Elementary Education, PK-6 (M.Ed.)
Teaching Licensure Additional Endorsement
Secondary Education, 6-12 (M.Ed.)
English as a Second Language, K-12 (M.Ed.)
Learning Disabilities, K-12 (M.Ed.)
School Counseling (M.A.)
Catholic School Leadership (M.Ed.)
Catholic School Leadership (Graduate Certificate)
Professional Studies (M.Ed.)
Alternative Teacher Licensure (Graduate Certificate)
The mission of the Department of Education is to provide effective and affective educational leaders for global learning communities.
Marymount students, both undergraduate and graduate,
Through a variety of programs, Marymount undergraduate students may earn Virginia licensure at elementary, secondary, and K-12 levels. Undergraduates major in an appropriate liberal arts or science and complete their teacher licensure program requirements as outlined in the degree plan. All programs are designed to prepare graduates to enter the job market as beginning professionals in their respective disciplines. See available teaching licensure disciplines.
Graduate programs leading to a Master of Education and initial licensure are: Elementary Education (grades PK-6); Secondary Education (grades 6-12 in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth and Space Science, English, History and Social Science, Mathematics, and Physics); English as a Second Language (grades K-12); and Learning Disabilities (grades K-12). A licensure program leading to a Master of Arts in School Counseling (elementary, middle, or secondary) is also available through the Department of Counseling. Information about the School Counseling program can be found on page 108.
The School also offers two nonlicensure programs at the graduate level: a Master of Education in Catholic School Leadership and a Master of Education in Professional Studies.
See detailed information about all graduate Education programs.
All Marymount University teacher education programs are approved by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Virginia Department of Education. Program requirements are subject to revision based on changes in the Commonwealth of Virginia licensure requirements. More than 30 states share reciprocity with Virginia.
Legal Limitations of Practice: 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.
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. Complete information about application procedures for student teaching.
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 2004-05 academic year (graduated in December 2004, spring 2005, and summer 2005) are listed on page 118.
Admission Requirements: In addition to the Universitywide admission requirements, applicants to the undergraduate teaching licensure programs must fulfill the following to be considered for acceptance into the teacher education program:
Praxis I Passing Scores: Mathematics 178, Reading 178, Writing 176, or a composite score of 532.
Residency Requirement: Transfer students must be enrolled in ED 245E or ED 245S before applying to the program.
The program of studies for each teaching licensure program is described in the major discipline section of this catalog. Students in the following programs will fulfill the curriculum requirements of the respective discipline — earning a degree in that field — and complete all Professional Studies requirements needed for Virginia licensure, including field experience and student teaching:
Art with K-12 Teaching Licensure (B.A. in Art)—See Art under School of Arts and Sciences for a degree plan.
Biology with Secondary-level Teaching Licensure (B.S. in Biology)—See Biology under School of Arts and Sciences for a degree plan.
Elementary Education (PK-6) Licensure (B.A. in Liberal Studies)—See Liberal Studies under School of Arts and Sciences for a degree plan.
English with Secondary-level Teaching Licensure (B.A. in English)—See English under School of Arts and Sciences for a degree plan.
English as a Second Language with K-12 Teaching Licensure (B.A. in English)—This licensure program is pending approval by the Virginia Department of Education and will not be available for completion until at least May 2006. See English under School of Arts and Sciences for a degree plan.
History/Social Science with Secondary-level Teaching Licensure (B.A. in History)—See History under School of Arts and Sciences for a degree plan.
Learning Disabilities with K-12 Teaching Licensure (B.A. in Psychology)—See Psychology under School of Education and Human Services for a degree plan.
Mathematics with Secondary-level Teaching Licensure (B.S. in Mathematics)—See Mathematics under School of Arts and Sciences for a degree plan.
Undergraduate Add-on Endorsements
Minimum Grade Requirements: A minimum grade of C in ED 245E and ED 245S. A minimum grade of C- in all other required Professional Studies (Education) courses is needed for program completion.
Admission Requirements for Degree Programs: Formal application for admission to the teacher education programs is required. In addition to the Universitywide requirements for graduate admission, applicants to the M.Ed. program must fulfill the following to be considered for acceptance:
Praxis I Passing Scores: Mathematics 178, Reading 178, Writing 176, or a composite score of 532. (Praxis I scores are not required for acceptance to the Catholic School Leadership or Professional Studies programs.)
NOTE: All scores should reflect testing within the last five years or be subject to review by the Admission, Progression, and Graduation Committee. Applicants who have previously completed admission requirements and hold a master’s degree from an accredited institution need not take the required MAT or GRE admissions exams.
