Graduate Programs > Majors and Programs > Rank I Post-Masters Program Details

Rank I Post-Masters Program Details

The Annsley Frazier Thornton School of Education prepares caring, effective educators in the Catholic liberal arts tradition of Bellarmine University to teach and lead in diverse settings. The Rank I Non- Degree Post Masters programs offer a best practice, research-based curriculum with a foundation in the liberal arts. Candidates demonstrate proficient to distinguished performance through the following criteria: individual course assessments, field and clinical evaluations, disposition assessments, anchor assessments, and standardized exams.

Rank I Post-Masters Program with a Reading & Writing Endorsement

Bellarmine University’s Rank I Post-Masters Program option with a Reading and Writing Endorsement (Grades P-12) offers educators an in-depth study of teaching and learning, and literacy leadership. This endorsement will allow the classroom teacher to explore literacy issues related to elementary, middle, and high school students with an emphasis in issues related to struggling readers. In addition, the candidate will examine theoretical models and processes of literacy and will investigate the political underpinnings of literacy in America. All students seeking an endorsement in Reading and Writing must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.67 throughout this program and successfully complete both the practicum experience and exit interview. Acceptance into this program requires the student to hold a valid classroom teaching certificate.

Reading and Writing Endorsement courses: 24 hours

LI TR 535 Teaching of Reading (Prerequisite-undergraduate reading methods course may be accepted.)
LI TR 545 Reading in the Content Areas
LI TR 621 Strategic Reading and Writing
LI TR 622 Emergent Literacy
LI TR 625 Theory & Politics of Reading
LI TR 627 Teaching Writing: A Workshop Approach
LI TR 663 Diagnosis of Reading Difficulties

Admission to the Literacy Leadership & Practicum course requires completion of the above courses and successful completion of comprehensive exams.

LI 670 Literacy Leadership & Practicum

Additional hours necessary for full Rank I status will be determined with the faculty advisor given the candidate’s academic background and professional goals. Generally, the candidate is encouraged to choose from the following graduate courses for the remaining credit hours:

EDUG 601 Research Methodology for School Leaders
EDUG 636 Advanced Curriculum Methods
EDUG 640 Individual Professional Development (P-12) for Teacher and Instructional Leadership
EDUG 641 Special Topics in Professional Development (P-12) for Teacher and Instructional Leadership

Rank I Post-Masters Program with a Teacher Leadership Endorsement

Bellarmine University’s Rank I Post-Masters Program option with a Teacher Leadership Endorsement (Grades P-12) is designed to develop teacher leaders who will be challenged to reflect continuously upon: leadership skills and their development; coaching and mentoring; data analysis of assessment results to impact instruction; strategies for closing the achievement gap through instructional best practices; the need to address equity and diversity in schools; and collaborative efforts to include colleagues, parents, and the community in comprehensive efforts for school improvement.

All students seeking an endorsement in Teacher Leadership must successfully complete 18 credit hours of designated coursework including a Capstone Project selected from the following options: Action Research Project, National Board Certification Project or Master’s Thesis. Acceptance into this endorsement program requires that candidates actively hold a teaching position (with valid teaching certificate) and have a recommendation from their current school principal or designee. Recommendation forms are available with the information packet.

Teacher Leadership Endorsement: 18 hours

EDUG 644 Teacher Leadership for Equity in Schools and Community
EDUG 670 School Improvement Through Assessment, Evaluation and Data Analysis
EDUG 671 Teacher Leadership to Improve Student Achievement
EDUG 672 Dynamic Teacher Leadership
EDUG 673 Teacher Leadership for Communities of Practice

Capstone experience in Teacher Leadership requires one of the following:

EDUG 697 Applying Research to Practice
EDUG 699 Master’s Thesis in Education

EDUG 601 Research Methodology for School Leaders
EDUG 636 Advanced Curriculum Methods
EDUG 640 Individual Professional Development (P-12) for Teacher and Instructional Leadership
EDUG 641 Special Topics in Professional Development (P-12) for Teacher and Instructional Leadership
LI TR 645 Teacher Leadership Practices in Academic Literacy

Rank I Post-Masters Program with a Learning and Behavior Disorders Certification

Bellarmine University’s Rank I Post-Masters Program option for a Learning and Behavior Disorders Certification (Grades P-12) is designed for the classroom teacher with certification in Elementary, Middle School or Secondary general classroom areas. This is not a program designed for someone currently certified in Special Education. Candidates seeking an additional certification in P-12 Learning and Behavior Disorders (LBD) explore special education foundations, curriculum and instruction, assessment, and current issues as preparation to work successfully with students with disabilities.

