Graduate Studies in Education

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Dr. Sharyn Disabato, Director of Graduate Studies in Education, Assistant Professor of Education
Dr. Karen A. Hahn, Associate Dean of the School of Education and Social Services, Associate Professor of Education
Dr. Patricia A. Parrish, Assistant Vice President-Regional Accreditation Officer, Professor of Education
Dr. Melinda Carver, Assistant Professor of Education
Dr. Charles Dennis Hale, Professor of Education
Dr. Keya Mukherjee, Assistant Professor of Education
Dr. Carol Todd, Assistant Professor of Education
Dr. Dwight Raines, Assistant Professor of Education
Dr. Elaine Omann, Assistant Professor of Education

The Graduate Studies in Education Department comprises several degree programs for those interested in K-12 education and for those interested in corporate training. The M.Ed. programs are designed for teaching professionals desiring to enhance their skills and for those new to the profession. The M.S. degree allows corporate workers to enhance their knowledge of pedagogy and instruction.

The Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree is offered to individuals holding a master's degree in education or a related field (reading, guidance/counseling, social work, etc.).

Several of our programs are designed to meet certification requirements and may be state-approved in the state of Florida, but students who seek certification need to be aware that teacher licensure is a function of each state's Department of Education and not of the University. Students are advised to check with the state in which they hope to teach prior to their first semester of enrollment to determine how our programs align with their certification requirements.

Professional Code of Ethics

The profession of education has established standards for ethical behavior. Accordingly, Saint Leo University expects its graduate education students to conduct themselves at the highest levels of conduct in their relationships with faculty, staff, and fellow students. Included are personal and professional relationships, communication (including e-mail and other electronic formats), or other forms of communication, either written or verbal. Students determined to be in violation of this code may be subject to academic discipline, including suspension or expulsion from the University.

Master of Education

Educational Leadership Concentration
Instructional Leadership Concentration
Exceptional Student Education Concentration
Reading Concentration

The Master of Education Program is designed to meet the needs of full-time working educators. The following four concentrations (majors) are offered: educational leadership, instructional leadership, exceptional student education, and reading.

Educational Leadership

Presented within this sequence of courses is a core of knowledge, the mastery of which will empower the graduate to be an educational leader with a vision of the future and engaged in the process of continual professional growth and collaborative reform. All courses within the Leadership Studies in Education Program are infused with the Core Values of Saint Leo University.

The curriculum consists of a coherent set of courses that constitute three domains: instructional, school operations, and school leadership. It is recommended that students begin with the courses that focus on instructional leadership, then school operations and end with school leadership courses. Coursework in this program will emphasize the cogent theories, policies, and practical aspects of education. Each course is designed to assist the student in mastery of the Florida Principal Leadership Standards, the Florida System of School Improvement and Accountability, and the Guidelines for Certification in Educational Leadership.

Expected Program Outcomes

As a result of successfully completing a course of study within the Leadership Studies in Education Program, the graduate will be expected to:

1. Articulate key concepts of the disciplines that inform educational leadership and apply the integration of those disciplines;
2. Analyze and evaluate the multiple bases of curriculum development theory, research, and policy to improve teaching and learning;
3. Apply knowledge of research-based instructional and assessment strategies to improve teaching and learning;
4. Apply knowledge of leadership theory and recommended practice in educational environments;
5. Become an accomplished educational leader as specified by the State of Florida Accomplished Practices and/or the Florida Principal Leadership Standards;
6. Demonstrate knowledge of how to provide a caring, safe, and student-centered learning environment;
7. Demonstrate an ability to effectively communicate, considering varied community and cultural factors, with diverse audiences (e.g., students, parents, colleagues, and community members), as well as involve such groups in effective decision making;
8. Demonstrate an ability to read and understand the professional literature relevant to education leadership practice and theory;
9. Demonstrate an understanding of the educational change process and its management; and
10. Demonstrate an understanding of the centrality of educational and administrative technology in effective school governance and the improvement of teaching and learning.

The Leadership Studies in Education Program is designed to meet the continuing education and professional development needs of public and private educators. The program, normally a minimum of 36 semester hours or credits, has a six-course core curriculum and two six-course concentrations.

Instructional Leadership

The Instructional Leadership concentration is for those educators who are not seeking Educational Leadership certification through the Florida Department of Education. The purpose of this concentration is to assist these educators to develop the management and leadership skills necessary for full participation in educational governance at the school, district, and community levels.

Expected Program Outcomes

1. Apply knowledge of research-based instructional and assessment strategies to improve teaching and learning;
2. Demonstrate knowledge of how to provide a caring, safe, and student-centered learning environment;
3. Demonstrate an ability to effectively communicate, considering varied community and cultural factors, with diverse audiences, as well as involve such groups in effective decision making;
4. Demonstrate an ability to read and understand the professional literature relevant to instructional practice and theory;
5. Demonstrate an understanding of educational change process;
6. Demonstrate an understanding of the centrality of instructional technology in effective school governance and the improvement of teaching and learning.

