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L.E.A.D. Program (Licensure in Education for Adults with Degrees)

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Walsh University Graduate Catalog 2012-2013

Any student who has received a Bachelor’s Degree (either B.A. or B.S.) is eligible to add teaching licensure to his/her credentials. While the individual programs vary by subject area, most post-baccalaureate students are able to complete their licensure preparation courses in four or five semesters, attending classes full-time. Individual program guides are available through the Admissions Office. Depending on the licensure area sought (Early Childhood Education, Intervention Specialist Education, Multi-Age Physical Education, Middle Childhood Education, or Adolescent to Young Adult Education), the Coordinator of the L.E.A.D. Program from the Division of Education will also provide assistance in planning each student’s particular preparatory program. Call 330-490-7177 for specific information.

Regardless of licensure program, certain commonalities apply to any student who elects to participate in the Teacher Preparation Program after completing his/her bachelor’s degree.

1. Most of the basic education courses required for licensure can be taken EITHER at the graduate or undergraduate level. The equivalencies are listed below:

	Undergraduate Course	Graduate Equivalency
	EDUC 107	None
	EDUC 206	EDF 606
	EDUC 208	EDT 601
	EDUC 264	EDF 601
	EDUC 250	EDT 650
	EDUC 351	EDT 651
	EDUC 352	EDT 652
	EDUC 353	EDT 653
	EDUC 354	EDT 654
	EDUC 455	EDT 655
	ISE 243	EDT 670

Students may elect, by individual courses, to take any class at the graduate OR undergraduate level in fulfillment of licensure program requirements.

*Admission to the Teacher Preparation Program required PRIOR to enrollment.

*Can only be taken if seeking licensure in AYA Language Arts or Social Studies.

2. In preparation for licensure, each student must complete at least 300 hours of field experience PRIOR to student teaching. These documented hours must represent a range of experiences with diverse learners in urban, suburban, and rural districts, and both public and parochial schools. Additionally, at least one of these experiences must include accommodating students with special needs. The student’s course instructors, advisor, and the Education Placement Office will assist each student in fulfilling these requirements prior to student teaching.

3. As a condition for visiting schools or working with students, Walsh University requires each licensure candidate to submit a clear BCII background check.

All students should be aware that prior criminal convictions, whether or not the conviction has been expunged, can affect his/her ability to obtain a license to teach in the State of Ohio and/or affect his/her ability to obtain employment in a pre-school program, parochial school, public school district or chartered non-public school.

It is the student’s responsibility to determine whether he or she is eligible for licensure and/or employment as a teacher in the State of Ohio. Each Walsh University education student is responsible for maintaining the high moral and ethical standards necessary to be included in field experiences, pre-student/student teaching and to become licensed to teach in the State of Ohio.

4. In addition to applying to the graduate program, each licensure candidate must also apply to the Teacher Preparation Program. The forms associated with this process are available in the Education Placement Office. This application is made once several criteria are met, including:

Requirements for LEAD Candidates

Admission into the Master’s of Arts in Education Program
MAT (396) or GRE (900 combined) in place of ITED or Praxis I tests
GPA = 3.0, overall and content (undergraduate and graduate)
4 core education courses (minimum grades of B for each course)
- EDUC 107, School and Society
- EDF 601, Psychology of Learning (in lieu of EDUC 264)
- EDF 606, Accommodating Learners with Special Needs (in lieu of EDUC 206)
- EDT 601, Computer as an Instructional Tool (in lieu of EDUC 208)
BCII & FBI checks (clear)
Developmental portfolio (minimum rating of 2)
Three Walsh University faculty recommendations (two of which must be Division of Education faculty)
Official transcripts on file
Evidence of proficiency in written English

A listing of the pre-professional requirements can be obtained in the Education Placement Office, Hannon Center Room #110.

5. The pre-student teaching experience at Walsh University is completed in the same location, and with the same cooperating teacher(s) as the planned student teaching semester. Depending on the intended licensure area, these pre-student teaching classes are to be taken one semester before student teaching:

	Licensure Area	Pre-Student Teaching Methods Course(s)
	AYA Language Arts	AYA 431
	AYA Mathematics	AYA 432
	AYA Science	AYA 433
	AYA Social Studies	AYA 434
	MCE (choose two):
	Language Arts	MCE 423
	Mathematics	MCE 424
	Science	MCE 425
	Social Studies	MCE 426
	Physical Education	EDUC 463
	Early Childhood Education	ECE 410
	Intervention Specialist Education	ISE 441

6. Upon completion of all required courses, a minimum of 300 hours of documented field experience, approval of the Student Teaching Application, and successful completion of the pre-student teaching methods course(s), the candidate completes his/her student teaching semester. Working in cooperation with the Education Placement Office, each licensure candidate is regularly observed by a university supervisor, in addition to his/her assigned cooperating teacher. Throughout the Teacher Preparation Program, and especially during the student teaching semester, the Pathwise assessment model is utilized to evaluate the student teacher’s preparation, classroom practices, and professionalism. A professional e-portfolio is developed to document achievement in each Ohio Educator Standards and is aligned with the Division of Education Candidate Proficiencies. The licensure candidate normally registers for two courses in fulfillment of the student teaching requirement: a seminar (3 credit hours) and the student teaching experience itself (3 credit hours). The specific courses are listed below:

	Intended Licensure Area	Student Teaching Semester Courses
	All AYA Subjects	EDUC 362 - Lead Student Teaching
		EDUC 468 Seminar: Student Teaching
	Middle Childhood	EDUC 362 - Lead Student Teaching
		EDUC 468 Seminar: Student Teaching
	Physical Education	EDUC 362 - Lead Student Teaching
		EDUC 468 Seminar: Student Teaching
	Early Childhood	EDUC 362 - Lead Student Teaching
		EDUC 468 Seminar: Student Teaching
	Intervention Specialist	EDUC 362 - Lead Student Teaching
		EDUC 468 Seminar: Student Teaching

7. Successful completion of the Teacher Preparation Program and student teaching includes the licensure candidate’s passing the Praxis tests in his/her concentration areas. Each candidate is required to take the Principles of Learning & Teaching (PLT) Test AND the test(s) associated with his/her specialization area(s). The Education Placement Office can provide additional Praxis registration information. Passing all tests associated with the intended licensure area is required by the Ohio Department of Education, regardless of completed course work, as a condition for state approval for initial licensure.

8. A candidate may elect to expand his/her teaching credentials by adding a reading endorsement to his/her license.

9. Upon completion of the licensure program, candidates often elect to complete their Master of Arts in Education requirements immediately. Others choose to obtain teaching positions, and then complete their remaining courses, as required by the Ohio Department of Education. Those interested in completing the Masters of Arts in Education program AND licensure courses simultaneously are required to fulfill a separate set of course requirements. See the Dean of Graduate Studies in Education for additional information about the Master of Arts in Education program.