Graduate Degrees
Marymount University’s professional programs leading to the Master of Education are dedicated to the mission of "preparing educational leaders for diverse learning communities." All courses and experiences are designed to achieve this mission. Critical thinker, effective practitioner, and caring professional are the three synergistically interacting tenets that comprise the conceptual framework model. Knowledge of the learner and learning, content, instructional practice, and professional responsibility provide the foundation for our programs.
Upon successful completion of any Master of Education licensure program, students will be able to
- design evidence-based lesson plans;
- apply knowledge of the curriculum by creating lesson plans that integrate higher-order thinking skills;
- illustrate differentiated instruction which meets the needs of all learners;
- develop a clear alignment between instructional objectives and a variety of assessments;
Graduate programs leading to a Master of Education and initial teaching licensure in Virginia are elementary education (grades PK-6); secondary education (grades 6-12 in biology, chemistry, earth science, English, history and social science, mathematics, and physics); and special education: general curriculum (grades K-12). The administration and supervision program offers an add-on endorsement for Virginia licensure in administration and supervision (grades PK-12). The school also offers a non-licensure program — the Master of Education in curriculum and instruction (36 credits) — and 15-credit certificates in special education; and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
Upon completion of the non-licensure education programs, students will be able to
- research and write critically about issues in education;
- apply specialized knowledge and skills in a selected specialization area;
- analyze data for educational decision making and problem solving; and
- demonstrate leadership and collaboration by modeling ethical behavior and responsibility to help advance the profession.
Students seeking teaching licensure reserve one semester for the student-teaching experience. This experience is a 14-week, full-time placement. Student teaching is the culmination of the Marymount teacher-education licensure program and reflects the degree to which a student will be effective as a classroom teacher. See the Student-Teaching Experience section of this catalog for complete information about application procedures for student teaching.
All Marymount University teacher education programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and approved by the Virginia Department of Education. Program requirements are subject to revision based upon changes set forth by the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Periodic Progress Review
Each month, the education faculty meet to evaluate all students’ academic progress and professional dispositions. The education faculty consider not only academic performance, but also personal characteristics, such as maturity, judgment, emotional stability, sensitivity to others, and self-awareness, that affect one’s ability to be a teacher or administrator. If the faculty identify a problem during the periodic review or evidence of personal difficulty that has the potential to negatively affect the student’s capacity to function as a future teacher or administrator, the faculty is notified at the monthly School meeting. The student will first be required to meet with their advisor for support. Upon recommendation by the advisor, the student may be referred to the Education Advisory Committee. Failure to meet academic and professional standards may result in dismissal from the Marymount education program. Also, if the faculty identify an outstanding candidate during the periodic review, the faculty may send a letter of commendation to the student to recognize outstanding achievement.
Graduate Programs in Education
Application Priority Deadlines: Admission to the program is competitive. Applications should be completed by the following priority deadlines to assure an admissions decision by the start of the semester.
July 16
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fall semester
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| November 16 |
spring semester
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| April 16 |
summer semester
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Applications received after these deadlines will be considered on a time and space-available basis.
Admission Requirements for Degree Programs: Formal application for admission to the teacher education program is required. In addition to the university's graduate admission requirements, applicants to the M.Ed. program must do the following:
- submit proof of a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 2.75 or 3.25 in the last 60 hours or a 3.0 in their endorsement area
- submit two recommendations
- submit all undergraduate transcripts so that the adequacy of undergraduate general education coursework needed for licensure requirements can be determined
- interview with a faculty advisor in the School of Education
- provide evidence of math competency
- present passing scores, as set by the Virginia Department of Education, for Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA)*
Degree programs require at least one of the following:
- VCLA writing score at appropriate level (see an academic advisor for further information)
- "in-house" writing sample scored using designated rubric
*Applicants for the administration and supervision program and the non-licensure M.Ed. program are not required to take the Praxis or VCLA examinations.
Academic Progression Requirements: Education students must achieve satisfactory progress each semester. Failure to meet requirements for progression to any course or portion of the program will result in review by the Teacher Education Committee and may result in dismissal from the program.
Academic Probation: Students may only be on nonconsecutive probation once during their graduate studies. If a student's cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 for a second time, the student will be dismissed. Students who wish to appeal their dismissal should refer to the Academic Dismissal section of this catalog for the proper procedures.
Legal Limitations of Practice: The practice of teaching is regulated by state laws. Questions concerning licensure in a specific state should be directed to that state’s board of education. Students may be required to submit to a national criminal background check before being placed in field experiences or as a student-teacher. The student is responsible for the cost of the investigation.
Program Completion Requirements: The education programs require completion of all methods coursework, a teacher work sample, and the presentation of a professional standards-based portfolio. A successful student-teaching experience as well as passing scores on all licensure examinations required by the Virginia Department of Education are also necessary for all teaching licensure programs.
The university does not accept credit on standardized tests, such as CLEP, toward graduate coursework required for any graduate education program. (CLEP or standardized test credits may be accepted for undergraduate coursework needed for licensure requirements.)
Upon completion of all licensure requirements, students submit an Application for Initial Virginia Teacher Licensure and are then recommended by the faculty to the Commonwealth of Virginia for endorsement.
NOTE: Once admitted to a master’s program, students are allowed a maximum of five years from their first semester to complete their coursework.