School of Education

1. School of Education Orientation: Part 1 Summer, 2008

2. Accreditation • In addition to LU accreditation by SACS, Liberty’s SOE is accredited by the ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International) and NCATE (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education) • NCATE is highly respected in the education community and may be necessary (or preferred) for licensure in some states

3. Conceptual Framework

4. Mission • To develop competent professionals with a Biblical world view for Christian, public, and private schools

5. Knows KNOWS Christian values, moral dimensions, and ethical implications synthesized with academic knowledge

6. Implements IMPLEMENTS skills as a gift from God, because teaching/leadership is a calling from God.

7. Believes BELIEVES and practices personal integrity, social responsibility, sensitivity to the needs of others, and the betterment of humanity

8. Overview of Programs • Master’s Degrees: • Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) • Master of Education (MEd) • Educational Specialist (EdS) • Doctoral Degree(EdD)

9. Advising Guide

10. What is the Advising Guide? • A resource for DLP staff and students • Located on the Graduate Education website: • www.liberty.edu/advisingguide • Links to the Advising Guide are also located on Luonline.com on each Education degree page

11. Information on the Advising Guide • Faculty contact information • Explanation of Gates and requirements for each Gate • Licensure information • Student teaching information • Course descriptions • Course scheduling for upcoming terms • Program specific information, including: • Degree Completion Plans (2008 coming soon) • Course Sequencing Guides • Field Experience summaries • Course Competency charts

12. Transfer Credit • Candidates may transfer in up to 6 credit hours from an unconferred graduate degree • Candidates may not transfer intensives or student teaching/practicum

13. Gates

14. What Are Gates? • There are 4 “Gates” through which a student must pass in order to complete one of the EDUC programs • Each gate represents a checkpoint in the program and is designed to ensure that the student is ready to move on to the next stage

15. Gate 1-Admissions • Gate 1 is simply Admissions into the EDUC program of choice • Once the student is fully accepted into the program, he/she has passed Gate 1

16. Gate 2-Candidacy • The application for Gate 2 is submitted by the student after he/she has completed 9-15 credit hours • Gate 2 is a checkpoint to determine if the student meets the requirements for the specific program or specialization (course competencies, etc.)

17. Gate 2 Requirements • Gate 2 Application • DCP w/courses completed (including any transfer credits) • Course Competency Chart (Elementary and Secondary Education ONLY)

18. Gate 3 Capstone • Gate 3 application for capstone experience in final semester • MAT: Student teaching (590/591) • MEd: Internship (699) • MEd-T&L: Project or practicum (618/698) • EdS: Advanced research & writing (718) • EdD: Dissertation (990)

19. Gate 4-Program Completion • Completion of program • If the student has met licensure requirements, will be eligible for endorsement by the School of Education

20. Teaching & Learning Master of Education

21. Overview of Teaching & Learning • NON-licensure program • 36 credit hours • No required intensives; the program can be done completely online • Capstone course: Choose research project OR practicum

22. T&L Specializations • General education[Leadership option] • Elementary Education • Special Education • Middle School • Other specializations in development

23. School of Education Orientation: Part II Summer, 2008

24. Licensure WARNING! • Licensure is strongly recommended • Do NOT attempt to earn licensure through a NON-licensure program

25. Verification by Institution: • Completion of Approved Education Program • The applicant completed requirements for the • bachelor’s • master’s • six year (educational specialist) • doctorate • degree and finished an approved education program in the licensure area(s) of (e.g. elementary education, music, secondary mathematics, etc.)

26. Verification by Institution: • Completion of Approved Education Program • The applicant completed requirements for the • bachelor’s • master’s • six year (educational specialist) • doctorate • degree and finished an approved education program in the licensure area(s) of (e.g. elementary education, music, secondary mathematics, etc.)

