Faculty:
Mission Statement
The faculty of the School of Education and Human Services, in concert with our candidates, school partners, alumni, and the community, seek to prepare highly competent professional, and socially committed educators and counselors who value the Jesuit traditions of cura personalis, social justice, and leadership through service. The mission of the unit is to prepare educators who possess content, pedagogical, and professional knowledge; use their gifts in the service of others; and demonstrate professionalism/leadership in their field.
Conceptual Framework
The educational experience of each candidate in the School of Education and Human Services is infused with knowledge, service, and professionalism/leadership. These elements are situated within the overarching Jesuit tradition of cura personalis, care for the individual, reminding candidates that individuals are responsible for developing personal talents they have as well as seeking a healthy physical, emotional, and social lifestyle. Cura personalis also extends beyond the person to service to others in the pursuit of social justice. Canisius College prepares students to assume leadership roles in their communities, in their church, and in the larger society. Graduates form a closely connected family, recognized by the work that they do and the lives of service that they lead.
Degrees
Master of Science (M.S.)
Master of Science in Education (M.S. in Ed.)
The School of Education and Human Services offers graduate level programs leading to the master of science (M.S.) or the master of science in education (M.S. in Ed.) degrees in the following programs:
- Adolescence Education (Grades 7-12)
- Childhood Education (Grades 1-6)
- College Student Personnel Administration
- Counseling & Human Services (School and Agency)
- Educational Administration and Supervision (Pre K-Grade 12)
- Educators of Deaf/Hard of Hearing Students (All Grades)
- General Education
- Health and Human Performance
- Literacy Education (Birth-Gr.6, and Grades 5-12)
- Middle Childhood (Grades 5-9-Extension Only)
- Physical Education (Pre K- Grade 12)
- Special Education (Childhood Grades 1-6)
- Sport Administration
Men and women of character, ability and achievement are welcome in the graduate education programs at Canisius College. Their acceptability is judged by the department and is based on achievement, aptitude, and character alone. Applicants for admission to graduate work in education may be accepted as matriculants (master’s degree candidates) in a particular program, or as non-matriculants (except in unusual cases, non-matriculants may take no more than 9 credit hours before matriculation is required).
Admission Procedures
All applicants for admission to a master’s degree program must submit:
- Two copies of the official undergraduate transcripts indicating the receipt of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher learning;
- Acceptable GRE score (GMAT, MAT when required by specific program);
- Two personal letters of reference;
- Graduate application.
In designated courses throughout the program of study, candidates will complete specific assignments which reflect the conceptual framework of the School of Education and Human Services and the standards established by specialized professional associations and, for teacher candidates, the principles of the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium. These assignments, which include both content and reflection components, must be assembled into a portfolio which will be evaluated at specific transition points throughout the program and must be successfully completed prior to graduation.
Summary Assessment System
The faculty of the School of Education and Human Services have adopted a unit-wide assessment system which requires the evaluation of candidates at five transition points: 1) entrance to the program; 2) prior to Field Experience I; 3) prior to Field Experience II; 4) after Field Experience II; 5) prior to program graduation. Program directors can provide program-specific information describing the requirements which must be met at each of these transition points.
Teacher certification
Under the new regulations, provisional and permanent certification classifications have been eliminated, except for those candidates who received provisional certification by February 1, 2004. These candidates will come under the current or old regulations and will have five years to complete a master’s degree.
For those completing programs for their first certification after February 2, 2004, the new regulations will be in effect. Under the new requirements, candidates will be issued initial certification valid for three years. By the end of this period, candidates must complete a master’s degree in order to obtain professional certification. This master’s degree must either lead to an additional certification or extension or include at least twelve credit hours which combines pedagogy with an academic discipline. Unlike permanent certification, the professional certificate will be a five-year renewable certificate. During each five year period, the holder of a professional certificate will be required to complete 175 hours of professional development activities in order to renew the professional certificate.
All students who complete a certification program apply for certification through Canisius College. The College will endorse your certification (s) and forward your application to the State Education Department. Candidates who complete registered, approved programs do not apply through B.O.C.E.S.
Canadian (Ontario) students apply for certification (temporary letter of standing) directly to the Ontario College of Teachers. The College of Teachers requires each candidate who has studied outside the Province of Ontario to obtain the endorsement of the sponsoring N.Y. institution. The Canisius College certification officer will provide a letter to O.C.T. for each student who has completed all certification requirements. Dual citizens (U.S. and Canada) are required to first obtain N.Y. certification before receiving Ontario certification. Also, candidates applying for N.Y. certification must possess either a 4-year bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree to obtain N.Y. certification. Holders of a 3-year bachelor’s degree must complete the entire Master’s program before N.Y. will issue teacher certification.
Beginning January 1, 2006, all Canadian (Ontario) students will be required to actually obtain N.Y. certification before O.C.T. will issue a teaching credential. This policy is consistent with Ontario’s ‘long standing’ policy that if a person leaves the province to study to become a teacher, that person must complete and obtain certification in the jurisdiction in which he/she studied. O.C.T. will no longer require a letter from the institution, only a valid N.Y. state teaching credential will be accepted. Therefore, beginning in 2006, Ontario students will follow the same procedure as U.S. students in applying for certification, including finger print clearance.
Final Note: The New York State Education department has announced plans to move to an on-line application form for U.S. and Canadian students. When details of this are known, we will communicate the procedure to all students.
Transfer credits
Not more than six credits of graduate coursework will be accepted in transfer from other institutions. The grades must have been at least “B” and must have been earned within the five-year time limit for completion of degree requirements. All transfer credits must coordinate with the candidate’s program of study at Canisius College, as approved by the program director. Any exceptions to the above may only be made with the approval of both the program director and the associate dean.
Credit by examination
Individuals who are applying for admission or who are presently in attendance may obtain credit for previously completed examinations sponsored by the College Level Examination (CLEP) of the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) or by the New York State College Proficiency Examination Program (CPE). The minimum acceptable grades for these exams are “Pass” for exams graded Pass/Fail and “C” for exams with letter grades. On exams graded on a standard score scale of 20 to 80, the passing score varies from 40 to 50 depending on the subject area. Candidates must consult with the appropriate dean for permission to use any credit by examination toward their graduate degree or certification requirements.
Probation and disqualification
Receipt of a grade of “D” will result in probationary status. A second grade of “D” will automatically disqualify a candidate from the master’s degree program. A candidate whose grade point average drops below a 3.0 will be placed on probation and will be dismissed from the master’s degree program if their overall grade point average is below a 3.0 in two consecutive terms.
State examinations
Applicants for initial certification must pass the Liberal Arts and Sciences test (LAST), the Assessment of Teaching Skills-Written (ATS-W) and the appropriate Content Specialty Test(s) (CST). For professional certification, a candidate must complete a master’s degree within three years and teach successfully for three years. The professional certificate is a five-year renewable certificate requiring completion of 175 hours of professional development every five years.
Time limitation
A candidate must complete all master’s degree requirements within five years. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by the director and chair of the appropriate program as well as the associate dean.
Instruction in child abuse; prevention of school violence; fingerprinting
New York State requires that all persons applying for an initial or professional certificate or license in the areas of administrative or supervisory service, classroom teaching service, and school service complete two clock hours of coursework or training on the identification and reporting of suspected child abuse or maltreatment. In addition, all new candidates for certification must attend a mandatory two-hour course on the prevention of school violence and must also submit fingerprints for law enforcement clearance.