• Department

Graduate Programs in Education Details

“Educator As Reflective Learner”

The Annsley Frazier Thornton School of Education offers two masters degrees, an Educational Specialist degree, Rank I options and a doctorate degree. These programs lead to initial or advanced teacher preparation in a variety of areas.

• Students earn initial teacher certification and rank II status with an emphasis in one of the following:
• Elementary Education, Grades P-5
• Middle School Education, Grades 5-9
• Secondary Education, Grade 8-12
• Learning and Behavior Disorders available as optional dual certification

• Teacher Leadership, Grades P-12
• Learning and Behavior Disorders, Grades P-12
• Reading and Writing Endorsement, Grades P-12

• School Principal Certification, Grades P-12

• Teacher Leadership, Grades P-12
• Learning and Behavior Disorders, Grades P-12
• Reading and Writing Endorsement, Grades P-12
• Curriculum and Instruction (Individualized Plan)

Program Objectives

The Annsley Frazier Thornton School of Education prepares caring and effective educators with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to teach and lead in diverse settings.  Candidates demonstrate proficient to distinguished performance through the following criteria: individual course assessments, field and clinical evaluations, dispositional assessments, benchmarks assignments, and standardized exams.

Based on this program assessment data, the candidate who achieves proficiency:

• Works collaboratively across disciplines, school corridors/environments, and community settings to foster student learning;
• Participates and reflects on field an clinical experiences requiring decision-making, intercultural experiences, and collaboration with professionals;
• Exhibits educator dispositions that respect and foster the uniqueness and dignity of each individual learner as well as value intellectual, moral, ethical, and professional competencies;
• Constructs pedagogical and content based decisions including, but not limited to, methods of instruction, classroom and management, professional relationships, and methods of assessment; and
• Incorporates Valli’s five reflective processes which include technical, personalistic, deliberative, in and on action, and critical reflection.

Accreditation

All teacher education programs at the advanced level are fully accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), 2010 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20039; and approved by the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board.

Requirements for Admission to Graduate Studies

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
• A 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale) overall grade point average for all undergraduate coursework.
• A 3.0 grade point average in the applicant’s undergraduate major.
• Satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or other approval exam.
• Recommendation from professors, employers or supervisors attesting to the applicant’s potential as a graduate student.  Forms available upon request.
• A letter of intent to pursue the graduate degree; the letter should include a statement of the applicant’s professional goals and application rationale (two pages).
• Official transcripts of all previous higher education course work from regionally accredited institutions in sealed envelope from the institution.
• A valid Kentucky Provisional or Professional Certificate at the program level for which the applicant is making application (MA only).
• A student for whom English is a second language must submit a report of their Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores.

• A valid Kentucky Rank II Certificate or equivalent in elementary education, middle school, high school, or special education.
• Official transcripts of all previous higher education course work from regionally accredited institutions in sealed envelope from the institution.

All applicants and correspondence relevant to admission should be directed to:

Bellarmine University
Office of Graduate Admission
2001 Newburg Road
Louisville, KY 40205
502.272.7200
email

Degree Requirements for the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Programs

• Completion of a minimum of 36 hours of graduate course work, at least 30 of which must be taken at Bellarmine University.
• Maintenance of a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale throughout the program of studies
• Ongoing evaluation through:
  • Benchmark assignments
  • Disposition assignments
• Successful completion of all content related designated course work prior to the start of the Professional Semester
• Completion of all degree work within six years from date of entry

Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Program of Study
The MAT degree is open to applicants who hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and are seeking initial teaching credentials at the graduate level. The MAT is an accelerated, outcome-based cohort program. Classes meet one evening a week and selected Saturdays per semester with the exception of the final professional (supervised teaching) semester.

Alternative MAT Certification Option VI program
Some students qualify for the Alternative Teacher Certification program in specific content areas. This program requires full time employment with local school district. Beginning the program in summer semester is recommended. Please see the Administrative Graduate Director for further information.

