College of Education
The Master of Arts in Education at The University of Findlay is built around the theme of “Educational Leadership.” The curriculum seeks to integrate the following: the conceptual basis of teaching; a historical perspective on teaching and inquiry into present practices, issues and shortcomings of the profession, and promising practices. To accomplish educational reform, educators must be leaders, catalysts causing good things to happen in classrooms. To that end, they must work effectively with students, parents and the community.
Mission The basic mission of the Master of Arts in Education is to enhance the development of teachers, administrators and human resource development specialists so that they are prepared to:
Degree RequirementsTo earn a Master of Arts in Education, students are required to complete 33 semester hours of graduate-level classes in education or related fields. Required core courses total 15 semester hours: EDUC 500, 502, 505, 541 and 552 (culminating project). Students may select the remaining 18 semester hours from strands: AYA/Multi-Age, Children's Literature, Curriculum and Teaching, Early Childhood, Educational Administration, Educational Technology, Human Resource Development, Intervention Specialist, Reading, Science Education and Middle Childhood. No more than one course with a grade of “C+,” “C” or “C-” can be used to meet graduation requirements.
Six semester hours may be taken as electives in Bilingual/Multicultural (BLMC), Business (MBA), HEPR 622 or Environmental Management (ENVM). Students are limited to six semester hours of independent study (EDAD 545, EDCI 545, EDFI, 545, EDHR 545, EDIS 545 or EDSP 545) and/or workshop (EDAD 546, EDCI 546, EDFI 546, EDHR 546, EDIS 546 or EDSP 546) credits that may be applied toward their degrees as approved by their adviser. Workshop credit may be applied to licensure renewal. Additional hours may be required for completion of Ohio licensure or endorsement. Prospective students must make an appointment with College of Education personnel in their area of interest to discuss options and plan a course of study to meet individual career goals.
To earn a Master of Arts in Education in Children's Literature requires a student to complete the graduate education core and the Children's Literature Strand: six courses from EDCI 565, EDSP 548, 621, 622, 648, EDUC 514 or 515.To earn a Master of Arts in Education in Curriculum and Teaching requires a student to complete the graduate education core and the Curriculum and Teaching Strand: six courses from EDAD 570, 574, 586, EDIS 530, EDSP 615, 618, 620 or two COE graduate courses.To earn a Master of Arts in Education in Educational Administration requires a student to complete the graduate education core and six courses from the Educational Administration Strand: EDAD 568, 570, 572, 574, 576, 578, 584 and 586.To earn a Master of Arts in Education with a Human Resource Development Strand requires a student to complete the graduate education core and the Human Resource Development Strand: EDHR 641, 642 and 643. In addition the student must complete one of the following:
To earn a Master of Arts in Education in Science Education requires a student to complete the graduate education core and the Science Education Strand: six courses from EDSP 603, 604, 605, 606, 607, 608, 609 or 610.To earn an endorsement in Educational Technology (K-12 classroom teachers) students are required to take 18 hours from EDFI 560, 565, 570, 575, 580 and 585.
To earn a Master of Arts in Education degree with an emphasis in technology without the endorsement, e.g. international students, University personnel, graduate students from the athletic area, requires 18 hours including EDFI 560, and 15 hours from EDFI 562, 564, 565, 567, 570, 575, 580 or 585.To earn a certificate in training and Web instruction students are required to complete EDFI 560, 565 and 644; EDHR 641, 642 and 643.To earn a certificate in Web instruction students are required to complete EDFI 560, 565 and 644.
In order to be a program completer at The University of Findlay, post-baccalaureate licensure candidates must successfully complete all aspects of the Post-Baccalaureate Assessment Plan, including all PRAXIS II tests in their area of licensure, maintaining a 3.0 GPA and successfully completing all required field experiences, including student teaching. There is also a portfolio requirement at each of the three levels of the Post-Baccalaureate Assessment Plan.
Post-Baccalaureate LicensureThe Post-Baccalaureate Licensure Program is designed for candidates who have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and desire to become licensed teachers. It is a program that offers an entry into the teaching profession by either combining a Master of Arts in Education degree with initial teaching licensure or by completing required course work leading to licensure areas in a non-degree program. Some course work earns graduate credit. However, undergraduate courses may be required for some licensure areas.
Through January 2011 an initial, two-year provisional teaching license is issued by the Office of Certification/Licensure, Ohio Board of Regents, to persons completing the post baccalaureate program. After January 2011 a four-year resident educator license will be given. The candidate must have completed required courses in the teaching field, education methods courses, classroom field experiences, student teaching and state-required examinations to be eligible for licensure. This initial teaching license is the same license that is issued to the four-year teacher education undergraduate candidates. For more information about licensure and jobs in teaching, candidates should review the Ohio Department of Education Web site: http://ode.state.oh.us/. State Mandated Changes in Teacher Licensure RequirementsThe Ohio Department of Education continues to implement new teacher licensure standards for education candidates. In order to be compliant with the new regulations, the Teacher Education Program at The University of Findlay will initiate ongoing changes.
While the faculty and administrative staff of the College of Education make every effort to ensure accuracy of information given to students enrolled in teacher education programs, the College of Education reserves the right to insert without prior notice changes or additions that will improve the quality of these programs. These changes usually result from authorized licensure modifications imposed on the University by the Ohio Department of Education and/or National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. Updated information will be shared with students in writing and orally in a timely manner. Please contact the chairperson of the Department of Licensure in the College of Education for the most up-to-date information.
