/Institutions/Sacred-Heart-University/json/2019-2020/Graduate-Catalog-local.json

/Institutions/Sacred-Heart-University/json/2019-2020/Graduate-Catalog.json

Isabelle Farrington College of Education

Michael Alfano, PhD

Dean

Phone: 203-365-7621

Fax: 203-365-7513

E-mail: alfanom3@sacredheart.edu

 

Mel Horton, EdD

Associate Dean

Phone: 203-365-4876

Fax: 203-365-7513

E-mail: hortonm3@sacredheart.edu

Mission

The Isabelle Farrington College of Education prepares and promotes a diverse community of educators, whose work is grounded in professional knowledge, skills, and dispositions in service to their students.  Guided by fundamental principles of social justice, human dignity, and equity, we prepare our candidates to help their students navigate a global community that is undergoing profound cultural and technological change.  We use evidence of candidate performance to continuously improve practice and policy.

To accomplish this mission, the Isabelle Farrington College of Education assures that upon completion of the program of study, its graduates and program completers are highly qualified professionals in their respective areas of expertise, are deeply committed to all youngsters' growth and development, and have a sensitivity to the importance of social and emotional growth as an aspect of students' education.  The Isabelle Farrington College of Education adheres to and assures that its candidates address the national and state standards of professional preparation of each of its programs.

Graduate Education Certificate Programs

• Computer Science Education Endorsement (110)
• Initial Teacher Preparation: Elementary (305) Certification
• Initial Teacher Preparation: Secondary English (015) Certification
• Initial Teacher Preparation: Secondary Math (029) Certification
• Initial Teacher Preparation: Secondary General Science (034) Certification
• Initial Teacher Preparation: Secondary Biology (030) Certification
• Initial Teacher Preparation: Secondary Chemistry (031) Certification
• Initial Teacher Preparation: Secondary Social Studies (026) Certification
• Initial Teacher Preparation: Secondary Spanish (023) Certification
• Intermediate Administrator (092) Certification
• Reading and Language Arts Consultant (097) Certification
• Remedial Reading and Remedial Language Arts (102) Certification
• Speech-Language Pathologist (061) Certification
• Superintendent of Schools (093) Certification

Graduate Education Degree Programs

• Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)
• Master of Education (M.Ed)
• Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS): Literacy Specialist (Sixth-Year Degree)
• Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS): Administration (Sixth-Year Degree)
• Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS): School District Administration (Sixth-Year Degree)
• Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership

Application Requirements

Initial Certification Programs

• Candidates must meet the following entrance requirements:
• Complete the online graduate application
• Non-refundable application fee
• Official transcript(s) from all colleges and universities previously attended.  Sacred Heart University students and alumni of SHU may authorize the Office of Graduate Admissions to obtain their official SHU transcripts on their behalf.  A minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.67 is strongly recommended.  Applicants whose cumulative GPA is below 2.67 will be considered provisionally, which may result in either additional requirements to be completed prior to admission or denial of the request.
• Essay: In an essay of 1-2 pages, discuss a recent experience interacting with children and/or youth and how this experience relates to your expectations for a teaching career. Faculty members in teacher education will evaluate your essay based on grammar, style, and organization; your experience working with young people from diverse populations; and your expectations for a teaching career. We anticipate admitting students who demonstrate excellent qualities in these areas.
• A Praxis Core Academic Skills score report - Effective July 1, 2016 a satisfactory score on the Praxis Core Academic Skills exam is no longer required for admission to teacher education programs. However, the exam or equivalent is still required. Each person's results shall be used as a diagnostic tool for the purposes of providing any necessary remedial instruction to such person while enrolled in a teacher education program. Qualifying results from SAT or ACT can be submitted in lieu of the Praxis Core score report.
• Plan of Study Interview: Once you have submitted official transcripts and the essay you may complete the plan of study requirement. You will meet with a faculty advisor to complete a transcript review and a plan of study. Please contact the Isabelle Farrington College of Education to schedule your meeting with a faculty advisor.
  
