Department of Education

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Master of Education Program Overview

The Rockhurst University Department of Education prepares educators to have a solid background in their chosen fields of study, who are knowledgeable and competent in the craft of teaching, and who bring well informed perspectives to bear on educational policies and practices.  In accordance with the Rockhurst University commitment to learning, leadership and service in the Jesuit tradition, the Department of Education Conceptual Framework emphasizes three interrelated themes of Jesuit education: a focus on moral reflection, teaching for social justice and the liberal treatment of subject matter.  The Department of Education is committed to the Rockhurst University tradition of preparing men and women for and with service to others.

The Master of Education degree programs call upon educators to analyze alternatives in curricula, teaching methodologies, and assessment strategies, and to consider the implications of such alternatives for a multicultural society.  Through rigorous coursework, varied field experiences, and service learning projects, students acquire a deep understanding of, and special sensitivity to, the challenges and rewards of teaching in educational settings.  Several education courses require graduate students to spend a significant amount of time in diverse school settings during the day.  While Master of Education coursework may be completed during the evenings at Rockhurst University, graduate students will need to be flexible in their scheduling to allow for field experiences and service learning projects.

Our program offers two Master of Education degree options: A Master of Education with initial Teacher Certification in elementary, secondary, or special education or a Master of Education in Educational Studies with the option to choose from four concentration areas including: Curriculum, Teaching and Assessment; STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics); Special education; and Teacher Leadership.

Education Accreditation

The master level teaching certification programs offered by the Rockhurst Department of Education are aligned with the Rockhurst Department Conceptual Framework, the 9 Missouri Standards for Preparation of Educators (MoSPE), the Missouri Teacher Standards, the InTASC Model Core Teaching Standards, and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) Standards,  The teacher certification programs are approved on the national level through the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) for a period of ten years, from 2011 through 2021. For the next accreditation cycle, the Department of Education will be seeking national accreditation through the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). In addition, the teacher certification programs are approved on the state level by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

The M.Ed. program operates according to the general administrative policies governing graduate studies at Rockhurst University.  The Rockhurst University graduate teacher education program provides the necessary professional education coursework to meet initial teacher certification requirements in elementary (1-6), special education in mild/moderate cross-categorical disabilities (K-12), or secondary education in biology, business, chemistry, French (K-12), English, mathematics, physics, Spanish (K-12), or social science in Missouri.

Length of Program

Graduate students may complete their degree on either a full-time or part-time basis.  Courses are scheduled during the evening hours to facilitate attendance by working adults.  It is estimated that most graduate students will complete the requirements in two years.  Graduate students have a maximum of six years to complete the M.Ed. degree.  Students may transfer up to nine hours of graduate credit for courses completed by another institution, provided that the coursework meets the criteria outlined in the Graduate Academic Policies and Procedures section of the Graduate Catalog.  All coursework not taken at Rockhurst University must be reviewed and approved by the Chair and the Academic Adviser for consistency with degree and state certification requirements.  Students must complete a Pre-Approval of Transfer Credit Form, with course descriptions, and other supporting materials requested by the program to the Academic Adviser.

Admission Requirements for the M.Ed.

To be considered for admission, applicants for the M.Ed. must show evidence of the following:

1. Completion of a baccalaureate degree at an accredited institution with a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale for all college-level work attempted. Applicants are required to submit one official transcript showing all college-level coursework.
2. Submission of an online application with a written essay describing the applicant’s prior educational experience and professional goals.
3. Submission of two letters of professional recommendations that speak to the applicant’s potential to successfully complete graduate coursework, a description of the applicant’s academic background, and reasoning for pursuing the M.Ed.
4. A personal interview with members of the Education faculty may be required.
   
   NOTE: The above requirements may be subject to change without notice.

Readmission

Should a graduate student leave the University, the student is subject to the University readmission requirements. A student readmitted to the department will be subject to the degree requirements in place at the time of readmission. The student must complete the Rockhurst University application for graduate readmission.

Master of Education with Initial Teacher Certification Professional Semester Requirements

(Fall and Spring Semesters)

The professional semester is comprised of a minimum of 15 weeks of students teaching (9 credit hours) and the three credit hour student teaching seminar.  Students must attend a mandatory student teaching meeting to receive application materials.  Students who plan to student teach in the fall semester must submit their application by the previous March 1st.  Students who plan to student teach in the spring semester must submit their application by the previous September 1st.  All coursework must be completed before the Professional Semester begins.  Students may not fall below the required semester grade point average prior to student teaching.  Students may not be on probation when applying for the professional semester.

Professional Semester Placement

Placement is the process by which those applying to the professional semester are matched with cooperating schools and cooperating teachers.  To provide reasonable certainty to those cooperating entities, it is necessary for professional semester applicants to meet any prescribed deadlines regarding application and full enrollment in the professional semester.  A student teaching placement for the professional semester will be sought upon completion of the following:

1.  Professional Semester of Student Teaching Application

2.  Professional resume

3.  Autobiography

4.  Passing score on the Missouri Content Assessment (MoCA)

5.  Graduate degree application (online)

6.  A Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education substitute license, which requires a fingerprint background check clearance from the Missouri Highway Patrol (MHP) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

Other Professional Semester Requirements

Various school districts may have additional requirements that will need to be met prior to student teaching. These will be identified by the Director of Field Experiences as Professional Semester applications are reviewed.

Certification Requirements, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)

1. A baccalaureate degree from a college or university having a teacher education program approved by DESE or from a college or university having a teacher education program approved by the state education agency in states other than Missouri;
2. A recommendation of designated official for teacher education in the college or university;
3. A cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale overall; a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in the certification content courses, and a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in all education courses;
4. Completion of the Missouri Content Assessment (MoCA) designated by the State Board of Education with a score equal to or greater than the Missouri qualifying score;
5. Completion of professional requirements, as determined by the recommending college or university, which may exceed these minimum requirements; and
6. Completion of DESE initial teacher certification application, which requires a fingerprint background check clearance from the Missouri Highway Patrol (MHP) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
7. Obtain a passing score as determined by DESE on the Missouri Educator Evaluation System (MEES) Teacher Candidate Assessment Tool.

Regarding Certification Requirements

Definition of Teacher Education Program Completer

Teacher candidates seeking the master of education degree with certification in elementary, special education, or secondary education will be construed to be program completers upon successful completion of all education courses, degree requirements, and DESE certification requirements.

Graduation Requirements

The Master of Education degree requires the successful completion of all coursework with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or greater to graduate.

Note: Teacher candidates must achieve a grade of C or better in all certification area courses and all education courses.  A grade of C- will not satisfy this requirement.  Official transcripts for all courses must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar.

Programs

• Educational Studies, M.Ed.
• Elementary Education, M.Ed.
• Secondary Education, M.Ed.
• Special Education, M.Ed.

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