• Early Elementary Education, Grades P-5
• Middle School Education, Grades 5-9
• Secondary School Education, Grades 8-12
• Learning and Behavior Disorders (LBD), Grades P-12 - as dual certification

Requirements for Admission to teacher Education Program (Transition Point 1)

MAT applicants admitted to Graduate Studies must meet all the following requirements by the end of Module 1 for admission to teacher education programs leading to initial certification:

• Evidence for specified competency in oral and written communication, reading, writing, and computation
• A minimum of a 2.75 on all pervious higher education coursework prior to enrolling
• A minimum of a C+ in English 101-102 (all majors) and Mathematics 101-102 (P-5 majors and middle school mathematics majors) or Math 523
• Satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), or other approved exam
• Passing PRAXIS score when applicable
• Recommendations from Bellarmine faculty members
• An evaluation by the Teacher Education Faculty that the student demonstrates maturity, interpersonal and communication skills, and the disposition, knowledge, competence, and judgment necessary to be an effective teacher
• Satisfactory Benchmark Assignments.

Application for the Professional Semester (Transition Point 2)

Applicants for the professional semester must be filed with the School of Education during the semester prior to the term in which the student plans to enroll. Candidates must have been accepted into the Teacher Education program (Transition Point 1). General criteria for acceptance into the professional semester are as follows:

1. Successful completion of all Modules.
2. Required number of field hours with successful evaluations.
3. Successful completion of all outstanding coursework in the specific content area.
4. Approval of the Teacher Education faculty. This decision is based upon evidence that the student demonstrates maturity, interpersonal and communication skills, and the attitudes, dispositions, knowledge, competence and judgment necessary to be an effective teacher.

Exit from Program (Transition Point 3) 

Successful program completion is based on satisfactory completion of all program requirements.

Teacher Certification

In order to be granted certification in Kentucky the following criteria must be met:

1. Bellarmine’s Teacher Education faculty must officially recommend that a student be issued the appropriate certification. Such a recommendation must validate that:
   a. The student has been admitted to teacher Education.
   b. The student has passed his/her supervised professional semester experience, and
   c. The student has completed the approved program of studies for the certificate to be issued.
2. The Teacher Education program graduate must pass the appropriate PRAXIS assessments.

The application for certification can be obtained in the School of Education office once the above criteria are met. Upon receipt of a completed certification application, the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board issues a Statement of Eligibility. When the candidate has secured employment and returned a confirmation of employment, the state issues a provisional one-year certificate for the Kentucky Teacher Internship Program (KTIP).

• Early Elementary Education, Grades P-5
• Middle School Education, Grades 5-9
• Secondary School Education, Grades 8-12
• Learning and Behavior Disorders (LBD), Grades P-12 as dual certification

Master of Arts in Education (MAEd.) Programs

This is an advanced degree program for those students holding an initial teacher certification. The following emphasis areas are available:

• Teacher Leadership, Grades P-12
• Learning and Behavior Disorders, Grades P-12
• Reading and Writing Endorsement, Grades P-12

Degree Requirements for MAEd.

• Completion of a minimum of 30 hours of graduate course work, at least 24 hours of which much be taken at Bellarmine University. Coursework is designated on curriculum contracts
• Maintenance of a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale throughout the program of studies
• Ongoing evaluation through
  • Anchor Assessments
  • Disposition assessments
• An exit evaluation consisting of:
  • Capstone Project
• Completion of all degree work within six years from date of entry.

MAEd. Program of Studies can be obtained through the Graduate Education office through the academic advisor.

Rank I Post-Masters Program

Students have two options: (1) to pursue a program in an area of certification they do not hold, or (2) to plan an individualized continuing education program with a faculty advisor.

• Elementary School Education, Grades P-5
• Middle School Education, Grades 5-9
• Secondary Grades, Grades 8-12
• Learning and Behavior Disorders, Grades P-12
• Reading and Writing Endorsement, Grades P-12
• Waldorf Inspired Curriculum
• Instructional Leadership and School Administration
• Other areas to be arranged

Program Completion Requirements

• A formal, written, program-of-studies contract planned in advance by the students with his/her Bellarmine faculty advisor and signed by both student and the advisor
• Sixty hours of graduate course work that includes a master’s degree. At least 15 hours of the Rank I program beyond the master’s must be taken at Bellarmine University.

