Graduate Catalog

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Education

Overview

The Philosophy of the School of Education

Felician University is a Franciscan institution emphasizing and practicing the Franciscan traditions and philosophy. As such, the School of Education believes in and values the potential of its teacher candidates to develop into caring, compassionate and highly qualified educators. We believe the curriculum must place an emphasis on empowering students to become self-actualized by:

  • nurturing their ability to accept self and others;
  • developing the attributes of sincerity, ease, and openness;
  • adopting a problem-solving orientation to teaching and to the profession;
  • creating a willingness to live with ambiguity;
  • learning to become empathic and sympathetic toward others; and
  • mastering interpersonal relationship

We further believe that students should be encouraged to develop intuitive awareness in order to access a holistic perception of teaching and learning. Thus, the School seeks to foster the uniqueness of each person and requires that connections be drawn between a person's inner life and the spiritual realm. The faculty strives to foster student experiences that enhance learning through feelings, emotions, imagination, and wonder.

Moreover, the School asserts that teaching and learning comprise an interdisciplinary process associated with personal experiences, environments, and communities of scholars. Consequently, we believe teaching/leading is a dynamic and reciprocal practice demanding rigorous and current content knowledge.

Felician University's student-oriented philosophy focuses on connecting the affective and cognitive domains in all teaching and learning situations. The philosophy leads the School to develop the skills of a reflective practitioner. We emphasize the dispositions of hope, awareness, doubt and faith, awe and reverence. It is our belief that our teacher/ leadership candidates should similarly empower their learners with these skills.

The Mission of the School of Education

School of Education Mission Statement

The School of Education at Felician University, in accordance with the Franciscan tradition, fosters competent, caring, and compassionate educators to serve a diverse population by promoting a collaborative spirit, encouraging self-reflection, and emphasizing life-long learning.

The School of Education strives to prepare teachers who:

  • Know and understand the New Jersey Common Core State Standards and the New Jersey Professional Teaching Standards/New Jersey Professional Leadership Standards;
  • Value and are committed to the tenets of these standards; and
  • Actively engage in applying the intent of the standards within their learning communities.

The Master of Arts in Education is designed to prepare certified (or non-certified) teachers/leaders seeking dual licensure in early childhood education and special education, elementary education and special education, middle grades, secondary education and special education, English as a second language, supervision or principal strand to become instructional leaders in their schools or districts. As leaders, these teachers/leaders will encourage constructive change toward a shared purpose of schooling through collaborative decision-making and action. Shared purpose of schooling infers that many professionals, especially the classroom teacher, participate in the work of leadership.

Current research on school restructuring highlights the importance of strong professional communities and leadership. Within these communities, teachers are encouraged to assume leadership roles and the collaborative responsibility for student learning. At the conclusion of the program, degree candidates will demonstrate the requisite leadership and instructional skills that will encourage constructive change and collaboration in their schools as they concomitantly obtain additional, or initial, teaching endorsements, supervisor certificate, and/or the principal endorsement. These skills will aid the teacher/leader to accommodate and facilitate New Jersey school restructuring mandates.

In addition to the philosophy and mission of the School, the Master of Arts degree in Education seeks to graduate reflective, collaborative and innovative professionals who are willing to participate in the work of leadership in their schools or districts. These professionals, who have completed the interdisciplinary core and certification strands, will also have met State certification requirements for one or more of the following areas: early childhood education, elementary education, middle grades and/or secondary education, English as a second language, special education, supervision, or principal.

The Program

Teaching Strands:

The Master’s Program is designed for either certified teachers looking to earn a master’s degree, additional endorsements or for individuals looking to obtain initial licensure while gaining the advantages of a master’s degree.

The Master of Arts in Education at Felician University integrates the philosophies of curriculum development with an awareness of current national, state and local trends. It will enable the student to utilize effective instruction and a variety of teaching models for individuals as well as small and large groups.

Application, Admission and Enrollment: Admission Requirements for Matriculated Students

A student must be matriculated to be eligible for a degree. Candidates must meet the following requirements:

  1. A bachelor’s and/or master’s degree awarded by an accredited college or university
  2. 60 undergraduate liberal arts credits
  3. 30 credits in an area that is consistent with the State Department (English, Mathematics, Social Studies, Art, Science) to be highly qualified as defined by the New Jersey Department of Education
  4. A 3.0 undergraduate cumulative grade point average (official transcripts required) or a 3.0 completed post baccalaureate/graduate degree program (official transcripts required) from an accredited college or university. Students having a cumulative grade point average between 2.75 and 3.0 will be considered for conditional acceptance.
  5. Two professional letters of recommendation
  6. Personal Written Statement
  7. Within their first year in the program, graduate students seeking initial certification must also take the appropriate PRAXIS II Subject Assessment(s) that aligns with the endorsement area(s). Please check with your advisor to confirm the correct Praxis Subject Assessment(s) required. If a student fails to submit evidence of a qualifying score on the PRAXIS II Subject Assessments(s) the student will not be permitted to student teach.
  8. Any conditional candidate who does not meet the 3.0 GPA requirement after 6 credits but has a GPA at or greater than 2.75 and continues to seek admission will be expected to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) – General Content Knowledge. The student will not be permitted to start the Graduate Program until the GRE scores are received and approved by the Associate Dean of the Graduate Program, School of Education.

