2010-2011 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
Graduate
Dean: Collins; Associate Dean: King
Leadership and Learning: Chair: Shinsky; Alston, Armstrong, Bultsma, Busman, Chlebo, Clay, Cleveland, Cooper, Diarrassouba, Geisel, Gu, Hakim, Helzer, Hill Gregels, Hipp, Judge, Kalee, Kaletka, Kamps, LaBeau, Mack, Margulus, McCrea, Melin, Oldt, ONeill, Page, Patterson, Reinken, Remanap, Schiller, Schultz, Shelton, Smith, Sowa-Wojciakowski, Spencer, Starkweather, Stearns, Stolle, Storey.
Special Education, Foundations and Technology: Chair: P. Lancaster, Abramson, D. Bair, M. Bair, Barneveld, Carson, Chattulani, Clark, Cross, Fisher, Grant, Hanks, Harris, Helder, Konecki, Koning, S. Lancaster, Lubic, Mader, Miller, Schelling, Stockton, Subramony, Topper, Westerhof-Shultz, O. Williams, S. Williams, Wilson, Worst.
Administrative Services: Director: Fournier, Eikenberry
Community Outreach: Director: Sowa-Wojciakowski, Cliff, Pelon, Pyne.
Deans Office: Dean: Collins; Associate Dean: King; Bowen, Gilfillan-Bierlan.
Educational Specialist Program Advisor: Dunn.
Student Information and Services Center: Director: Owens. Dausman, Jasinski, Kruithoff, Reese, Vrees.
Teacher Education: Director: McCrea.
Mission - Teaching, leading, and learning in a democratic society.
Philosophy - Believing that schools function as social and political entities as well as for the growth of individuals, the College of Education prepares teachers and leaders a) to enhance the academic and personal potential of their students, and b) to evaluate the social and ethical implications of educational policies and practices.
Values - The College of Education values expertise to guide our practice, equity to guide our interactions, liberal education to guide our perspectives, and social responsibility to guide our commitment to democratic education. We value these ideals in our preparation of candidates, our development of faculty, and our relationships with the larger community we serve.
Graduate Studies in Education
The College of Education offers the Master of Education degree (M.Ed.), Michigan Provisional Certification, Michigan Professional Certification, School Counseling license and endorsement, programs leading to certificate renewals, certificate endorsements, special education approvals, and professional development.
The major function for the graduate program is to create opportunities for professional renewal and development. The graduate program attempts to increase knowledge and understanding of the learning process and the repertoire of teaching methods and skills. The graduate program offers the M.Ed. degree in seven major areas: General Education, Higher Education, Instruction and Curriculum, Educational Leadership, Literacy Studies, School Counseling, and Special Education.
Admission to Graduate Study
Graduate admission requires:
- All students seeking degree, endorsement, approval, license or certificate change at the graduate level must be formally admitted to graduate study.
- A maximum of six graduate credits earned prior to graduate admission may apply to degree requirements.
In addition to the requirements listed in the admissions section of the catalog, applicants must have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher calculated on the last 60 credits of undergraduate work taken from a regionally accredited college or university. Applicants must submit an application, and three professional or academic recommendations on designated forms. Students are encouraged to identify their desired emphasis area with application submission.
Applicants with less than a 3.0 GPA calculated on the last 60 credits of undergraduate work may meet alternate criteria for admission, such as a prior masters degree from a regionally accredited institution, acceptable test scores on the GRE General Test, maintain a 3.0 GPA within the first six credit hours of graduate coursework, or a final appeal to the department chair with faculty support.
Academic Policies. All students seeking a degree, certification, additional endorsement, special education approval, school counseling license or a change in certification status must establish a planned program of professional study with a graduate advisor that specifies program objectives, competencies, and course requirements. Degree candidates must complete the degree within eight years from the first course used for the masters program. A maximum of nine credits may be transferred toward the degree from other institutions. A maximum of six credits earned under non-degree status may be applied to the degree. Applicants for degree, endorsement, or approval must maintain a 3.0 GPA. Endorsement, approval, and professional certification programs require that at least half the credits be earned at Grand Valley. Individuals who have been convicted of or pled no context to a felony or certain misdemeanors may be denied admission, field placement, or final certification. Students should familiarize themselves with all policies contained in the university catalog and in College of Education Policies and Procedures Manual, available in the Student Information Services Center.
Program Location
Eberhard Center, Pew Campus in downtown Grand Rapids, MI.
Web Site: www.gvsu.edu/coe
Requirements for a Certificate
Certification, Endorsement, Approval, and Emphasis Programs. Programs are also available in the following areas:
- Michigan Provisional Certification
- Michigan Professional Certification
- Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle Level, and Secondary Endorsement
- Reading Endorsement: Elementary K-8, Secondary 6-12, Reading Specialist K-12
- English as a Second Language: Elementary K-8, Secondary 6-12, and K-12
- Library Media Endorsement: K-12
- Special Education Endorsement K-12: Learning Disabilities, Emotional Impairment, and Cognitive Impairment
- School Counseling: License and endorsement
- Subject area majors and minors, usually at the undergraduate level
- Special Education Approval: Directors and Supervisors
Internships
Students who graduate from the Grand Valley State University undergraduate special education program may apply for a full-year paid teaching internship in special education. In addition to completing the required coursework, students must pass the Michigan Subject Area Test, and maintain a 3.0 GPA to receive the K-12 endorsement in learning disabilities. Interns may apply the credit hours generated from this internship to the learning disabilities masters degree program.
Because it is necessary to limit the numbers of students in this program and because paid teaching internship positions must be arranged in the public schools, students must be nominated by the Grand Valley faculty in order to be accepted as intern teachers. Students must pay tuition and fees for this.
Program Requirements
The following program is available: