Mar 28, 2024  
2015-2016 Course Catalog 
    
2015-2016 Course Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Early Childhood Education/Special Education, M.A.


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Also see

Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis, M.S.  
Education, M.A.  
Graduate Teacher Licensure in Early Childhood Education  
Graduate Teacher Licensure in Education  
Graduate Teacher Licensure in Special Education K-12  
Special Education Cross-Endorsement (Graduate)  
Special Education, M.A.  


Two Concentrations:

  • Nursery-Grade 3
  • Autism Spectrum Disorders

Program Outcomes

Students will:

  • Be critical thinkers and effective problem solvers who are concerned with the social, emotional, and intellectual issues of young children in the contemporary educational setting
  • Apply advanced pedagogy in child development, curriculum, instruction, and assessment to engage young students in reaching their potential as individuals and as learners
  • Develop the capacity to influence and advance positive change for young children and the profession of early childhood education in a complex global society
  • Encourage development of collaborative relationships among all adults and agencies responsible for the appropriate emotional, social and cognitive development of young children

Acceptance Requirements

  1. Graduate admission application and nonrefundable admission fee
  2. A conferred bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
  3. A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.5; cumulative GPA of 2.67 for teacher licensure
  4. Two sealed official transcripts of all undergraduate work and any prior graduate work
  5. Two letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to the candidate’s suitability as a prospective teacher or to work with children and families, accompanied by the School of Graduate and Professional Studies cover form. Note: Recommendations must be obtained from individuals who are not family members, personal friends, or members of the School of Education at the University of Saint Joseph.
  6. Immunization record using the USJ Health Service form available on the University website
  7. A planned program of study developed by the candidate and the faculty advisor, approved by the chair of the Department of Education

Continuation Requirements

Completion of the first six graduate credits with a grade of B or better is required for continuation in a program in the School of Education. Only courses with a B or better at any point in the program will be accepted as graduate work. After the first six credits, a course with less than a B may be repeated only one time.

There are additional requirements for the acceptance into a Graduate Teacher Licensure  program.

Exit Requirements

Eligible candidates for the master of arts degree take a comprehensive exam in February or July. The application for the comprehensive exam is available from the School of Education and the School of Graduate and Professional Studies. It is the candidate’s responsibility to obtain his/her faculty advisor’s signature and to submit the application to the office manager of the School of Education by the due date.

Degree Requirements


Nursery-Grade 3 with Teacher Licensure (48 credits)


Autism Spectrum Disorders (42 credits)


Other Opportunities In Education


Cross-Endorsement


Licensed teachers who wish to add an additional area of endorsement to their teaching credentials have several options. Only the Connecticut State Department of Education can determine required coursework. To pursue cross-endorsement, please contact the Connecticut Department of Education, Bureau of Educator Preparation and Licensure, to obtain a list of required courses for the desired cross-endorsement.

Laboratory Schools


The School of Education benefits from two laboratory schools. The Gengras Center, an on campus school for students with significant disabilities, and the School for Young Children, an early childhood school nearby, offer opportunities for on-site observations, field work, practicum, internships and course-related applications.

Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society


Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education has been active at USJ since 2009. The society has a long-standing commitment to “recognizing excellence and fostering mutual cooperative, support, and professional growth for educational professionals.” Letters of invitation are sent in February to students eligible for membership informing them of a March orientation meeting and an initiation ceremony in the spring.

Partnerships


The School of Education has partnerships with several school districts and agencies, which provide candidates the opportunity to interact with K-12 students under faculty supervision. Longstanding partnerships include: Bloomfield School District, Connecticut Department of Children and Family Services, and West Hartford Schools. Candidates are provided authentic opportunities to assess, teach and collaborate with others.

Internships


Literacy Internship

This internship is for licensed teachers. Selected interns, with a minimum GPA of 3.25, receive 15-30 credits of coursework plus a stipend for working in a school district as a reading tutor for up to two years. The program places an emphasis on developing candidates’ reading intervention skills. This program is directed by the teacher licensure officer. Also see Education - Literacy Internship, M.A.  for details.

Internship in Pre K-12 Schools


The University of Saint Joseph provides opportunities for students completing graduate studies or licensure courses to serve as interns in public school classrooms during the school year. The participating schools provide 18 graduate credits that the intern may apply to tuition costs at the University of Saint Joseph. In addition, a small stipend is provided for books and materials each semester. Contact the director of student teaching and clinical experiences for more information.

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