Department of Education

Professors Emeriti	John J. Convey, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Professor; Sarah M. Pickert; Merylann J. Schuttloffel; Shavaun Wall, Euphemia Lofton Haynes Professor
Assistant Professors	Chy McGhee; Anika Prather; Cynthia Sanders
Clinical Associate Professor	Angela McRae,Chair
Clinical Instructor	Sister Marirose Rudek
Director of Student Experience and Licensure	Elizabeth Turcan

The MA and Ph.D. programs offered by the Department of Education explore the common historical, philosophical, psychological, sociological, and research foundations in the field of Education to prepare educators for a variety Pk-12 and related school settings. Graduates are prepared to be skilled practitioners who are knowledgeable about the research and current developments in their area of specialization.

General Admission Requirements:

Applicants seeking admission to one of the Master's degree programs must meet the following admission requirements:

1. An application indicating a desire to pursue a Master's degree in education and specifying the specialty the applicant wishes to pursue.

2. Official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate work. Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 in their undergraduate studies. Secondary English, social studies, and math applicants must have a 3.0 GPA in the last 60 credits of their undergraduate studies. All applicants for graduate studies must have a minimum of 3.0 in their previous graduate work if applicable.

3. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Aptitude (verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing) score or a Miller Analogies Test (MAT) score. (Contact the appropriate program coordinator and the Department of Education website for additional program requirements).

4. Three letters of recommendation, at least one of which should be from a person familiar with the applicant's academic performance; others may be from an immediate supervisor or someone familiar with the applicant's professional work.

5. Applicant's statement of goals that is well written, demonstrates motivation, and gives evidence that the applicant's goals fit with the chosen program.

6. An admission interview with members of the faculty, as required by the specialty.

7. Undergraduate candidates pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in English or History or a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics may apply for the 4+1 program (completion of the Baccalaureate at the end of the fourth year and completion of the Master’s at the end of the fifth year of study). If accepted, candidates take four 3-credit 500-level (or higher) graduate courses, while working toward their Bachelor’s degree, that counts toward both the Bachelor’s degree and the Master’s degree. Candidates apply to the 4+1 program in their sophomore or junior year. They apply to the graduate school in the spring of their senior year and, if qualified, are admitted to the Master’s in Secondary Education. Specifically, admission to the 4+1 program and to the Master’s in Secondary Education requires the following: Passing scores on PRAXIS CORE tests (or equivalent passing scores on SAT, ACT or GRE tests); GPA of 3.5 including a minimum GPA of 3.0 in education courses and in the specific subject area.

Graduate Teacher Certificate Program Applicants

Applicants seeking admission to the Graduate Teacher Certificate Program (GTCP) in Secondary Education must meet the following admissions requirements:

1. An application indicating a desire to pursue a GTCP and specifying the specialty the applicant wishes to pursue.

2. Official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate work. Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 in their undergraduate studies. In addition, secondary English, social studies, and math applicants must have a 3.0 GPA in their last 60 credits of their undergraduate studies. All applicants for graduate studies must have a minimum of 3.0 in their previous graduate work if applicable.

3. Passing PRAXIS CORE test scores or equivalent passing scores on SAT, ACT, or GRE tests (also required by the District of Columbia for certification/licensure).

4. Three strongly supportive letters of recommendation, at least one of which should be from a person familiar with the applicant's academic performance; others may be from an immediate supervisor or someone familiar with the applicant's professional work.

5. Applicant's statement of goals that is well written, demonstrates motivation, and gives evidence that the applicant's goals fit with the chosen program.

6. An admission interview with members of the faculty, as required by the specialty.

Exceptions for Secondary Education

Applications from Candidates Previously Admitted to the GTCP at Catholic University.

Secondary Education applicants, who have been admitted to pursue the GTCP at Catholic University, after having completed five or more GTCP courses at Catholic University, may apply for admission to the Master's degree program under the following conditions:

1. File an application indicating that they wish to change from the GTCP to a degree seeking program in Education.

2. Seek a review of their transcripts to demonstrate that they have received no grade below a "B" in any course taken as part of their GTCP.

3. Request a waiver of the requirement to submit either GRE scores or an MAT score.

4. Provide recommendations from two Catholic University, Department of Education faculty members familiar with the applicants’ academic work.

5. Provide a statement of goals with reasons for now wanting to pursue a Master's degree.

6. Present themselves for an interview with members of the faculty, if requested to do so.

International Applicants

International applicants seeking admission to one of the Department of Education's graduate programs must meet the following admission requirements:

1. An application indicating a desire to pursue a Master’s degree in Education and specifying the specialty the applicant wishes to pursue.