Admission Requirements for Certificate Programs: Applicants for the Alternative Teacher Licensure program must submit proof of provisional licensure.
Academic Progression Requirements: Education students must achieve satisfactory progress each semester. Failure to meet requirements for progression to any course or portion of the program will result in review by the Admission, Progression, and Graduation Committee and may result in dismissal from the program.
Program Completion Requirements: The Education programs require completion of all methods coursework and a presentation of a professional portfolio. A successful student-teaching experience as well as passing scores on all licensure examinations required by the Virginia Department of Education are also necessary for all licensure programs.
The University does not accept credit on standardized tests such as the CLEP toward coursework required for any graduate Education program.
Upon completion of all licensure requirements, students submit an Application for Initial Virginia Licensure to the School of Education and Human Services and are recommended by the faculty to the Commonwealth of Virginia for endorsement.
NOTE: Once admitted to a master’s program, a maximum of five years is allowed for completion.
This program is designed for those who have a strong liberal arts undergraduate or graduate degree, who wish to teach in the elementary setting (grades PK-6). Individuals must provide evidence of a wide range of general studies competencies.
Degree Requirements
39 credits
Many courses require field experience. See course descriptions for details.
(ED 502 and ED 503 are required as the first courses in this program since they provide the foundation for all other courses.)
Students in the English as a Second Language or Learning Disabilities programs who seek the add-on endorsement in Elementary Education must complete all PK-6 general studies requirements for licensure and the following Professional Studies courses:
Students in English as a Second Language program
Students in the Learning Disabilities program
This program is designed for persons who already have a B.A. or B.S. in any of the following content areas: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth and Space Science, English, General Science, Mathematics, Physics, or Social Studies.
In order to maintain currency in the content area, students seeking a teaching license at the secondary level (grades 6-12) must have satisfactorily completed a course in their licensure endorsement area within five years prior to applying for a Virginia teaching license through Marymount.
Degree Requirements
39 credits
Many courses require field experience. See course descriptions for details.
(ED 502 and ED 503 are required as the first courses in this program since they provide the foundation for all other courses.)
* Students in the Secondary Education program who are solely interested in licensure may apply for a Virginia teaching license after successfully completing all of these courses.
The English as a Second Language (ESL) program is designed for those who wish to teach students in grades K-12 who are learning English as a second language. Six credits of a modern foreign language and a course in human growth and development are required for licensure in addition to the graduate program requirements. This program is designed to meet initial licensure requirements in Virginia for teaching ESL in grades K-12.
Additional Endorsement Option: Available in Elementary Education for students in this program. See graduate Education admission requirements and procedures.
Degree Requirements
39 credits
Many courses require field experience. See course descriptions for details.
(ED 502 and ED 503 are required as the first courses in this program since they provide the foundation for all other courses.)
This program is designed for those who wish to teach children with learning disabilities in grades K-12. Three credit hours in human growth and development are required for licensure in addition to the graduate program requirements.
Additional Endorsement Options: An additional endorsement in Emotional Disturbance is available to students in this program. Students must complete ED 512A Strategies for Teaching Students with Emotional Disturbances and PS 515 Techniques for Behavioral Diagnosis and Intervention.
An additional endorsement in Elementary Education is also available to students in this program. See graduate Educationadmission requirements and procedures.
Degree Requirements
39 credits
Many courses require field experience. See course descriptions for details.
(ED 502 and ED 503 are required as the first courses in this program since they provide the foundation for all other courses.)
Students seeking licensure complete their studies with a student-teaching experience. Students register for student teaching through Marymount University regardless 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 the greater Washington metropolitan area, 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. While student teaching, all students assume the role of guest in the host school and must abide by the policies and regulations of the host school.
Placement for student teaching is dependent upon the School’s and faculty’s judgment 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 15 for spring student teaching and by January 30 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.
Applying for Student Teaching: To be considered for placement, a student must fulfill the following requirements:
For undergraduate PK-6 licensure programs…
For undergraduate Art Education, English as a Second Language, Learning Disabilities, and all Secondary Education licensure programs...
For graduate licensure programs (Elementary, Secondary, English as a Second Language, and Learning Disabilities)...
Offered by the Counseling Department, this program prepares students for licensure as school counselors at elementary, middle, and secondary levels. A Master of Arts degree is awarded upon completion of the required graduate credits. See Counseling for more information.
This program is designed to provide aspiring Catholic school administrators with the Catholic values and perspectives essential to fostering Catholic unity and identity within a school community. In addition to developing competencies in educational leadership, the program focuses on the Church’s history, teaching, and moral perspectives while encouraging participants’ own faith and spiritual growth. A unique feature of the program is that most of the courses are offered online.