The Comprehensive Examination/Degree Conferral

Effective July 1, 2007, students who are admitted to the M.Ed. program and are seeking educational leadership certification in Florida through the Florida state-approved educational leadership program must pass all subtests of the Florida Educational Leadership Exam (FELE), document the ESOL requirement, and submit a passing FELE score report to the Director of Graduate Studies in Education to satisfy degree conferral requirement.

Educational Leadership Certification

Prior to applying to the State of Florida Department of Education for certification in Education Leadership, the applicant must have a master's or higher degree awarded by a standard institution, have successfully completed the Florida Educational Leadership Core Curriculum, document the ESOL requirement. and have passed the Florida Education Leadership certification exam. Certification requirements may change from time to time; it is the responsibility of the student to know current state certification requirements as they may apply.

Exceptional Student Education

The curriculum for the concentration in Exceptional Student Education consists of a coherent set of courses that are sequenced to assist students in mastering the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices, the Florida Professional Education Competencies and Skills for Certification, the ESOL Performance Standards and Competencies and Skills, the Reading Endorsement Competencies, and the Florida Exceptional Student Education Standards. Program graduates will be able to:

1. Articulate key concepts of the disciplines that inform exceptional student education and apply the integration of these disciplines;
2. Demonstrate knowledge of how to provide a caring, safe, and student-centered learning environment;
3. Demonstrate reflective practice based on the institutional core values and their impact on the use of disabilities knowledge;
4. Analyze and evaluate the multiple bases of curriculum development theory, research, and policy in exceptional student education to improve teaching and learning;
5. Apply knowledge of research-based instructional and assessment strategies in exceptional student education to improve teaching and learning;
6. Apply knowledge of exceptional student education theory and recommended practice in educational environments;
7. Become an accomplished educational practitioner as specified by the State of Florida Accomplished Practices and the Florida Subject Area Competencies in Exceptional Student Education;
8. Demonstrate an ability to effectively communicate, considering varied community and cultural factors, with diverse audiences (e.g., students, parents, colleagues, and community members), as well as involve such groups in effective instructional planning;
9. Demonstrate an ability to read and understand the professional literature relevant to exceptional student education practice and theory; and
10. Apply knowledge of research-based instructional and assessment strategies in ESOL and reading education to improve teaching and learning.

Reading

The Reading concentration is designed for certified teachers who are interested in developing advanced skills in the area of literacy teaching.

Expected Outcomes

Program graduates will be able to:

1. Articulate key concepts of the disciplines that inform reading education and apply the integration of these disciplines;
2. Demonstrate knowledge of how to provide a caring, safe, and student-centered learning environment;
3. Demonstrate reflective practice based on the institutional core values and their impact on use of reading education knowledge;
4. Analyze and evaluate the multiple bases of curriculum development theory, research, and policy in reading education to improve teaching and learning;
5. Apply knowledge of research-based instructional and assessment strategies in reading education to improve teaching and learning;
6. Apply knowledge of reading theory and recommended practice in K-12 educational environments;
7. Become an accomplished educational practitioner as specified by the State of Florida Accomplished Practices and the Florida Subject Area Competencies in Reading;
8. Demonstrate an ability to effectively communicate, considering varied community and cultural factors, with diverse audiences (e.g., students, parents, colleagues, and community members), as well as involve such groups in effective instructional planning;
9. Demonstrate an ability to read and understand the professional literature relevant to reading practice and theory.

Education Specialist (Ed.S.)

The Graduate Education Program at Saint Leo University offers the specialist in education degree with a concentration in educational leadership and higher education leadership. This degree is for individuals holding a master's degree in education or a related field of study (e.g., guidance and counseling, social work, human services, reading), with certification in educational leadership preferred. Courses will be offered online

Courses within the education specialist degree program have been constructed to ensure that students complete a program of study that meets prevailing research-based best practices and the expectations for educational leadership set nationally and by Saint Leo University. All courses infuse the Saint Leo University Core Values, thus helping students grow in mind, body, and spirit.

The curriculum, comprising 39 semester hours of study, is divided into three clusters: Foundations (12 hours), to ensure a solid foundation for the student's selected concentration; Evaluation Research (9 hours), to ensure that educational leaders make effective data-driven, research-based decisions; and the School Leadership or Higher Education Leadership concentration (18 hours), to establish a solid background in the theory, research, and best practices that educational leaders need to improve student achievement, teaching, and learning.

Expected Program Outcomes

Program graduates will be able to:

1. Articulate and apply key concepts of educational disciplines—foundations, evaluation, and research—in K-12 or higher education;
2. Practice the institutional core values to provide a caring, safe, and student-centered learning environment;
3. Critically analyze data to inform programs, instruction, and assessment;
4. Apply knowledge of leadership theory and recommended practice to improve teaching and learning in educational environments;
5. Communicate effectively with all stakeholders while considering varied community and cultural factors as well as diverse audiences; and
6. Analyze and contribute to the body of scholarly knowledge through research and the application of research-based practices.

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