Graduate Teacher Education

The Graduate Education Program is designed to attract experienced and dedicated classroom teachers who wish to become educational leaders. The graduate education program is designed to help teachers gain the knowledge necessary and develop the skills required to function as leaders. While it is expected that graduates of the graduate education program will be highly valued by their school districts and communities, the program is not designed to help classroom teachers become school administrators or to prepare teachers for roles outside their classrooms.

Female student teacher assisting student

laptop — The **Instructional Technology specialization** of the graduate education program gives teachers the knowledge and skills they need to implement technology and to improve educational systems.

Graduates can function as leaders of local school district instructional improvement teams, technology planning committees, site-based management teams, building-level management teams, and will also be able to otherwise work to improve instruction in their schools by helping their colleagues implement technology.

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Jodi Loughlin — The **Reading Specialist** program enables teachers who already hold a PA Instructional certification to obtain both Reading Specialist K-12 certification and a Master's degree in Education with a specialization in reading.

The reading specialist specialization has been reviewed and approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education as a professional preparation program. It enables teachers who are already certified to obtain a Reading Specialist K- 12 certificate.

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Student studying in Library — The M.S. Education: Professional Practice is a degree completion program that affords students the opportunity to earn a Master’s degree by building upon previously earned post-baccalaureate credits from Misericordia University (MU) or another accredited institution. Students can combine graduate-level credits from focused areas of professional interest and/or course electives in instructional technology, with a research concentration, to earn a Master’s of Education in Professional Practice.

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SLP Service in Belize — The Speech-Language Pathology Program at Misericordia University is an entry-level 5-year Masters Degree program that provides an educational experience that produces pathologists who are critical thinkers and educated consumers of research.

Students admitted as first year or undergraduate transfers who successfully complete all major and university requirements are awarded a BS degree in health sciences in addition to a MS degree in speech-language pathology.

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Female Student Teacher — Educators seeking to maintain an active public school certification status and meet the requirements of Act 48 of 1999 will find that Misericordia University’s **Professional Development** program provides challenging, rigorous courses offered in a flexible format.

Students have the option to take courses through the ARCH Professional Development program or the PD On-Demand program.

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Female student on laptop — Misericordia University offers several Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) endorsement programs designed to enhance educators' skills and credentials.

Gifted Education

Integrative STEM (PK-12)

Online Instruction (PK-12)

Graduate Program Options

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Instructional Technology
Reading Specialist
Professional Practice
Education Specialist - Speech and Language Pathologist
Professional Development
PDE Endorsements

Highlights

Low Tuition - Teacher Scholarship is available to all actively certified teachers enrolled in a graduate education program (not Professional Development)
Convenient Scheduling - Courses are scheduled in the evening during the week
Accelerated - Classes are delivered during half-semester sessions, with one course typically being taken at a time
Flexible Formats - Many courses are offered as hybrid with an online component
Individualized Service - Faculty work with students one-on-one to ensure that all needs are met
Predictable - Graduate Education programs are presented in a cohort style with an established timeline
Accommodating Payment Options - Students may enroll in the Tuition Deferment plan, allowing you to pay for a course within 30 days of completion

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Specializations

Instructional Technology

Teachers need to use advanced technology to implement modern curriculum. While they don't need to become computer programmers or software writers, they do need to know how to use modern technology to plan and deliver instruction. The technology specialization of the graduate education program gives teachers the knowledge and skills they need to implement technology and to improve educational systems. Graduates can function as leaders of local school district instructional improvement teams, technology planning committees, site-based management teams, building-level management teams, and will also be able to otherwise work to improve instruction in their schools by helping their colleagues implement technology.

Students who specialize in Instructional Technology complete 18 credits of required courses and 18 credits chosen from a group of elective courses.

Reading Specialist (M.S. and Certificate)

School district superintendents are increasingly emphasizing the need for teachers to have a strong background in the teaching of reading. The Reading Specialist program enables teachers who already hold a PA Instructional certification to obtain both Reading Specialist K-12 certification and a Master's degree in Education with a specialization in reading.

The Reading Specialist Certification requires 24 credit hours and successful completion of EDU 645-A Reading Specialist Internship, and successful completion of the state required examinations. The Master of Science in Education with a specialization in Reading requires an additional 12 credits and completion of a culminating experience.

Students who specialize in Reading complete eight required Reading Specialist courses and a supervised internship experience.

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Teacher Certification

Teacher Certification

The reading specialist specialization has been reviewed and approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education as a professional preparation program. It enables teachers who are already certified to obtain a Reading Specialist K- 12 certificate.