Procedure for Admission

Students applying for the Educational Specialist Degree must submit the following initial materials to the Office of Graduate Admission:

1. Complete and submit the application.
2. Submit a non-refundable application fee of $25 (fee waived for Bellarmine alumni). Checks should be made payable to Bellarmine University.
3. Final official transcript(s) from each college or university attended should be mailed to the Office of Graduate Admission and not be marked “Issued to Student”.
4. A current resume (Note: Three years of successful teaching experience in a P-12 setting with full teacher certification during those 3 years is required).
5. Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score mailed directly to the Office of Graduate Admission.
6. A copy of valid state issued Professional Teaching Certificate.
7. Three recommendation forms from individuals who are former professors or who have supervised the applicant in a school setting. One recommendation must come from the applicant’s current principal/head teacher. All recommendations must be related to the professional environment. (Form provided, copy as needed).
8. If your undergraduate degree is from an international institution, you were born outside the United States, or English is your second language, you will be required to submit an official TOEFLiBT (internet-based test) score and receive a total score of 80 or higher. We will also consider an equivalent score on the IELTS or MELAB tests. The Admission, Progression and Graduation Committee reserves the right to request a TOEFL score from any applicant.
9. If any transcript(s) or undergraduate degree(s) are from an international institution you must provide an official copy of a third party course by course credential evaluation. The following organizations offer this service and information regarding processes and fees are available at: www.aacrao.org, www.wes.org and www.ece.org. The Office of Graduate Admission reserves the right to request a certified copy of the original transcript(s).
10. Once completed, mail the application to: Bellarmine University, Office of Graduate Admission, 2001 Newburg Road, Louisville, KY 40205.

International Applicants

Please complete the items under Procedure for Admission and submit the following:
U.S. law requires financial statements from a bank or other financial institution certifying the student’s ability to fund the cost of attendance for one academic year minus the amount of any scholarship dollars received. Figures should be in U.S. dollars and must be certified as an official document by the bank or financial institution. A sponsor may be used if the sponsor attaches a signed affidavit stating that he/she will financially support the student until completion of a degree at Bellarmine University. If a sponsor is used, the sponsor’s bank statement should accompany the letter. The amount that would need to be shown for the Educational Specialist Degree is $19,651. This amount includes tuition and fees for the summer 2012 semester only (tuition rates for Fall 2012 and thereafter are not yet established) and an average cost for living expenses, books, supplies, health insurance, transportation and personal expenses.

Level 1 Screening

Those applicants meeting minimal requirements including a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale for all graduate work (3.5 GPA preferred) and three years of successful teaching experience will be contacted by the admissions office in the School of Education and invited to submit:

• Program Essays - Applicants will be asked to respond to a series of short answer questions related to school leadership and administration.
• Educational Autobiography/Personal Goal Statement

Level II Screening

After a detailed review, some applicants will be invited to complete Level II Screening prior to admissions decisions. This will include:

• Acquisition of principal’s/supervising administrator’s consent.
• Scheduled interview- once all other application materials are received and reviewed, a faculty member in the program will call to schedule an interview if the School of Education wishes to proceed with your request for admission. A school district representative will be included in this process.
• Positive recommendation for admission from the Annsley Frazier Thornton School of Education Admission Committee and appropriate consultation with officials from the candidate’s school district.

Graduate Programs in Education Tuition Cost – 2010-2011 Academic year

• MAT - $4,100 a semester for 5 semesters
• MAEd. - $300 a credit hour
• EdS - $315 a credit hour
• Rank I - $300 a credit hour (15 hour minimum at Bellarmine)

Graduate Programs in Education Tuition Cost – 2011-2012 Academic year

• MAT - $4,225 a semester for 5 semesters
• MAEd. - $315 a credit hour
• EdS - $315 a credit hour
• Rank I - $315 a credit hour (15 hour minimum at Bellarmine)

Financial Aid

For information on financial aid, click here.

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