Admission Process

  1. Complete the application obtained from the Office of Admissions.
  2. Submit all supporting documentation required.
  3. Pay the application fee to the Office of Admissions.
  4. Only complete applications will be considered for admission.

The Program Coordinator and the Dean of the School of Education gives final approval for admission to the School of Education graduate program. The Office of Admissions will notify applicants of the admission decision as soon as possible.

Graduate Non-degree Students:

Admission of Graduate Non-degree Students:

  1. A student possessing a baccalaureate degree may take courses on a non-degree basis. They may not take more than 2 courses or 6 total credits. Students must present proof (official transcript) of their undergraduate degree to the Office of Admissions at the time of application for non-degree study.
  2. Admission on a non-degree basis does not imply eligibility for matriculation into the program.
  3. If, at any time, the non-degree student wishes to apply for admission to the college, formal application must be made, and complete credentials submitted before the completion of 2 courses or 6 credits. Any student that has not met this requirement will not be permitted to enroll in future classes.

Admission Procedures:

  1. Complete the application form and pay the application fee to the Office of Admissions.
  2. Submit an official transcript with the undergraduate degree to the Office of Admission.

Undergraduate Enrollment for Graduate Courses:

Students without a baccalaureate degree may not take graduate level courses in Education at Felician University unless they are enrolled in one of our 4+1 combined degree programs within the School of Education.

Transfer Credit:

A maximum of 6 credits from other institutions may be credited toward the Master’s in Education provided that:

  1. the student applies for transfer credit at the time of matriculation;
  2. the work was taken in a graduate program for graduate credit;
  3. the work was taken within the last 10 years;
  4. the grade received was B or higher;
  5. the work has been taken at an accredited college or university; and
  6. the work is applicable to the student’s program.

General Academic Policy

The School of Education abides by the policy statements on examinations, grading, withdrawal, probation, campus conduct and appeals as published in the Felician University Catalog and/or Student Handbook.

Specific Academic Policies Teaching Strands

  1. Students must achieve a grade of B or better in all course work at the Graduate Level.
  2. Students may repeat no more than two (2) courses in the program. Each enrollment beyond the first week of course instruction is considered an attempt, whether the student completes all or part of the course requirements or officially or unofficially withdraws. A passing grade at the time of withdrawal, either officially or unofficially, is not considered a successful attempt of the course.
  3. A student who receives a single grade of lower than B in a graduate course must repeat that course, and that course may be repeated only once. The student will be considered on academic probation until the course is repeated and a minimum grade of B is achieved. Failure to achieve a grade of B or higher on the second attempt makes the student ineligible to continue in the program.
  4. Should a student's cumulative GPA fall below the 3.0 requirement as a result of a B or lower grade in a single graduate course, that student will be considered on academic probation and must achieve a 3.0 cumulative GPA the following semester in order to remain eligible to continue in the program.

Degree Requirements:

  1. Completion of all graduate credits, as required in the particular strand of the degree or certificate program.
  2. Completion of the required number of credits with a minimum 3.00 cumulative grade point average.
  3. Completion of the program with all grades at B or higher.
  4. Completion of a Professional Portfolio, Action Research, Thesis, and/or Capstone Project as required by the student’s graduate program.

Disclaimer:

Students seeking initial certifications, endorsements, supervisor, principal or superintendent licenses are expected to be aware of the guidelines and code changes set forth by the State of New Jersey's Department of Education (http://www.state.nj.us/education/). Felician University is not responsible for changes in a student's program and/or certification resulting from changes in the guidelines or code by New Jersey's Department of Education.

Processing of Licensing Endorsement Applications (For Initial and non-initial Certification):

All Master of Arts Students that successfully complete their designated program may obtain applications for early childhood (P-3), elementary (K-6), middle (5-8) or secondary (K-12), English as a Second Language (ESL), special education (TOSD), supervisor, principal, and/or school administrator certificates from the Office of Certification, Sammartino Hall, Rutherford Campus. The Certification officer will process completed New Jersey Department of Education, Office of Licensing and Credentials applications with the appropriate state processing fees for any eligible student within one year of program completion. This can only be done after successfully completing the designated program. If a student is taking courses as a non-matriculated student, s/he might have to apply for certification on his/her own (this will be determined on an individual basis as based upon their program of study.)