Students who complete the academic requirements set forth by the PA Department of Education are eligible to apply for Instructional I certifications offered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. To be considered eligible, they must:

Complete a state-approved teacher education program that includes a student teaching or intern experience (the university's programs are state approved).
Complete all state-required certification tests ( A current list of tests required and the qualifying scores are published on the PDE website (www.pde.state.pa.us).
Document that they have completed all certificate requirements.
Complete PDE's online application for certification.

For additional information, graduates may contact:

The Bureau of School Leadership and Teacher Quality
Pennsylvania Department of Education
333 Market Street
Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333
Phone: 717-787-3356

Graduates of the university's teacher education programs may be eligible for certifications offered by other states. Pennsylvania has signed an Interstate Agreement through the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification which facilitates certification in other states. States' requirements vary; graduates should determine what they have to do to become certified in a state other than Pennsylvania.

Professional Practice

This degree completion program affords students the opportunity to earn a Master’s degree by building upon previously earned post-baccalaureate credits from Misericordia University (MU) or another accredited institution. Students can combine graduate-level credits from focused areas of professional interest and/or course electives in instructional technology, with a research concentration, to earn a Master’s of Education in Professional Practice. All students must earn 33 credits, nine of which are the required research concentration.

The program is flexible to allow different pathways for students who are or were previously enrolled at MU, or students earning post-baccalaureate credits at another accredited institution, to complete an MS degree program that meets their professional and personal needs.

PDE Endorsements

Gifted Education (PK-12)

Misericordia University’s Gifted Education endorsement program is a 12 credit, graduate level program leading to a PDE K-12 endorsement in Gifted Education. This program will be offered for already certified Level I or Level II educators, or those pursuing initial level I certification, who wish to add an endorsement to their PA teaching certificate. PDE will only issue endorsements to PA certified teachers.

Gifted learners demonstrate outstanding intellectual and creative ability which requires their teachers to be able to create and implement specially designed instructional programs or support services. This endorsement program empowers teachers to promote the development and academic achievement of gifted students and prepares them to advocate for and deliver high quality instruction to gifted learners.

Endorsement Courses

END 500 Foundations of Gifted Education 3 credits
END 501 Identification and Assessment of Gifted Students 3 credits
END 502 Service Delivery Options for Gifted Students 3 credits
END 503 Curriculum Development and Instructional Strategies for Gifted Students 3 credits

Integrative STEM Education (K-12)

Misericordia University’s Integrative STEM (PK-12) endorsement program is a 12 credit, graduate-level program leading to a PDE PK-12 endorsement in Integrative STEM Education. This program will be offered for already certified Level I or Level II educators, or those pursuing initial level I certification, who wish to add an endorsement to their PA teaching certificate. PDE will only issue endorsements to PA certified teachers. Students who successfully complete the MU Integrative STEM (PK-12 have the option of stacking this credential to work toward the MS Education: Professional Practice degree. Additionally, courses toward eligibility for the Integrative STEM endorsement will be added to the electives bank for the MS Education: Instructional Technology program.

This program empowers teachers to prepare students to thrive in an increasingly technological world and to equip them with required skills to strengthen the STEM workforce pipeline. It is aligned to the recommended PDE framework, and combines a competency-based, capstone field experience with coursework grounded in theories of cognitive, emotional and social development along with research and best practices in STEM education that will enable Level I and Level II candidates to gain the knowledge and experience necessary to integrate STEM learning across the curriculum and make STEM learning accessible to all students.

Endorsement Courses

END 504 Integrative STEM Education 3 credits
END 505 Application and Integration: Math and Science 3 credits
END 506 Application and Integration: Technology and Engineering 3 credits
END 507 STEM Capstone 3 credits

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Teacher Certification

Teacher Certification

The reading specialist specialization has been reviewed and approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education as a professional preparation program. It enables teachers who are already certified to obtain a Reading Specialist K- 12 certificate.

Students who complete the academic requirements set forth by the PA Department of Education are eligible to apply for Instructional I certifications offered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. To be considered eligible, they must:

Complete a state-approved teacher education program that includes a student teaching or intern experience (the university's programs are state approved).
Complete all state-required certification tests ( A current list of tests required and the qualifying scores are published on the PDE website (www.pde.state.pa.us).
Document that they have completed all certificate requirements.
Complete PDE's online application for certification.

