School of Education

Return to: Colleges, Schools & Departments

• About Arcadia’s Graduate Education Programs
• Graduate Education Program Admission Requirements
• Academic Policies and Procedures for Graduate Education

Interim Dean

• John Groves, Ph.D.

Faculty

• Jodi Bornstein, Ph.D., Associate Professor (Chair, Teacher Education)
• Christina L. Ager, Ph.D., Professor
• Peter Appelbaum, Ed.D. Professor
• Kira Baker-Doyle, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Director of Masters and Certificate Programs
• Foram Bhukhanwala, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Director of Early Childhood/Elementary Education
• Marc Brasof, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Director of Secondary English and Social Studies
• Bruce Campbell, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Director of Educational Leadership
• Kimberly Dean, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Academic Adviser
• Steven P. Gulkus, Ph.D., Associate Professor
• Peggy Hickman, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Director of Doctoral Programs
• Augusto Macalalag, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Director of Secondary Math and Science Education and Director of STEM Programs
• Kerri Mesner, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
• Sonia Rosen, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Director of Undergraduate and Graduate Educational Studies Minor/Major
• Tanya Santangelo, Ph.D., Associate Professor
• Lesley Siegel, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
• Ellen Skilton-Sylvester, Ph.D., Professor, Director of TESOL and Faculty Mentor
• Graciela Slesaransky-Poe, Ph.D.
• Kathy A. Trainor, Ed.D., Instructor, Coordinator of Early Childhood Education
• Kathy Wirth, Ed.D. Instructor, Director Reading Certification Program and Director of the Arcadia Community Learning Center (ACLC)

About Arcadia’s Graduate Education Programs

Arcadia University School of Education’s mission is to ensure students and practitioners engage in rigorous and personally meaningful experiences that cultivate creative and critical understandings related to the processes of teaching and learning. We are committed to providing philosophical, theoretical, technological and instructional frameworks to promote exemplary inclusive practice, scholarly inquiry and social justice advocacy across diverse educational contexts.

Coursework and programs emphasize the importance of the following:

• Understanding the relationship between theory and practice with an emphasis on practitioner-based research.
• Developing, planning and critically reviewing curriculum from a pedagogical and disciplinary perspective.
• Understanding important leadership practices and how to facilitate change and collaboration.
• Understanding the connection between assessment, decision making and best practices in order to serve all students.
• Providing, through disciplines other than education, the factual and conceptual basis for curriculum content.

Doctoral Degrees

Advance your leadership as a practitioner-scholar committed to strategic inquiry in the field of education and related services. Receive mentorship from faculty committed to student engagement and ongoing research and practice in settings serving students, educators, families, and communities. Engage in a supportive cohort model while you attend conveniently scheduled classes that meet one night a week to allow for coursework completion in three years.

Certificates of Advanced Study

The Certificate of Advanced Study program is designed for teachers who have completed a master’s degree and want to pursue further systematic study in education to develop special interests or to gain strength in specific areas. The emphasis of the program is on self-directed learning and research and may lead to additional certification.

Master’s Degrees

Expand your theoretical knowledge and practitioner skills to accomplish more as an educator and leader. Select from a wide variety of specialized programs or define yourself with a master’s program that reflects your personal and professional goals. Whether you are a current educator or career changer, our master’s degrees offer the opportunity to focus your professional preparation and realize your career goals. 

About the Master of Education (M.Ed.)

The Master of Education degree program focuses on educational processes in either general education or specialized areas. The majority of courses must be taken in Education, with up to 9 credits taken in a discipline other than Education when appropriate to the program. It is possible to earn Pennsylvania instructional or administration certification through this program. The foundations courses offer students theoretical basis for various aspects in the field of education. The concentration courses focus on education related to instruction in a selected area.

About the Master of Arts in Education (M.A.Ed.)

The Master of Arts in Education degree program allows students who have an interest in an academic discipline in addition to education to specialize in that discipline. Up to half the credits toward the master’s degree may be taken in the area of concentration. Special admission and degree requirements may vary according to the concentration selected. It is possible for students to earn Pennsylvania Instructional Certification in Secondary Education through this program. Certification requirements must be determined on an individual basis with the program coordinator.