Licenses and EndorsementsLicenses available are: Early Childhood (EC); Middle Childhood (MC); Intervention Specialist in Mild/Moderate Disabilities (IS); Adolescent to Young Adult (AYA)- Integrated Social Studies, Integrated Language Arts, Life Science, Integrated Science, Integrated Mathematics; Multi-Age Licenses (MA) - Drama/Theatre, Health, Visual Arts, Japanese, Spanish, Physical Education; Principal and Superintendent.
Available endorsements include: Pre-Kindergarten Special Needs, Reading, Educational Technology, Middle Childhood Generalist (for teaching self-contained fourth to sixth grades), Early Childhood Generalist (for teaching fourth and fifth grades) and TESOL/Bilingual. Note that a student receiving a Master of Arts in Education degree and the reading endorsement (completion of EDFI 535, 543, 650 and 655) will have both the degree and the endorsement appearing on his/her official transcript. This is considered a master's in the field of reading.Certificates available are: Training and Web Instruction and Web Instruction.Field Experience RequirementsCandidates for post-baccalaureate licensure will be required to participate in several field experiences throughout their programs. This will vary from program to program, so candidates should discuss the requirement with their advisers or program directiors. All candidates for initial licensure are required to complete a methods field experience for six weeks (eight weeks for Early Childhood in preschool setting) while they take their methods courses. This is similar to the junior block in the undergraduate program. Student teaching is a full 12-week experience.Post-Baccalaureate Assessment and Portfolio RequirementsIn order to be a program completer at The University of Findlay, post-baccalaureate licensure candidates must successfully complete all aspects of the Post-Baccalaureate Assessment Plan, including passing all PRAXIS II tests in their area of licensure, maintaining at least a 3.0 GPA and successfully completing all required field experiences, including student teaching. There is also a portfolio requirement at each of the three levels of the Post-Baccalaureate Assessment Plan. The College of Education uses a computer program for lesson planning, portfolio development and other assignments.Licensure and PRAXIS Exam Students who currently hold a teaching certificate/license may take specified courses leading to licensure in another area offered by the University. Also, students seeking new licensure may be required to complete a student teaching experience in the new area. Students seeking additional licensure areas may be required to take one or more additional PRAXIS exams. For questions regarding licensure and/or PRAXIS, please contact the Licensure/Certification Office or the PRAXIS Officer at 419-434-4844 or the program director in the licensure area.Course Sequence/PrerequisitesPost-baccalaureate licensure candidates must begin with EDFI 503, which is the introductory course and EDFI 560 unless those courses have already been taken. If a candidate transfers in EDFI 503, then EDFI 500, an on-line one-semester orientation course is required as an introduction course. Students who transfer the introductory course from another institution must take a one-hour seminar to acclimate them to The University of Findlay's program. Candidates should meet with their adviser to determine the appropriate sequence of courses. Some courses are offered once a year, so advising regarding the sequence is essential.It is recommended that candidates earning a Master of Arts in Education start the graduate program with EDUC 500, which introduces the theme of Educational Leadership. Candidates must take EDUC 500 before EDUC 541, ending the leadership core with EDUC 552 and EDUC 505 before EDUC 552.It is recommended that candidates take EDUC 505 toward the end of their studies. Ideas for research projects are likely to come from the elective strand/licensure/endorsement courses. Candidates must have completed at least 18 semester hours of course work in order to enroll in EDUC 505. It is required that candidates follow EDUC 505 with EDUC 552 because their EDUC 505 project will be completed in EDUC 552.Title II StatementMissionThe University of Findlay was founded in 1882 as Findlay College by the Churches of God, General Conference, and the city of Findlay. The name was changed in 1989 to The University of Findlay to reflect the dramatic growth of the institution and the addition of graduate programming.
The University of Findlay is a flexible, forward-looking institution that is constantly seeking ways of better serving students and the community. In today’s fast-paced world, Findlay is continually adapting programs and teaching methods to meet the needs of current students in preparing them for tomorrow’s careers. Education at The University of Findlay is offered in formats that accommodate students of all ages and their time-pressured lifestyles. In addition to traditional weekday classes, Findlay offers courses at night, on weekends and over the Internet.
The mission of The University of Findlay is to equip our students for meaningful lives and productive careers. Our vision is to be recognized by our students, peer institutions and other publics as a unique institution, vitally concerned with the growth, development and success of each student and highly responsive to emerging opportunities for innovation in our educational programs, the learning environment we create and the organizational processes of our institution necessary to accomplish these ends.
College of Education MissionThe mission of the College of Education is to prepare caring, competent, reflective and highly-qualified professionals. The College of Education offers two undergraduate degrees and post-baccalaureate licensure in 16 areas of licensure and five endorsements. The Master of Arts in Education program, which is built around the theme of "educational leadership," offers multiple areas and five endorsements. The Educational Technology endorement is only available at the master's level.AccreditationThe University of Findlay is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (formerly the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools). Preparatory programs offered by the College of Education for prospective teachers and other school personnel are accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and approved by the Ohio Board of Regents. Some programs are nationally approved, notably Intervention Specialist, Multi-Age Health, Early Childhood, Education Administration and Middle Childhood.
Teacher Education VisionTo facilitate the mission of the College of Education, members of the faculty in the teacher education program have developed a conceptual framework which reflects their philosophical and pragmatic commitment to experientially-based active learning and meaningful field-based involvement with children and teachers in P-12 schools. Faculty also support and model the integration of technology across the curriculum. Fundamentals, professional knowledge, research and content areas are basic to effective teaching. Pre-service teachers must translate professional understanding, personal beliefs and experience into real-world teaching situations. They must also apply appropriate assessments, practice collaboration, exercise innovation and accommodate for student diversity.
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Those interested can view The University of Findlay’s Title II rankings on its Web site at http://www.findlay.edu/ or call Stacy Beard at 419-434-4073.