  • Elementary candidates must achieve an acceptable academic subject-area major as recommended in the Isabelle Farrington College of Education transcript review. Secondary candidates must achieve a major in their endorsement area (or present the equivalent coursework, as defined by state statutes and the College of Education transcript review).
  • All candidates must achieve 39 credits of general education courses including English, math, social studies, science, fine arts, and/or world language. All candidates must present a 3-credit course in American history. Elementary candidates must achieve 6 credits of human growth and development coursework (3 credits are satisfied by ED 553 Education Psychology; the remaining 3 credits must include adolescent development). In the Elementary and Secondary Teacher Certification programs, completion of the master’s degree is not required for teacher certification. Candidates who have completed equivalent coursework meeting certification requirements through previous studies should not repeat the same coursework at the graduate level. 
• Documentation of 100 child-related service hours: We seek candidates who demonstrate an affinity for teaching young people. To that end, we require applicants to document 100 hours of child-related services as part of the admission process.
• Signed Applicant Statement of Understanding

Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)

Admission requirements for the MAT are the same as admission requirements to the initial teacher certification programs.

Master of Education (MEd)

Admission requirements for the MEd are the same as admission requirements to the initial teacher certification programs, with the following exception.  Since all MEd candidates already hold teaching certification, upon presentation of the certificate, requirements for the Core Academic Skills for Educators Exam are waived.

Intermediate Administrator (092) Certification

To be eligible for admission, the candidate must meet these requirements:

• Hold a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0
• Hold or be eligible for a Connecticut teaching certificate
• Have completed five years of teaching experience before applying for certification
• Have completed a course in special education (taken 2004 or later) before applying for certification
• Provide a résumé
• Complete an Applicant Statement of Understanding
• Complete a case study essay
• Meet with faculty to complete a preliminary plan of study

Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS): Administration (Sixth-Year Degree)

To be eligible for admission, the candidate must meet these requirements:

• All admission requirements for the Intermediate Administrator (092) Certification
• All coursework of the Intermediate Administrator (092) Certification program

Remedial Reading and Remedial Language Arts (102) Certification, Reading and Language Arts Consultant (097) Certification, and CAS: Literacy

To be eligible for admission, the candidate must meet these requirements:

• Hold a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0
• Hold or be eligible for a Connecticut teaching certificate
• Have completed 30 months of teaching experience before applying for 102 certification
• Have served for 10 months of the equivalent of one academic year in a position for which a 102 is required before applying for 097 certification
• Have completed a course in special education no later than 2004 (at least 36 hours) before applying for certification.
• All candidates for reading certification must earn a minimum of 12 credits from Sacred Heart University to be eligible for certification recommendation
• Provide evidence of having submitted a current state and national criminal history background check
• Provide a résumé
• Complete an Applicant Statement of Understanding
• Meet with faculty to complete a preliminary plan of study

Superintendent of Schools (093) Certification, and CAS: School District Administration

To be eligible for admission, the candidate must meet these requirements:

• Have completed at least three years of experience working under their 092 certification
• Endorsement from the current superintendent of schools attesting to the candidate's fitness for the program and superintendent's willingness to allow the candidate to do internship work in another school system as well as their current system

Registration Limits

The graduate Education program offers courses during the following terms: Fall and Spring semesters, Summers I and II, and intensive sessions (late spring and winter). To ensure appropriate academic standards, permit field experience, and facilitate reflective engagement in the education process—and recognizing that most of our graduate candidates are fully engaged in an internship or other work responsibilities—the Isabelle Farrington College of Education has established parameters for appropriate course loads during these terms. A graduate candidate is permitted to take three 3-credit courses in each 15-week term, two 3-credit courses in each 6-week term, and one 3-credit course in each intensive session. Permission to take more than these limits may be granted by Dean of the Isabelle Farrington College of Education after receipt of a written request.

Transfer Guidelines

A candidate may request to transfer up to 6 graduate credits of coursework completed at another regionally accredited university. Only graduate-level courses in which a candidate has received a grade of B or better and that were earned within six years prior to the request and are not part of a previously earned degree will be considered. Transfer of credits to apply to a planned program of study leading to recommendation for certification may occur when an institution whose planned program is similarly approved or which otherwise meets the particular learning objectives and assessments required by the Sacred Heart University planned program. Requests for transfer of credit should be made to the Dean of the College of Education in writing and should be accompanied by official transcripts and supporting documentation (e.g., catalog descriptions or syllabi).

Application for Degree Completion

All candidates for graduate degrees are required to complete an online application for graduation via WebAdvisor.

Horizons

Horizons at Sacred Heart University is an affiliate of Horizons National, an organization that aims to close the opportunity gap by providing consistent and long term academic and social support to low-income children across the country. Horizons at SHU serves students from the City of Bridgeport from kindergarten through high school.  The program's mission is to create a dynamic learning environment during the summer and on Saturdays during the school year.  The children spend their time engaged in experiential literacy and math lessons as well as enjoying many different enrichment activities such as swimming, sports, art, music, gardening, STEM, wellness and more.