For additional information, graduates may contact:

The Bureau of School Leadership and Teacher Quality
Pennsylvania Department of Education
333 Market Street
Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333
Phone: 717-787-3356

Graduates of the university's teacher education programs may be eligible for certifications offered by other states. Pennsylvania has signed an Interstate Agreement through the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification which facilitates certification in other states. States' requirements vary; graduates should determine what they have to do to become certified in a state other than Pennsylvania.

Online Instruction (K-12)

Misericordia University’s Online Instruction (PK-12) endorsement program is a 12 credit, graduate-level program leading to a PDE PK-12 endorsement in Online Instruction Education. This program will be offered for already certified Level I or Level II educators, or those pursuing initial level I certification, who wish to add an endorsement to their PA teaching certificate. Students who successfully complete the MU Online Instruction (PK-12) Endorsement Program have the option of stacking this credential to work toward the MS Education: Professional Practice degree.

The MU Online Instruction (PK-12) endorsement program was created in congruence with Chapter 354 of Title 22 of the Pennsylvania School Code. Candidates who successfully complete the planned sequence of courses and required field experience will be eligible to add the PDE-issued endorsement to their existing Level 1 or Level 2 instructional certificate.

All courses will be offered online in an accelerated 7 week (6 in summer) format.

Course (Recommended Sequence) Credits :

EDU553 Instructional Design 3

END508 Online Teaching and Learning 3

END509 Technology Supported Assessment 3

END510 Facilitating Online Learning (Capstone w/Field) 3

Total credits required for completion 12

Course Descriptions:

END508 Online Teaching and Learning (3cr)- This course requires students to examine and use best practices in online instruction as aligned with the PA Department of Education’s Teacher Effectiveness model of teacher supervision and evaluation. Students will design and use strategies to encourage active learning, application, interaction, participation, and collaboration in the online learning environment; strategies to establish clear expectations, prompt responses, and regular feedback to promote student success; and incorporate accommodations into the online learning environment as appropriate to meet the diverse academic needs of learners.

END509 Technology Supported Assessment (3cr)- This course will explore the use of various technology supported assessment tools that can help improve teaching and learning in both face-to-face and online environments. Students will examine and use practices and strategies for developing effective technology-based assessments and utilizing assessment data to inform teaching and learning.

END510 Facilitating Online Learning (3cr) - This course requires certified PA teachers to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of digital citizenship, legal issues, and confidentiality procedures and protocols related to online teaching and learning. While enrolled in the course, students will complete a field experience that requires them to successfully: model legal, ethical, and safe behavior related to technology use; use media and content to help students and teachers transfer knowledge most effectively in the online environment; and collaborate in a professional, effective manner with colleagues, parents, and other members of the community to support students’ success.

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Community Realized

Giovanna Augustine

Special Education Teacher/M.S. Reading Specialist student

Classes are broken down into manageable parts to accommodate my full-time occupation and even allow me to have time on the weekends to spend with my family.

Graduate Education 2023-24 Pass Rates

Reading Specialist
Pass Rate = 100%
State Pass Rate = 72%

Program Goals

Cited by the Pennsylvania Department of Education for its "innovative programmatic and curricular design," the graduate education program breaks away from traditional programming. It reflects and respects the learning styles and schedules of adult learners." We focus on the following goals:

Graduates of the graduate education programs (GEP) (instructional technology, reading specialist, special education) will demonstrate the ability to:

Establish mutually respectful relationships with administrators, colleagues, students, and parents based on a solid values system that emphasizes mercy, justice, service, and hospitality.
Effectively communicate with various school communities regarding current educational issues and trends and the principles of teaching and learning, which make schools effective and efficient.
Design, organize, and manage system-wide curriculum that prepares students within areas relating to the goals of quality education.
Coordinate district-wide subject area activities and subject area curriculum development.
Conduct evaluations of curriculum and instruction and apply the results to encourage and facilitate curricular and instructional improvements.
Use an understanding of how learning occurs as the basis for making curricular and instructional decisions that support the intellectual, social, and personal growth of all students.
Use an understanding of individual and group motivation, instructional practices, and assessment to create school environments that foster effective and efficient curricular and instructional practices and procedures, and that enable all students to master curriculum and meet high standards.
Use the tools of research and inquiry to gather and apply information needed to make educational decisions.
Identify how educational technology can be used to facilitate and improve teaching and learning processes.

Policies and Other Information

Graduate Education Advising

The GEP Director assigns an academic advisor for all students enrolled in the program. The advisor creates and maintains the student's advising file used to plan the student's program and track progress. Each semester, students who participate in the Graduate Education Program must meet with their advisors to plan their next semester. During the meeting, faculty advisors review students' progress and status and help them select courses for the next semester. While students must meet with their advisors each semester prior to registration to facilitate course selection and receive approval to register, the student is ultimately responsible for the selection and registration of courses.