2. Official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate work. Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 (on a 4-point scale) in their undergraduate studies. In addition, Secondary English, Social Studies, and Math applicants must have a 3.0 GPA in the last 60 credits of their undergraduate studies. All applicants for graduate studies must have a minimum of 3.0 in their previous graduate work if applicable.

3. All international candidates must submit TOEFL or ILETS scores that meet University standards.

4. Grades and letters of recommendation must be submitted, but no predefined criteria will be specified, given the variety of practices abroad.

5. GRE scores or MAT scores.

6. A statement of goals appropriate for the degree being pursued.

7. Telephone or Skype interviews may be substituted for any required interviews for applicants living abroad.

Financial Aid

The University's Office of Student Financial Assistance offers a number of financial packages. Interested applicants are urged to contact that office directly for information about these packages. The deadline for an application is Feb. 1. The School of Arts and Sciences may offer scholarships for candidates of exceptional academic quality.

Professional Tuition Rate

Candidates taking courses in education are charged a professional per-credit-hour tuition, which is a reduction from the usual graduate tuition. Contact the Office of Financial Assistance for the current rate.

Degree Programs and Requirements

The Department of Education offers graduate opportunities in Secondary Education on the Master’s level and in the Graduate Teacher Certification Programs. Candidates in all these teacher education programs are also eligible to apply for a teaching credential with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) in DC upon completion of all requirements.

Any graduate candidate who obtains two or more grades below B- in coursework in his or her graduate program is subject to academic dismissal. For any graduate candidate in the teacher education program, no course with a grade below B- will be counted toward certification.

If a graduate candidate has taken a required course and received a grade of F, the candidate must repeat the course to earn a grade of B- or higher. A candidate may choose to repeat a course in an effort to earn a better grade regardless of the initial grade received. In both cases, the following rules apply:

The candidate may repeat the course only once.
Whether higher or lower, the later grade will be used in computing the grade point average.
The candidate will only receive credit for taking the course once.

Continuous enrollment is required of all candidates in degree and certificate programs unless an authorized academic leave has been granted. Failure to maintain continuous enrollment or to obtain an official academic leave is considered to be evidence that the student has withdrawn from the university.

Master of Arts Degree (MA)

The Master’s program consists of a minimum of 30 semester hours of post-baccalaureate coursework, completion of research assignments, and a capstone Action Research Project. All Master’s candidates are required to complete nine hours of study in general education courses (i.e., core requirement). The remainder of the coursework is completed in one of the two specialty areas (Secondary Education. With the addition of a student teaching semester (12 credit hours), the eligibility to apply for a teaching credential is available in Secondary English, Math, or Social Studies Education.

Applicants who are teaching full-time in the area of specialization may be eligible to substitute enrollment in a 4-credit student teaching experience together with a student teaching seminar.

Core Requirement

The core course requirement comprises three 3-credit courses. Successful completion of the following courses is mandatory for fulfilling this requirement:

EDUC 525 Psychology of Learning for Diverse Populations

EDUC 699 Introduction to Educational Research

EDUC 702 Advanced Foundations of Education

Transfer credit for the above courses is not usually allowed. Note, however, the University policy permits the transfer of up to six semester credit hours of previous graduate work into the Master’s program with the approval of the candidate's academic adviser and the Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences. In addition, the Department of Education will normally consider for transfer only credits earned in the five-year period immediately preceding the candidate's admission to the University, and for which the candidate earned a grade of B or better.

Other Requirements

In addition to the core Education courses, candidates must satisfy the requirements for subject area coursework in English, History or Mathematics, usually 36 hours, for credentialing. A Transcript Analysis and Program of Studies is a projection of the candidate's series of courses. It must be approved by the candidate’s academic adviser and the Department Chair, and it must be filed in the candidate's departmental records before the end of the first year of study. Approval of a projected program does not obligate the University to offer all the courses listed.

Comprehensive Capstone Project: Action Research Paper

Requirements: Teacher Education Master’s candidates write an Action Research Paper (ARP) during their final teaching experience while enrolled in a field experience course.

