the education courses listed below. All of the education courses must be taken in sequence, and must be completed before a student can begin the Capstone Clinical (see below). All Capstone Clinical assignments will be for a twelve-week period. The Capstone Clinical experience is typically during the fall and spring semesters. Final approval for the Capstone Clinical will be sent to students who have successfully met the requirements listed by the Department of Education, recommendation from the major Department, and possession of desirable professional and personal qualities as evidenced by successful completion of all clinical experiences.
Sophomores are required to make formal application for admission to the K-12 Education Program during the spring semester of that school year. Application for admission into the K-12 Education program beyond the sophomore year may result in extending the normal four-year university period for meeting graduation/certification requirements.
LEVEL I - Freshman/Sophomore Years
EDUC 109 Psychology of Diverse Learner 3 credits
WL 101 Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners 3 credits
LEVEL II - Sophomore Year
EDUC 206 Inclusive Practices PreK-8 3 credits
EDUC 210 Comparative Issues in Education 3 credits
LEVEL III - Junior Year
Content area methods courses
EDUC 304 Supporting Literacy PreK-8 3 credits
LEVEL IV - Senior Year
EDUC 474 Clinical - Secondary Education (K-12) 3 credits
EDUC 475 Capstone Clinical 12 credits
This course provides an overview of the psychology of learning, motivation, growth and development, personality dynamics, and social adjustment with emphasis on the diversity of learners in today's classrooms.
This course addresses issues related to the inclusion of students with disabilities into general education classrooms and programs through policy, research, and practice. Participants will be given an opportunity to explore and develop their personal philosophy toward inclusion and collaboration in schools and communities.Participants will learn tools for collaboration, instructional strategies, assessment, and curriculum design, which will allow them to educate students with exceptionalities in the general education classroom dealing with grades Pre-K through 12. Completion of embedded clinical experience required.
EDUC-109
This course focuses on the provision of support to students with emotional and behavior needs in academic settings. The central theme will focus on the development of assessment-based interventions that address interfering behavior, academic learning problems, and/or difficulties in interpersonal relationships. Evidence-based approaches as well as practices required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) will be emphasized. Completion of embedded clinical experience required.
EDUC-109
This course prepares teacher candidates to explore the integration of literacy across all disciplines and to develop the idea that all teachers teach literacy. It prepares teacher candidates to support, accommodate, and coach students with disabilities in particular literacy strategies, including the use of assistive technologies relevant to content area subjects in grades Pre-K through 8.
EDUC-109
This course focuses on research-based methods of instruction for students with low incidence disabilities in basic communication, mobility, sensory, and social skills, as well as academic skills (especially literacy and general education curricular access). Our approach to provision of services for these students is grounded in the broader context of expanding students' valued roles in classrooms, schools, and communities, while teaching skills that will enhance personal competence and life quality today and in the future. An introduction to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and assistive technology (AT) is also addressed in this course.
EDUC-109
EDUC-308
A supervised field experience during which students will participate in special education programs by implementing teacher-led, small group and individual student instruction. Placement will include public schools and other agencies serving children with low incidence disabilities.
EDUC-307
This course focuses on the practical application of research-based instructional methods for students with high incidence disabilities. Students enrolled in this course will be expected to: (a) demonstrate knowledge of the theoretical frameworks underlying instructional practices that have been shown to be effective for students with mild disabilities, (b) develop and use appropriate assessment tools for instructional decision-making, (c) develop appropriate instructional lessons based on assessment information and models of effective instruction, and (d) generate appropriate modifications and adaptations for content-area curricular materials.
EDUC-109
EDUC-310
A supervised field experience during which students participate in special education programs by implementing teacher-led, small group and individual student instruction. Placement will include public schools and other agencies serving children with high incidence disabilities.
EDUC-309
Clinical I is a 120 hour, pre-capstone clinical experience, to help prepare the candidate for their student teaching experience. During Clinical I, candidates will observe the classroom teacher, tutor individual children, supervise, and teach students in small and large group settings, and assist the teacher in appropriate teaching/ learning experiences. In addition to the classroom experience, the student will demonstrate proficiency of planning, writing, and implementing lesson plans tied to PDE learning standards and develop skills in classroom organization and management techniques. In the seminar component of Clinical I, candidates learn to identify with and conduct themselves as members of profession, with an emphasis on familiarizing candidates with the current practices/topics in the field, areas of professionalism, and family/community collaboration partnerships. Candidates will be encouraged to engage and interact with instructor and peers to discuss their field experiences, practical problems in the classroom, and reflect on how their classroom encounters relate to early development and learning theory, subject matter content, pedagogy, assessment, as well as their current coursework and overall education program goals. Candidates are expected to be active participants in assigned readings, questioning, and other discussions/ debates.
EDUC-304
This experience is designed to prepare students to assume full teaching responsibilities under the mentorship of a cooperative teacher in a placement arranged by Education's Office of Field Placement. Candidates seeking PDE certification are required to complete 12 weeks of Capstone Clinical teaching experience. Those seeking dual certification must complete a minimum of 6 weeks in each teaching area. This course also contains a seminar component that will help candidates learn to identify with and conduct themselves as members of profession, with an emphasis on familiarizing candidates with the current practices/topics in the field, areas of professionalism, and family/community collaboration partnerships. Candidates will be encouraged to engage and interact with instructor and peers to discuss their field experiences, practical problems in the classroom, and reflect on how their classroom encounters relate to early development and learning theory, subject matter content, pedagogy, assessment.
This course, which satisfies the Humanities core requirement for Education majors, provides the knowledge, skills and dispositions that enable K-12 teachers to facilitate learning among students from various linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Specifically, the course will (1) explore variations in personality, educational background, social class, ethnicity, national origin, language, and culture; (2) analyze the issues of race, racism, and culture in historical and contemporary perspectives; (3) explore strategies for teaching multicultural and multilingual English language learners in K-12 settings; and (4) identify obstacles to participation in the educational process by diverse cultural and ethnic groups. This course is open to all majors, through the focus is on the educational context.
MATH