Relevant Policies in the Graduate Programs in Education
ACCREDITATION
The Education Department at Marist College is accredited and registered in New York State as an approved provider of teacher preparation programs. Marist College is a member in good standing of the Association for Advancing Quality and Educator Preparation (AAQEP).
New York State Certification
A candidate must successfully complete the Dual Degree B.A./B.S.-M.A.T. program in order to be eligible for initial teaching certification in both their content field and in Students with Disabilities (grades 7- 12). In addition to successfully completing the B.A.-B.S./M.A.T. academic program, the candidate must also pass required New York State assessments and mandated workshops (Dignity for All Students Act, Violence Prevention, Child Abuse, Autism).
CERTIFICATION DISCLOSURE
Marist’s graduate education programs are designed to prepare candidates for certification in New York State and are aligned with the certification requirements in the state of New York. Marist College cannot guarantee that these programs will meet the requirements for initial or professional certification in any other state. It is the candidate’s responsibility to research and determine the certification requirements in any other state in which they plan to apply for initial or professional teaching certification. It is also the candidate’s responsibility to determine if the Marist College graduate education programs meet the requirements for certification in states other than New York.
ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS
Candidates from diverse groups are encouraged to apply. The following are the requirements in the application process:
- Have a minimum overall 3.0 GPA for undergraduate studies.
- Attach the official undergraduate transcripts from all undergraduate and any graduate studies.
- Complete an application form.
- Submit a résumé.
- Submit two letters of recommendation from faculty who are familiar with the academic performance and personality of applicant.
- Write an essay outlining their reasons for applying to the program.
- Conduct an interview with the Director of Graduate Education Programs upon submission of all application documents. The interview process may include written tasks.
ADVISEMENT
At the time of matriculation, each student will meet with the Director of Graduate Education Programs to design a Study Plan, which candidates are to follow. Candidates also sign an entrance contract to acknowledge the academic and dispositions requirements for good standing in the master’s program. Candidates will have regular meetings with the Director of Graduate Education Programs for purposes of discussing academic progress and planning. The M.A.T. program is a cohort-based program that can be completed in four semesters with a start in the Fall semester; there is a summer session with hybrid/online course work. In exceptional cases M.A.T. applicants may complete the program as a part-time student with a fall semester start only due to the sequencing of the course offering, however, that will extend the program. Course offerings are by semester (fall, spring, or summer); a special study plan will be created which must be strictly followed. Any changes will jeopardize timely graduation. All students must complete the program within five years of admission.
COOPERATING TEACHERS USING WAIVER TO TAKE COURSES
Cooperating teachers who have supervised student teachers and who wish to take graduate education courses as an exchange of a teaching voucher need only to complete an application form, to provide a statement that the course they intend to take is a voucher exchange, submit the original voucher, and receive permission from the Program Director who will advise on the appropriate course. There is no limit to the number of graduate courses a cooperating teacher with a valid voucher may take; however, if the person later decides to become a degree candidate, he/she must then satisfy the requirements for matriculation. It is important to note that a maximum of nine (9) credits may be applied toward the degree using courses taken with a voucher.
PORTFOLIO REQUIREMENT
All students in the MSED programs (Campus-Based, Online, and Dual Degree) are required to complete an electronic portfolio in their last semester in the program. Work on the portfolio will be supervised by assigned professors; graduate students will be required to complete, submit, defend and pass their portfolio in order to be granted the Master’s degree. The portfolio is a program requirement and will be evaluated according to the specific rubrics created for that project. The portfolio is a Pass/Fail and the award of the degree depends on the passing of the portfolio. Candidates who fail to present the portfolio in the last semester of regular coursework will be required to take additional coursework each semester until they successfully present the portfolio. They must successfully pass the portfolio requirement within 5 years of matriculation, or the degree will not be awarded.
PREREQUISITES FOR THE DUAL DEGREE BACHELOR OF ARTS/BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND MASTER OF ARTS IN ADOLESCENCE EDUCATION
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
To be eligible for dual certification in the MAT Standalone program (content area and Students with Disabilities, both grades 7-12), a Transcript Analysis will be completed on the applicant’s transcript to ascertain their preparation in the following areas required for the dual certifications:
- At least 30 credits in the content area they intend to teach (Chemistry, Biology, Earth Science, English, French, History, Mathematics, or Spanish)
- Six credit requirement for coursework related to the grade 7-12 curriculum in each of the following areas (maximum 30 credits): English; Mathematics; Science; Social Studies; and Foreign Language requirements. This coursework must be in content related to the New York Learning Standards as these represent topics normally taught in grades 7-12.