Criteria for the Action Research Paper include a clear statement of educational philosophy, use of pretest data to document the problem under study, use of the reflective framework to examine dilemmas related to teaching strategies, use of scholarly literature to explore appropriate interventions, implementation of an intervention, use of posttest data to document the effect of the intervention on student learning, and personal reflection about the processes involved with transforming one’s teaching. This paper must be 20-40 pages in length and include at least 20 scholarly references. The faculty member who supervises the candidate during the field experience course evaluates the paper using the ARP Comprehensive Exam Scoring Guide (rubric). The candidate’s average score must meet expectations; i.e., it must be ≥ 4.0., on a six point scale. Completed ARP papers must be approved by the assigned faculty member and by the Department Chair. They indicate their approval by signing the “Comprehensive Exam Action Research Paper Form”, which includes an abstract of the paper. Papers must be submitted to the department before the graduation deadline date in order to graduate in the same semester.

Candidates must submit their Action Research Paper (ARP) electronically in Live Text, the department’s web-based learning environment.

Credentialing Test Requirements:

Master’s candidates in teacher education need to take the PRAXIS II content knowledge tests relevant for their area of specialization in order to be admitted to student teaching. Passing scores on the PRAXIS CORE/CASE tests as well as on the PRAXIS II content knowledge test and PRAXIS II pedagogical knowledge test relevant to the area of specialization are required for certification. Knowledge in the specific content -area is considered a prerequisite for the program. Through a transcript review, applicants must demonstrate successful completion of 30-36 credit hours of coursework in their licensure content-area.

Requirements in the specific content-area must be completed prior to student teaching.

Graduate Teacher Certification Program (Non-degree, Certification only) (**Applications to this program are currently suspended**)

A Graduate Teacher Certification Program (GTCP) is available in Secondary English Education, Secondary Social Studies Education, and Secondary Mathematics Education. Admission to the GTCP requires a Bachelor's degree and passing scores on the PRAXIS CORE I (reading, writing and math) tests or alternative qualifying scores on SAT, ACT, or GRE as required by the District of Columbia for certification. Admission to the GTCP does not require scores on either the GRE or MAT.

The GTCP coursework overlaps with the coursework required for the Master’s in teacher education, but candidates do not have to take comprehensive examinations and are not required to complete research papers in EDUC 702; yet, they are required to complete an Action Research Project (ARP) during their student teaching experience. Knowledge in the specific content-area is considered a prerequisite for the program. Through a transcript review, applicants must demonstrate successful completion of 30-36 credit hours of coursework in their licensure content-area. Requirements in the specific content-area must be completed prior to student teaching.

The Secondary Education GTCP consists of 15 credit hours of coursework plus 12 credit hours for student teaching together with a student teaching seminar. Applicants who are teaching full-time in the area of specialization may be eligible to substitute enrollment in a 4-credit student teaching experience together with a student teaching seminar. GTCP candidates must take the PRAXIS II Content Knowledge Test in their area of licensure before student teaching and pass the PRAXIS II Content Knowledge Test and PRAXIS II Principles of Learning and Teaching Test in order to obtain the license in the subject of interest.

Specialty Areas of Study for the Master’s Degree

Teacher Education with Certification in Secondary Education. This specialty offers candidates the professional education coursework needed for state certification in Secondary Education. The program prepares teachers to work with diverse adolescent learners and focuses on learning theory and teaching methodology; instructional design and the use of assessments; and classroom management. Incorporated into the Master’s program are opportunities to reflect on practice through directed field experiences. The Secondary Education sequence prepares middle school and high school teachers (7th-12th grade) in the following subject areas:

English, Mathematics, and Social Studies. Through transcript review, applicants must demonstrate successful completion of 30-36 credit hours of coursework in one or more subject areas. Subject requirements must be completed prior to student teaching. The Master’s program in Secondary Education is a 42-credit-hour program (34 credits for those with full-time teaching positions) that includes three 20/30-hour-practicum experiences associated with specific classes, and a semester of full-time teaching in a secondary school setting (12 credits) for those without a full-time teaching position. Master’s candidates must take the PRAXIS II Subject Assessment Test in the subject of interest before student teaching and pass the PRAXIS II Subject Assessment Test and PRAXIS II Principles of Learning and Teaching Test in order to obtain the license in the subject of interest. Applicants who are teaching full-time in the area of specialization may be eligible for a full-semester, 4-credit capstone teaching experience in their own classroom together with the student teaching seminar.