Clinical Internship (Initial Certification):

Students seeking initial Early Childhood (P-3), Elementary (K-6), Elementary (K-6) plus Middle School (5-8) or Secondary (K-12), and Teacher of Students with Disabilities (TOSD) endorsements must complete Clinical Internship (EDU-673) and Clinical Internship seminar (EDU-672). Students seeking Early Childhood (P-3), Elementary (K-6), Elementary (K-6) plus Middle School (5-8) or Secondary (K-12), and Teacher of Students with Disabilities (TOSD) endorsements will do their student teaching in an inclusive classroom or in a combined regular education and special education setting. Students can only student teach at the completion of their program. Students are required to make-up all full or half-day absences before the end of the current semester.

Prior to Clinical Internship students must:

  1. All Graduate level students must successfully pass the appropriate PRAXIS II Subject Assessment(s).
  2. All Graduate students must have his/her New Jersey Substitute Teaching Certificate. This is a clinical internship requirement. Maximum number of credits during clinical internship semester cannot exceed 12. Clinical seminar II (and clinical Practice II) plus one education course only with the advisor’s permission.
    Complete a minimum of 100 clinical hours of supervised contact with children in a variety of learning situations, prior to clinical internship. This includes two days a week in Clinical Practice I and an additional 50 hours will be determined through early program coursework (e.g. EDU-657, EDU-659, EDU-661, EDU-665 in Early Childhood (P-3), Elementary (K-6)) and (e.g., EDU-657, EDU-678 and EDU-666 in Elementary (K-6) plus Middle School (5-8) or Secondary (K-12), and Teacher of Students with Disabilities (TOSD).

Maximum Allowable Credits during Clinical Practice

The maximum number of credits during the clinical practice semester cannot exceed 12 (Clinical Seminar II (EDU-672 / 1 credit) and Clinical Practice II (EDU-673 / 8 credits) plus one education course with the advisor’s approval. Exceptions to the above policy will be made at the discretion of the Associate Dean of the Graduate Program or the Dean of the School of Education.

Students must adhere to all guidelines and policies stated in the Felician Student Handbook (all levels).

Clinical Practice Placement Policy for School of Education Programs

A candidate will not be assigned to a school/town/ district if the following criteria apply:

  1. A candidate has or currently resides in a requested school/town/district and has family members currently employed for said district.
  2. A candidate has been or is currently employed in a requested school/town/district.*
  3. A candidate has been or is currently an aide/ assistant, board member (or related to one) or a PTA/PTO executive member in a requested school/town/district.**
  4. A candidate has children attending a school in a requested school/town/district.
  5. A candidate has a relative attending/ employed in a requested school/town/district
  6. A candidate has any other affiliation with any of the requested schools/towns/districts.

A candidate who fails to indicate any of the above information on the Clinical Practice Application Form/Clinical Practice I & II Request for Placement Form, which is processed by the Office of Field Experiences.

*A candidate working in a private school that does not require certification will have their situation reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

**A candidate who has been an aide or a paraprofessional may complete CP I and II in their school of employment with the approval of the Dean and/or Associate Dean.

Recommendation Graduate Students for a New Clinical Internship Placement – CLINICAL INTERNSHIP POLICY