- Coursework comparable to the following courses required of undergraduate candidates in the Marist B.A./M.A.T. program:
EDUC 101 Foundations of Education
EDUC 150 Learning through Technology
EDUC 373 Principles of Instruction for Students with Disabilities
EDUC 379 Culturally Responsive Education
PSYC 207 The Exceptional Child
PSYC 318 Psychology of the Adolescent
PSYC 372 Psychoeducational Assessment of Educational Disabilities
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
A candidate must maintain a minimum overall GPA of 3.0. If at any time the candidate’s GPA falls below 3.0, the candidate will be notified of his/her being subject to academic review. Academic review will result in assignment of probationary status or dismissal. A candidate on probation is expected to take immediate steps to raise their GPA. This can be done by (1) earning enough grades of B+ or A, or (2) retaking the course(s) in which low grades were earned and achieving a B or better. NOTE: while a grade of B in any subsequent course may raise a GPA that is below 3.0, it may not by itself be sufficient to raise the GPA to 3.0 or above. A candidate is allowed up to 12 credit hours of work to raise his or her GPA above 3.0 after being placed on probation. If after attempting 12 credit hours the GPA has not been raised to 3.0, the candidate will be dismissed from the program.
In addition, if a candidate earns any grades below B- in the Master of Arts in Teaching program, they will be subject to review by the teacher education faculty and placed on academic probation or dismissed from the program. One grade of C+ will be accepted by the program, on probationary status. If the candidate earns a second grade below B-, they will be permitted to re-take the course one time. Candidates who do not re-take the designated course or who do not achieve a grade of B- or better in the course(s) are subject to dismissal from the program. Candidates who earn a third grade below B- will be dismissed from the program.
Candidates are expected to demonstrate appropriate professional dispositions in coursework and fieldwork throughout their program as follows:
(1) Responsibility
(2) Integrity
(3) Enthusiasm
(4) Communication
(5) Reflection
Any behaviors that are in obvious deviation from the teacher candidate dispositions stated above may result in assignment of probationary status or dismissal. Any candidate who does not demonstrate the dispositions necessary to assume the responsibilities of a classroom teacher will be subject to review by the teacher education faculty and may be placed on probation or dismissed from the program. The candidate will be informed of any decision or recommendation by the teacher education faculty.
TRANSFER CREDITS
Acceptance of credits will be determined on an individual basis. No more than six (6) graduate credits will be accepted from another institution. A grade of B or better is required for acceptance of any transfer credits.
Contemporary Curriculum & Instruction Program Faculty
MICHAEL BURNS Adjunct Instructor. Degrees: B.A., SUNY Fredonia University; M.S.Ed., SUNY New Paltz; Ph.D., The State University at Albany
JAMIE CONWAY Adjunct Instructor. Degrees: B.A., Marist College; M.S., The State University at Albany
SARAH COSHAL Adjunct Instructor. Degrees: B.S., Marist College; M.A., Marist College
OLGA DEJESUS-DIAZ;Associate Professor & Assistant Dean for Teacher Education. Degrees: B.S. Baruch College CUNY; M.S Mercy College; Ed.D. Liberty University
VICTORIA FERRARA Adjunct Instructor. Degrees: B.A., Eastern University; M.S., State University of New York at Albany; Ph.D. Capella University
JOELLE FINGERHUT Assistant Professor of Education. Degrees: B.A., Ithaca College, M.S.Ed., Simmons University, Ph.D., University at Albany
DANA GATHERS Assistant Professor of Education. Degrees: B.A., Temple University; M.S.Ed., CUNY Brooklyn College; Ph.D. Fordham University
LYNN GRAINGER Adjunct Instructor. Degrees: B.S., Gordon College; M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction Lesley University
JESSLYN HOLLAR Professional Lecturer of Education & Assessment Coordinator. Degrees: B.A., Lafayette College; M.A., Edgewood College; Ph.D., University of Washington
MATTHEW LATVIS Adjunct Faculty. Degrees: B.A., Marist College; M.A. Middlebury College
JOHN MARALLO Adjunct Instructor. Degrees: B.S., State University of New York at New Paltz; M.S., State University of New York at New Paltz
KRISTEN MATEJA Adjunct Faculty. Degrees: B.A., Marist College; M.A., Marist College
DAVID MOYER Adjunct Faculty. Degrees: B.S., University of Wisconsin, Madison; M.S., Northern Illinois University; M.S., Eastern Kentucky University, Ed.D. Northern Illinois University
KELLY MURRAY Adjunct Faculty. Degrees: B.A., Marist College; M.S., Marist College; Ed.D. Seton Hall University
KATHRYN NIXON Adjunct Instructor. Degrees: B.A., Marist College; M.A., Western Connecticut State University
HEATHER O’CONNOR Adjunct Instructor. Degrees: B.A., Marist College; M.A., Marist College
JACQUELINE SANTILLI Adjunct Faculty. Degrees: B.A., SUNY Geneseo; M.S.Ed., SUNY New Paltz
DEANNA SPRINGSTEAD-GONZALEZ Adjunct Instructor. Degrees: B.S., St. John’s University; M.S., St. John’s University, University at Albany, A.B.D.
ZSUZSANNA SZABO Adjunct Instructor. Degrees: B.S., UBB Cluj, RO; M.Ed., State University of New York at Buffalo; Ph.D., University of Arizona
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