In addition to completing required coursework, benchmark assessments, and passing required PRAXIS II exams in learning and behavior disorders, candidates must complete successfully a minimum of 90 clock hours of field experiences (EDUG 612) in diverse settings with students with exceptionalities prior to the start of the culminating project/professional semester. EDUG 613, the culminating project/professional experience, requires the candidate to engage in a professional semester experience where he/she is actively planning instruction, teaching, and assessing students with disabilities. Candidates in the Rank I program develop the requisite knowledge and skills for teaching students with learning disabilities and behavior disorders as determined by the Council for Exceptional Children Standards for initial certification.

Learning and Behavior Disorders Courses:
21-24 credit hours for the individual with current certification in Elementary Grades.

SPED 510 Nature and Needs of Children with LBD
SPED 515 Speech and Language Development and Culture
SPED 520 Special Education Transition: Early Childhood through Early Adulthood
SPED 525 Procedures for Children with LBD
SPED 526 Methods and Procedures for Children with LBD II
SPED 540 Educational Measurement
EDUG 612 Advanced Field Placement
EDUG 613 Advanced Professional Placement

27-30 credit hours for the individual with current certification in Middle School or Secondary Education will include all courses required for the Elementary candidate (with the exception of SPED 520) and:

LI TR 535 Teaching of Reading
MATH 523 Foundations of Math
SPED 530 Teaming and Collaboration

Additional hours necessary for full Rank I status will be determined with the faculty advisor given the candidate’s academic background and professional goals.

Rank I Post-Masters Program in Curriculum and Instruction

The Curriculum and Instruction Rank I/Non-Degree Post Masters Program is an individualized program of study developed between the Rank I/Non-Degree seeking student and the faculty advisor. This program includes coursework based on a Professional Growth Plan that is designed to enhance the depth of knowledge and skills of the candidate, within a selection of advanced education courses offered through the School of Education and/or approved professional study. For example, a candidate may wish to increase his/her knowledge of strategies for struggling readers as well as ways to collaborate with special educators to address the needs of learners with disabilities. This program is designed to further develop the candidate’s master’s level study and requires that a minimum of 15 graduate credit hours be taken at Bellarmine University.

Procedure for Admission

Complete and submit the application.
Submit a non-refundable application fee of $40 (unless a Bellarmine alumna/e). Checks should be made payable to Bellarmine University.
Valid Professional Teaching Certificate.
A written descriptive professional development plan based on self-identified goals and objectives (details on the right).
Two completed recommendation forms: one from the current school principal or his/her designee; and one from an individual who has supervised the applicant in some capacity attesting to the applicants potential as an advanced graduate student, such as teaching colleague, department chair, current/past employers, or former professors. (Required form included, copy as needed.)
Optional: Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE), www.ets.org/gre, score must be mailed directly to the Office of Graduate Admission.
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”.
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 on the internet-based TOEFL (reading, listening, writing, and 26 on speaking). 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.
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).
Once completed, mail the application to:
Bellarmine University
Office of Graduate Admission
2001 Newburg Road
Louisville, KY 40205

Educational Autobiography/Professional Development Plan

Using standard margins, double spacing, and 12-point font, complete an educational autobiography and professional development plan. Include your own educational background and experiences from pre-school to graduate work; work experiences; a discussion of your strengths and weaknesses; factors leading to your decision to pursue graduate level studies; your academic, intellectual, and professional objectives relative to being a teacher leader; and your commitment to your professional development at Bellarmine University. This document is an important part of the application review process. You should take great care to produce a thoughtfully planned and well written statement. Your work should be limited to 1000 words. Your completed work should be labeled Attachment C and include your name.

International Applicants

Please compete 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 Rank I program is: $32,426. This amount includes tuition and fees associated with six credit hours per semester and an average cost for living expenses, books, supplies, health insurance, transportation and personal expenses.

Program Cost

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