  • Removal from Clinical Internship Placement due to Student Deficiencies is determined by the Decision of the Committee
    1. A committee comprised of the Director of Placement, the cooperating teacher, college supervisor, seminar instructor with the Associate Dean of the Graduate Program or the Dean of the School of Education will decide if the student should be removed from his/her placement for academic, performance, review each professional or disciplinary reasons. The Committee reserves the right to review each student’s situation on a case-by-case basis and apply the below policy accordingly.
    2. Upon the recommendation of the Committee, the Dean of the School of Education, with the approval of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, reserves the right to dismiss a student from the Education Program at any time for behavior which is deemed unethical, unprofessional or below established academic standards. The student in question has the right to appeal the decision following the guidelines in the Felician University Catalog.
    3. If removed by Felician University for academic standards, the student will receive a grade of incomplete for that semester. This option is for one time. The Director of Field Placement will place the student in another setting for the next succeeding semester in a different school/ district. The student must be interviewed by the district prior to placement. The student has two opportunities for interviews. If these are unsuccessful the student is dismissed. No further attempts to place the student will be permitted.
      • If the student rejects the second placement, the student will receive a grade of F for student teaching.
      • If the student asks to remain at the first placement and subsequently fails student teaching, no second attempt will be permitted.
      • If the student is removed for other than academic reasons, the student will receive a grade of F and will be dismissed from the program. The student may appeal the decision following the guidelines in the Felician University Catalog or Student Handbook.
    4. When the student is in another setting, he/ she must attempt to remediate all deficiencies cited during the first placement by the end of that semester. In this second setting the student will implement a written action plan created by the Committee. During the second attempt, the student will be required to attain specific performance benchmarks at three-week intervals, which will be evaluated by the cooperating teacher, supervisor, and seminar instructor. (This applies specifically to student teaching.)
      • A different supervisor will be assigned for the second attempt.
      • The student will be required to pay the cooperating teacher’s stipend for the second student teaching experience.
    5. At any point during student teaching experience, the student may be removed from the placement for deficiencies noted by members of the Committee. The student will receive a grade of F and will be dismissed from the program.
    6. If the student fails his/her second attempt, Felician University will not find another placement and will issue a grade of F on the student’s transcript.
  • Removal from Clinical Internship Placement – Circumstances beyond Student Control
    • If the Director of Placement and the supervisor determine that the placement is unsatisfactory, the student may be removed from the setting. The Office of Field Placement will obtain a suitable placement and the appropriate number of days or weeks will be added to the new assignment.
  • Withdrawal from Clinical Internship – Student Decision
    • If a student withdraws from student teaching, the Office of Field Placement will not obtain another student teaching placement for the student. This student will receive a grade of F on their transcript and will be dismissed from the program. Exceptions to this procedure would be determined by the Committee.
    • If a student withdraws from student teaching, within the Drop/Add period a grade of WD will appear on the transcript. Successful completion of student teaching is required for awarding of the initial certification master’s degree. The student must successfully repeat the course; or will be withdrawn and dismissed from the program
  • Dismissal for other than Academic Reasons
    • If a student is removed for other than academic reasons, the student will receive a grade of F and will be dismissed from the program. The student may appeal the decision following the guidelines in the Felician University Handbook.

Dismissal Policies

If a student is dismissed from the program, the student will not be readmitted into the program.

Professional Behavior

The Dean of the School of Education, with the approval of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, reserves the right to dismiss a student from the Education Program at any time for behavior which is deemed unethical or unprofessional. The student in question has the right to appeal the decision.

Clinical Internship Waiver Policy for Teacher Education Programs

In light of State DOE revisions to Code the following changes to School of Education policy have been made:

  • For initial certification, years of teaching experience will not be accepted in lieu of clinical internship.
  • All candidates for initial certification must student teach at Felician University.

*The School of Education will review each candidate on an individual basis.

Health Clearance Policy

Felician University policy requires all new and transfer students to submit a completed Enrollment Prerequisite Health Form to the Center for Health prior to registration. The Felician health form is the only acceptable form to be used. This form is available at the Center for Health and may also be downloaded from the Felician University website, student-health-form-92016.pdf (felician.edu).

Nursing, Allied Health and Education majors must have an updated Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) within six months prior to any Clinical and/or Field Experience sessions. TST is available by appointment at the Center for Health. Please refer to "Health Services Policy" in the student Life and Services section of the Student Handbook or contact the Center for Health at 201-559-3559. The university retains the right to change and/or require further health assessment as needed.

Students must submit their Health Clearance Slip to the Placement Coordinator before attending any student teaching experience. Students who do not comply with this policy will not be permitted to attend the student teaching practicum.

Course Repeat Policy

Students may repeat no more than two (2) courses in the program. Each enrollment beyond the first week of course instruction is considered an attempt, whether the student completes all or part of the course requirements or officially or unofficially withdraws. A passing grade at the time of withdrawal, either officially or unofficially, is not considered a successful attempt of the course.

A student who receives a single grade of B or lower in a graduate course must repeat the course (and that course may be attempted or repeated only once). The student will be considered on academic probation until the course is repeated and a minimum grade of B is achieved. Failure to achieve a grade of B or higher on the second attempt makes the student ineligible to continue in the program.

Should a student’s cumulative GPA fall below the 3.0 requirement as a result of a B or lower in a single graduate course, that student will be considered on academic probation and must achieve a 3.0 cumulative GPA the following semester in order to remain eligible to continue in the program.

  • All policies for each graduate program in the School of Education are at the discretion of the Dean of the School of Education in accordance with state requirements and mandates.
  • Please remember that program requirements are subject to change according to the guidelines and code changes set forth by the State of New Jersey’s Department of Education (http://www.state.nj.us/education/).