Course requirements include those listed under Core Requirements, plus the following:

EDUC 581 Educating Diverse Learners

EDUC 582 Interdisciplinary Instructional Strategies (plus 20 hours practicum field experience)

EDUC 586 Curriculum and Methods in Adolescents Education (plus 20 hours practicum field experience)

EDUC 765 Principles of Curriculum

EDUC 579 or

EDUC 580 or

EDUC 585

Methods course (Math, English, or Social Studies) (plus 30 hours practicum field experience)

EDUC 561, EDUC 562 & EDUC 563 or EDUC 600*

Student Teaching and Seminar: Secondary Education

*Capstone experience for candidates who are teachers of record in their own classrooms

Two additional electives (3 credits each) in Education or in the content area

Philosophy of Education (Ph.D.) (**Applications to this program are currently suspended**)

The graduate program in Catholic Educational Leadership and Policy Studies offered through the Department of Education at The Catholic University of America is designed to respond to the nationwide need to prepare future Catholic educational leaders. The program focuses on the academic, professional and spiritual development to prepare for service in leadership positions as diocesan superintendents, vicars for education, central office personnel and principals. The program, which offers the Master of Arts, the Advanced Graduate Certificate, or the Doctor of Philosophy, includes coursework and related activities that integrate the academic, professional and ecclesiastical perspectives that CUA can uniquely provide. The Catholic Educational Leadership program does not lead to state licensure.

Degree Requirements

Master of Arts (M.A.) in Catholic School Leadership (only through ADW cohorts) - 30 credits including:

Departmental Core (9 credits)

Catholic Education Core (6 credits)

Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (15 credits)

Research project

Comprehensive examinations

Advanced Graduate certificate in Catholic Diocesan Leadership:

M.A. plus 19 credits (25 credits if M.A. is not in Catholic Educational Administration or Educational Leadership and Policy Studies)

Doctor of Philosophy in Catholic Education Leadership (Catholic Educational Leadership M.A. plus 40 credits, including):

Catholic Core (12 credits)

Leadership and Policy Studies (16 credits)

Research Core (12 credits)

Doctoral comprehensive examinations

Dissertation

Courses

Research Core

EDUC 633 Introductory Statistics for Behavioral Science

EDUC 637 Curriculum and Program Evaluation

EDUC 733 Experimental Design

EDUC 790 Qualitative Methods in Educational Research and Evaluation

Catholic Core

EDUC 704 History, Mission, and Practice of Catholic Education

EDUC 707 Contemporary Issues in Catholic Educational Policy and Practice

EDUC 715 Building Faith Community

EDUC 860 Research on Catholic Schools

Leadership and Policy Studies

EDUC 712 Fiscal Issues & Policy in Education

EDUC 713B Administration of Diocesan School Systems

EDUC 720 Emerging Leadership Theory

EDUC 751 Educational Administration Lyceum (1 credit)

EDUC 795 Administrative Internship

EDUC 828 Seminar: Administration and Organization Behavior

Undergraduate 4+1 Option for Secondary Education Majors - 5 year program

The undergraduate 4+1 programs in Secondary Education prepare students high school teachers, 7-12 grades, in English, Mathematics, or Social Studies. With the addition of the 5th year, students earn an undergraduate degree in their area of specialization: Mathematics (BS), History (BA), or English (BA) and a Master's in Secondary Education. Conceived as a joint major, the program supports the development of a solid foundation in the discipline of their choice while introducing candidates to the multifaceted nature of education. Students in this program also take education coursework while completing their BA or BS degree in their content area.

The coursework in the core education classes throughout the program is integrated with a sequence of field experiences in a variety of settings (e.g., middle and high school; Catholic, public, charter, and private schools) that culminates in a full-semester student teaching internship in the 5th year. Students who complete this program are eligible to apply for a Standard Teaching Credential for the Office of the State Superintendent of DC (OSSE) . Credentials for teaching in another state or US Territory may be available through the Interstate Agreement between the OSSE and most of the other continental States and Territories. Candidates may also add an endorsement to teach Middle School grades (4-9) when applying for their Standard Teaching Credential for High School (7-12). See this link for full details and requirements for applying for an OSSE Teaching Credential and Endorsements

The program of study includes the following:

EDUC 261	Human Growth and Development
EDUC 271	Psychology of Education
EDUC 586	Curriculum and Methods in Adolescent Education First
ENGL 5xx	Graduate course in English 5xx (or higher)
EDUC 582	Interdisciplinary Instructional Strategies
EDUC 702	Advanced Foundations of Education
EDUC 525	Psychology of Learning
EDUC 699	Introduction to Educational Research
EDUC 765	Advanced Principles of Curriculum
EDUC 5xx	Content Methods Course
EDUC 581	Educating Diverse Learners
ENGL 5xx	Graduate course in English/History/Mathematics 5xx (or higher)
EDUC500 EDUC 501	Student Teaching Internship (9 credits) Student Teaching Seminar (3 credits) *Seminar includes Action Research Capstone Project