The mission of the Department of Education is to provide effective and affective educational leaders for global learning communities.
Our students, both undergraduate and graduate, are prepared to be:
All Marymount University teacher education programs are approved by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Virginia State Department of Education. Program requirements are subject to revision based on changes in the Commonwealth of Virginia licensure requirements. More than 30 other states share reciprocity with Virginia.
Degree-seeking undergraduate students who wish to earn Virginia licensure at the PK-3 level follow a prescribed program of studies, which fulfills the requirements of their major discipline and leads to an endorsement in Early Childhood Education.
Degree-seeking undergraduate students who wish to earn Virginia licensure at the secondary level in the following content areas—Biology, Computer Science, English, History and Social Science, and Mathematics—follow a prescribed program of studies, which both fulfills the requirements of their major discipline and leads to secondary teaching licensure.
The program in Art Education leads to K-12 licensure.
The program of studies for each content area is described in the major discipline section of this catalog.
In October 1998, the U.S. Congress enacted amendments to the Higher Education Act (HEA). As amended, Title II of the HEA addressed the issue of the quality of teacher preparation by including new accountability measures including reporting requirements for institutions and states on teacher preparation and licensing. As required by the Act, the results of those who completed the Marymount University Education program during the 2002-2003 academic year (graduated in December 2002, spring 2003, and summer 2003) are listed here.
To ensure proper advising and timely completion of undergraduate licensure programs—PK-3; Art (K-12); or secondary school programs in Biology, Computer Science, English, Mathematics, or History/Social Science—all interested students should:
No more than 9 Education credits may be taken prior to acceptance into the teacher licensure program.
Transfer students must have completed ED 245E or ED 245S before applying to the program.
Students seeking teaching licensure reserve one semester for the student-teaching experience. Student teaching is the culmination of the Marymount teacher-education program and reflects the degree to which a student will be effective as a classroom teacher. Students register for student teaching through Marymount University irrespective of the geographic location of the placement site.
Student-teachers are supervised by a faculty member in the School of Education and Human Services and by an on-site cooperating teacher. Students should consult the Marymount University Student-Teaching Handbook for full information on student teaching.
Placement is available in public schools in Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, and Prince Williams counties; in Alexandria, Falls Church, and the District of Columbia; the Diocese of Arlington; the Archdiocese of Washington; and in accredited private schools. Placement is made in conjunction with the local school districts and no particular placement can be guaranteed. Transportation to and from the cooperating school is the responsibility of the student. If student teaching out of the local area is necessary, the student must meet the written requirements available from the coordinator of Clinical Experiences.
Placement for student teaching is dependent upon the School's and faculty's judgement regarding the student's performance in both coursework and field placement.
Applications for student teaching must be received by the Office of Clinical Experiences by September 1 for spring student teaching and by January 15 for fall student teaching. Information and directions for completion are available in the School of Education and Human Services and can also be found on the Department of Education Web page.
The practice of teaching is regulated by state laws. Questions concerning licensure in a specific state should be directed to that state's Board of Education. Students may be required to submit a national criminal background check before being placed as a student-teacher. The cost of the investigation (approximately $50) may be borne by the student.
Preschool—Third Grade Licensure (PK-3)
The student-teaching experience requires a full-time commitment during the 14 weeks of the semester.
Secondary and Art Education Licensure
Professional Studies Requirements
In addition to major course requirements, students must complete the following professional courses for Virginia licensure:
A minimum grade of C is required in ED 245E and ED 245S. A minimum grade of C- is required in the rest of these courses.
Learning Disabilities Licensure (K-12)
This program is pending state approval and will not be available for completion until at least May 2006. Students pursuing a license to teach students with learning disabilities will major in Psychology with an emphasis in Learning Disabilities. In addition to course requirements for a Psychology degree, students must complete the following professional courses for Virginia licensure: ED 245E, ED 205, ED 219, ED 300, ED 312, ED 327S, PSY 310, PSY 333, ED 341, and ED 360D
A minimum grade of C is required in ED 245E. A minimum grade of C- is required in the remainder of the courses.
Add-on endorsements are available in Journalism, Speech Communication, and Computer Science.
Additional endorsement in English-as-a-Second Language is available for English majors.