Graduate Education Program Retention and Advancement

From the date of first enrollment in Graduate Education, in accordance with University policy, students have five years to complete their program. Students who must interrupt their program should reference the Graduate Maintenance of Matriculation/Withdrawal policy for the procedures for doing so.

Graduate students must earn a “B" or better in all education (EDU) classes. A student receiving a grade below “B" must grade replace the course. One graduate course can be repeated for grade replacement; this can happen one time only. When attempting a grade replacement, the second grade, whether higher or lower than the first grade earned in the course, shall stand on the student's transcript. After one grade replacement, an additional grade below a “B" will result in immediate termination from the degree program with no chance of readmission to that program.

Academic integrity

Any form of cheating or dishonesty, including plagiarism, is a fundamental violation of the nature and purpose of Misericordia University. Such behavior will not be tolerated and will result in at least lowered grades, possibly failure in a class, program dismissal, and, in the most serious cases, dismissal from the university.

Plagiarism is using someone else's ideas or words and claiming them as one's own. Students who use another person's words must copy them accurately, enclose them in quotations marks, and identify the source clearly. If another person's ideas are used in a student paper, the source must still be identified and the author of the ideas given credit. Students are responsible to make sure they are using sources properly and documenting them properly.

The responsibility for maintaining personal integrity and honor in academic activities rests with the student. Each faculty member will provide information on academic integrity to students in the course outline at the beginning of the semester, including any necessary explanation of violations, possible infractions of academic integrity and the scope of sanctions, e.g., warning, lowering of the grade on the assignment or course, course failure, or dismissal from the program or university.

Should a violation of academic integrity occur, the faculty member must inform the student of the violation before imposing any sanction. Should the violation be considered serious enough to merit any grade of “D" or lower on any major assignment, or a more serious penalty, such as course failure or dismissal from the program, the faculty member must notify the vice president of academic affairs (VPAA) and supply any supporting evidence. In the case of multiple violations, the VPAA will discuss this issue with the student and may impose additional sanctions up to and including dismissal from the university. In a case where dismissal from the university is contemplated, the VPAA will consult with the faculty member, student's advisor, department chair/program director, and college dean.

In cases where the student contests the accusations of academic dishonesty, the student may file a grievance under either the undergraduate or graduate grievance procedure, whichever one is applicable.

Graduation

Students must meet all of the requirements for at least one Graduate Education program to be recommended for graduation. Candidates eligible for graduation must complete an Application for Degree and submit it to the Registrar's Office by the date specified.

State Authorization and Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)

The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) is an agreement among member states, districts, and territories in the United States, which establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of post-secondary distance education courses and programs. It is intended to simplify the process of taking online courses for credit offered by post-secondary institutions based in another state. SARA is overseen by a national council (NC-SARA) and administered by four regional education compacts. Misericordia University was approved by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Department of Education to participate in NC-SARA as a SARA institution effective January 1, 2017.

Professional Licensure: Approval agencies for state authorization in each state and territory can be found in the following list:

*Not a participating member of SARA at this time

Graduates of Misericordia University’s teacher education programs may be eligible for certifications offered by other states. Pennsylvania has signed an Interstate Agreement through the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification which facilitates certification in other states. States’ requirements vary; graduates should determine what they have to do to become certified in a state other than Pennsylvania. Information can be found at the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification site.

Philosophy

According to the ASCD (formerly the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development), teacher leaders play an important role in supporting school and student success, and they build the entire school's capacity to improve. Teachers can lead in a variety of ways, and many teachers can serve as leaders among their peers. It is teachers who will take the lead in planning, implementing, and evaluating the educational programs needed in our nation's schools.

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Graduate Program Options

Highlights

Specializations

Instructional Technology

Reading Specialist (M.S. and Certificate)

Teacher Certification

Professional Practice

PDE Endorsements

Gifted Education (PK-12)

Endorsement Courses

Integrative STEM Education (K-12)

Endorsement Courses

Teacher Certification

Online Instruction (K-12)

Explore Your Future

Giovanna Augustine

Giovanna Augustine

Graduate Education 2023-24 Pass Rates

Program Goals

Policies and Other Information

Graduate Education Advising

Graduate Education Program Retention and Advancement

Academic integrity

Graduation

State Authorization and Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)

Philosophy

For more information

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