Degree Requirements
36 credits
Candidates with previous graduate coursework may earn this certificate by completing an individualized program of study with a minimum of 15 credits.
This program is designed for those students who are not seeking a Virginia teaching license. Along with completing a core of professional courses intended to develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions basic to the field of education, students will complete an emphasis area and professional project designed to meet the individual needs, interests, and goals of the student. Students in this program may be practicing teachers, education professionals who are not working in a classroom setting, or students who intend to teach in international or private schools.
Degree Requirements
36 credits
21 credit hours from:
Teaching and Learning
Exceptional Populations
ESOL and International
*Students with an undergraduate education equivalent may waive the content of ED 502 and ED 504 and replace with additional elective hours.
An alternative initial licensure certificate program is intended for individuals teaching with a provisional license who need to complete their Professional Studies coursework. The courses are available to fulfill Virginia’s professional studies requirements in the areas of curriculum and instruction, human growth and development, foundations of education, reading and language acquisition, and additional professional requirements set for each licensure area. Individuals will not apply for their Virginia teaching license through Marymount University.
Completing the Professional Studies courses is only one step toward the teacher licensure process in Virginia. Individuals seeking a Virginia teaching license must pass all licensure examinations, provide evidence of coursework to meet specific competencies and endorsement requirements, complete one year of successful full-time teaching experience in the endorsement area in any accredited public or nonpublic school on a provisional license, and submit an application to the state. The school system that issues the provisional license for the one year of full-time teaching experience facilitates the licensing application. More information may be found on the Virginia Department of Education Web site.
Students enrolled in the alternative licensure program will only be allowed to take a maximum of 18 credit hours without approval. A formal application process is required to move from any certificate program to the Master of Education program. Students who wish to move to the M.Ed. program should contact the Office of Graduate Admissions.
Fairfax County Public Schools'Professional Development School Partnership
This partnership is a collaborative PK-6 licensure program offered in conjunction with Fairfax County Public Schools. It is available to selected M.Ed. candidates. Interns spend a full school year in Fairfax County elementary schools. Students may elect to complete initial licensure for both the PK-6 licensure program or a dual Learning Disabilities/PK-6 licensure program. All field and clinical experiences, as well as student teaching, are supervised and take place at the schools.
Arlington Public Schools' Professional Development School Partnership
This partnership is a collaborative program offered in conjunction with Arlington Public Schools (APS). It is available to selected teacher candidates on both the elementary and secondary levels. Students in the elementary program spend a full school year in APS elementary schools. Secondary teacher candidates spend a full semester in a cohort at Washington-Lee High School. All field and clinical experiences, as well as student teaching, are supervised and take place at the schools.
International Student Teaching
Undergraduate Students
Eligible Marymount undergraduates may apply to participate in Marymount’s Study Abroad program and complete student teaching in London, England. (See page 51 for more information.)
Graduate Students
Marymount University teacher candidates may apply to our International Student Teaching program. Candidates have the opportunity to student teach in a variety of English-speaking schools, including Marymount International Schools in Paris, London, and Rome. Qualified on-site and University supervisors observe and evaluate the candidates. Seven weeks of student teaching in Washington area schools is required prior to student teaching in an international setting. Tuition for the international experience remains the same. Candidates are responsible for transportation and housing expenses.
Other Partnerships
Opportunities for graduate students to work in year-long internships are also available with Falls Church City Schools and The Potomac School in McLean, Virginia. Contact an academic advisor or the Office of Graduate Admissions for further information.
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 2004-05 academic year (graduated in December 2004, spring 2005, and summer 2005) are as follows:
| Type of Assessment | # MU Students Taking Test | # MU Students Passing Test | MU Pass Rate | Statewide Pass Rate |
| BASIC SKILLS | ||||
| PPST reading | 20 | 19 | 95% | 90% |
| PPST writing | 24 | 19 | 79% | 82% |
| PPST mathematics | 22 | 20 | 91% | 85% |
| Computerized PPST reading | 69 | 63 | 91% | 89% |
| Computerized PPST writing | 64 | 50 | 78% | 79% |
| Computerized PPST mathematics | 67 | 61 | 91% | 85% |
| ACADEMIC CONTENT AREAS | ||||
| Elementary Education Content Knowledge |
67 | 67 | 100% | 100% |
| AGGREGATE | ||||
| Basic skills | 93 | 90 | 97% | 99% |
| Academic Content Areas (Mathematics, English, etc.) |
75 | 75 | 100% | 99% |
| SUMMARY | ||||
| Individual Assessments | 102 | 99 | 97% | 98% |
Scores of assessments with fewer than ten individuals are not reported as required by Title II reporting requirements.