The foundations courses provide knowledge basic to all aspects of education. The concentration courses focus on a discipline other than education. 

About the Modular Master’s (M.Ed.)

Design your individualized program by joining any two graduate certificates with two foundations courses and a culminating seminar experience to complete your degree.

Graduate Certificates

Arcadia Graduate Certificate programs offer specialized areas for continued professional development. Enrich your knowledge base and pursue educational programs for careers in community, specialty care, museum, government agencies, non-profit, and private industry. Choose from several areas to enhance and diversify your skill set. Concentrated classes allow you to build on the skills you have or focus on acquiring new skills. Courses emphasize best practice principles and the application of knowledge to decision making in everyday practice These innovative stackable credentials can stand alone or be combined and applied toward an individualized Modular Master’s program.

Teacher Education: PDE approved post-baccalaureate certification programs

Arcadia University has long been in the forefront of providing quality teacher education programs in more than 20 different areas of certification to educators throughout the region. All instructional, intern, and supervisory/administrative certification programs are fully approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Instructional I

Discover a wide range of exciting opportunities to pursue your initial teaching certification. Learn the science and art of teaching from faculty committed to mentoring the next generation of teaching practitioners. Experience authentic and rich fieldwork experiences through our partnerships with local schools and community organizations. Students also may choose to pursue a master’s degree program while earning certification.

Administrative/Supervisory Certifications

Realize your career aspirations as a school leader by choosing to earn certification in administrative K-12 and supervisory areas such as: Supervisor of Pupil Personnel Services, Supervisor of Special Education, and Superintendent’s Letter of Eligibility and many others.

Graduate Education Program Admission Requirements

1. A graduate application, including personal statements, to be completed online.
2. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a recommended GPA of 3.0 or better.
3. Students holding a B.A. or B.S. degree in Education who are seeking an initial teaching certification (Instructional I) must submit passing scores from a provider of one of the approved basic skills assessment tests: PAPA, CORE, SAT or ACT. See Testing Requirements for Candidates with a Degree in Education.
4. One official transcript from each college, university or professional school attended. Transfer credits included on a transcript must include grades earned; if not, an official transcript from the original school must be submitted. Transcripts must be sent from the issuing school in a sealed envelope and contain the appropriate signatures and seals to be considered official.
5. Proof of any Pennsylvania teaching certificates, if applying for an add-on certification program.
6. Two letters of recommendation. The letters must be of a professional, not personal nature. If the student has been out of school five years or fewer, at least one letter must come from a professor.
7. Applicants for Pennsylvania Teacher Certification Programs will be required to submit current clearances for Child Abuse, Criminal Background Check and FBI Fingerprinting to the School of Education prior to course registration. See information about Obtaining Clearances.
8. International applicants should visit www.arcadia.edu/international for detailed information on admission requirements and application procedures. Official results from the TOEFL or IELTS are required for all students for whom English is a second language except for non-native speakers of English who hold degrees or diplomas from post-secondary institutions in English-speaking countries (e.g. the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand).  A course-by-course evaluation of all transcripts by an independent evaluation service based in the United States also is required.

Application Deadline/Rolling Admission

Completed applications are reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the year. Students may start in the Fall, Spring or Summer semester.

Deferred Admission

Students accepted into programs with rolling admission must notify the School of Education, in writing, of their intent to delay enrolling in courses and provide a date on which they expect to begin coursework. For deferred admission policies for the Doctor of Education, please refer to that program listing.

Expenses

Tuition and fees for 2016-17 graduate education programs can be found at the link below: https://www.arcadia.edu/admissions/financial-aid-scholarships/graduate-students/graduate-tuition-fees

Academic Policies and Procedures for Graduate Education

In addition to the Graduate Academic Policies and Procedures, the following program-specific policies apply to all students. These policies also apply to non-degree-seeking graduate students enrolled in courses within certification and certificate programs.

A student must obtain permission from his or her adviser to retake a graduate education certification course. If a failing grade is received (“C–” or below), the course may be repeated one time only with the adviser’s permission.

All students enrolled in Education courses that require fieldwork must have current required clearances on file with the School of Education. (See Obtaining Clearances).

Return to: Colleges, Schools & Departments