27. Licensure Options • Initial licensure: MAT • Elementary, Secondary, or *Special education • Required: Content competencies, intensives, student teaching, licensure tests • Advanced licensure: MEd or EdS/EdD • Administration, School counseling, or Program specialist (early, gifted, math, or reading) • Required: Initial licensure, teaching experience, internship, licensure tests

28. Licensure Requirements • Blended program: online + intensives • Candidates must complete at least 3 intensives (9 credit hours) on campus • Field experience (practicum hours) and student teaching or internship • Licensure tests • Leads to licensure in the state of Virginia (other states through reciprocity) • Additional requirements for advanced licensure (initial license/experience)

29. Master of Arts in Teaching Initial Licensure

30. Specializations • Specialization: endorsement area for licensure upon completion of the program • Specializations available: • Elementary Education • Secondary Education (must choose content area) • Special Education

31. Content Competencies • Elementary and Secondary education: must document content competencies • Content competencies: specific for specialization/teaching endorsement • Competencies: courses taken in undergraduate program; additional courses may be required • Submit content competency chart to candidacy@liberty.edu • Other competencies added through Praxis II

32. Example of Content Competencies • Secondary Education—Math

33. Master of Education Advanced Licensure

34. Overview of MEd • 36 credit hour program (48 credit hour for School Counseling) • Specializations: • Licensure/Blended: • Administration • School Counseling • Program Specialist • Non-licensure/Online • Teaching and Learning

35. Advanced Licensure • Administration/Supervision must hold initial licensure and *teaching experience • Program Specialists must hold initial licensure • Gifted, Early Childhood (add-ons) • Reading, Math must have *teaching experience * Experience during M.Ed. Program accepted • School Counseling should have two years of teaching or counseling experience • Experience may be earned as assistant counselor • Experience not required in all states

36. GATE 3: Student Teaching/Internship • Application due prior semester: 2/15 or 9/15 - Requirements include licensure test scores • Placement options • Your own classroom/school (must beaccredited school; your endorsement area) • Lynchburg area – do NOT contact schools(All local requests by LU Licensure Office) • Outside Lynchburg area – candidates contact schools and submit information to gate3@liberty.edu

37. MAT Field Experience/Student Teaching • MAT candidates must complete Field Experience throughout the program • Candidates track experience hours on field experience log • Hours required in a variety of settings (see Field Summary on Advising Guide) • 300 hours required to complete MAT (includes practicum and student teaching), with a minimum of 150 hours of directed student teaching

38. Sample Field Summary—MAT Secondary

39. MEd Field Experience/Student Teaching • Administration: 320 cumulative hours of structured internship • Program Specialist: 200 hours • School Counseling: 300 hours, including • 100 hours in K-6, 100 hours in 7-12 • Field experience will be completed throughout the program and tracked on Field Summary

40. MAT: Initial Licensure Tests • Praxis I or VCLA (or SAT-ACT score waiver) • Praxis II • Required for GATE 3 application • Completed for a specific content area • VCLA (Virginia Communications and Literary Assessment) • May be taken online • Required prior to receiving Virginia licensure • VRA (Virginia Reading Assessment) • Must be taken in Virginia • Elementary or Special Education only • Required prior to receiving Virginia licensure

41. Advanced Licensure Tests • Administration & Supervision • SLLA* or Praxis II • Program Specialist • Reading: VRA* or Praxis II • Math: Praxis II* • Add-ons: No test (ECE or Gifted) • School Counseling • Praxis II *Virginia - or test for your state

42. Education Specialist and Doctor of Education Advanced Licensure Options

43. EdS/EdD Licensure Options Required: • Additional courses - courses from master’s may apply • Initial licensure, teaching experience, internship, licensure tests

44. What is LiveText? • LiveText is required for candidates in licensure programs • LiveText is used to submit benchmark assignments and create portfolios • LiveText is purchased by each candidate only ONE TIME (from MBS or www.livetext.com )

45. Advantages of LiveText • Allows students to create portfolios, notes, and journals that can be viewed by others, including professors and prospective employers • Provides a forum for students to receive instant feedback from professors • Includes information on standards, outcomes and competencies • For an additional fee, can access streaming educational videos, images, and other resources ($20 extra)

46. School of Education Orientation: Part III Summer, 2008

47. Educational Specialist

48. Licensure? • The EdS and EdD were not designed for licensure • To pursue licensure, the EdS candidate must complete additional requirements - noted on DCP and online www.liberty.edu/advisingguide

49. Overview of EdS • 30 credit hour program • Post-Master’s degree • Online only • No intensives; unless planning to complete licensure or EdD with Liberty, • 2 cognate areas available: • Educational Leadership • Teaching and Learning

50. Doctorate of Education