GRADUATE PROGRAM IN EDUCATION
Dr. Jerry Ternes, Ed.D., Dean
MISSION: The mission of the Graduate Program in Education is to provide a supportive, reflective community in which teachers develop the professional relationships, skills and knowledge base necessary to empower ALL students to reach their highest spiritual, intellectual, social, emotional and physical potential.
Note: The State of California is currently revising requirements for teacher preparation. As these changes are implemented, course titles, descriptions, and other aspects of the program are subject to change. However, the number of units required, as stated in the preliminary credential program and M.A. option descriptions, will not change. The State is also revising the Crosscultural Language and Academic Development (CLAD) certification process. All the elements of CLAD are embedded in the Vanguard University teaching credential program as the State develops a new EL (English Learner) certification system. Likewise, the state is revising the Professional Clear Credential and may require different courses and field experiences than those described in this catalog.
History of the Graduate Program in Education
In 1967, the University received recognition and approval of its teaching credential program from the California State Board of Education.
In 1994, the University began the Graduate Program in Education, offering the basic California teaching credentials at the graduate level, along with a Master of Science (M.S.) in Education. In 1995, the Master of Science in Education was re-designated a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Education. The Crosscultural, Language, and Academic Development (CLAD) Emphasis Credential and Certificate were also added in 1995. Students have the option of applying credential course work toward a Master’s degree. Four options are offered in the Master of Arts in Education: M.A. and CLAD Emphasis Credential, M.A. and CLAD Certificate, M.A. with a Credential, and Christian Education Administration, and M.A. and Christian Education Administration. Each Master’s option fulfills a specific professional goal.
Accreditation
Vanguard University is a member of and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The University has approval from the Commission on Teacher Credentialing for the offering of SB 2042 Preliminary Multiple and Single Subject teaching credentials with the EL Authorization and the CLAD Certificate. A Master of Arts in Education is obtainable in a variety of program options.
Institutional Affiliations
Vanguard University is a member of the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities and is one of 91 members of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities which was founded in 1976 to serve and strengthen the deeply-committed Christian liberal arts colleges and universities of this country.
Through the Graduate Program in Education, Vanguard University is affiliated with the California Council on Teacher Education (CCTE), Christian Educators Association International (CEAI), the California Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (CACTE), the State of California Association of Teacher Education (SCATE), the California Educational Placement Association (CEPA), and the Credential Counselors and Analysts of California (CCAC).
ACADEMIC POLICIES
Academic Advisors
The cohort faculty member and the student teaching coordinator serve as academic advisors for credential students. The advisors provide students with current information and available and recommended courses.
Classification of Students
Students enrolled in the Graduate Program in Education will be placed into regular, provisional, probationary, or student-at-large standing.
Regular Standing. Students who intend to obtain a certificate, credential, or M.A. degree who are admitted without reservation, are granted regular standing in the Graduate Program in Education. Students enrolled in credential or certificate course work may be eligible to apply their credential or certificate course work toward the Master of Arts in Education degree, depending on admission requirements. To qualify for regular standing in the credential, certificate and/or degree program, all admission requirements must be satisfied. Please refer to the specific program for a list of admission requirements. Relationship of regular standing and GPA admission requirement:
- Regular standing for M.A. degree admission requires a 3.0 GPA.
- Regular standing for credential admission only requires a 2.7 GPA.
Provisional Standing. Students who intend to obtain a credential and/or M.A. degree who have not met all the admission requirements of the specific program may be eligible for admission as a provisional standing student. Please refer to the admission requirements of the specific program, relationship of provisional standing and GPA admission requirement. Students with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.7-2.9 may be admitted into the M.A. degree program with provisional standing. Then upon successful completion of the first required twelve graduate units of the program with a 3.5 GPA or higher, the student will be eligible for regular standing.
Students with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.5-2.69 may be admitted into the credential or degree program with provisional standing on a probationary status. Upon completion of the following three conditions, the student will be eligible for regular standing:
- To make up for academic deficiencies, student must complete fifteen additional units of post-baccalaureate course work with a 3.0 GPA. All course work must be pre-approved and completed at VUSC prior to enrolling in the EDUG 500 series.
- Student must complete the first twelve required graduate units of the program with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
- Student will meet with the Director for a progress evaluation conference to determine continuation in the program.
Student-at-Large. Students who do not plan to earn a degree, basic credential or certificate may be granted student-at-large standing. A student-at-large is not officially admitted into the graduate program; the student completes an abbreviated application form for authorization to enroll in upper division and/or graduate course work. A student-at-large must officially apply to the Graduate Program in Education if he/she wishes to be considered for regular standing in the degree program. All program admission requirements and deadlines must be satisfied for admission consideration to the M.A. degree program. The University and its Graduate Program are not obligated legally or morally, however, to accept a student-at-large into degree status.
Note: A student-at-large is not eligible for institutional and/or federal financial aid.
Auditor. Students who attend graduate classes for personal enrichment, and not for academic credit, may be granted auditor’s status. Auditors attend class with no obligations to participate actively in the work. Students seeking auditor’s status must complete an abbreviated admission form. Audit fees are required for each class in which audit students enroll. These are non-unit-bearing courses. An audit course cannot be turned into a "unit course" after the first week of class.
- Part-time students (11 units or less) or students taking only audit courses will be charged an audit fee for each audited course. Each audited course will be recorded on the student’s transcript.
- Full-time students (12 graduate units or more) may audit one course per qualifying semester, undergraduate or graduate level, free of charge on a space-available basis. If students would like the audit course to appear on their transcript, they must register for the audit with the Records Office.
- Graduates of our Graduate Program in Education may attend one graduate education Master’s level course per semester, free of charge on a space available, professor approved basis.
Students enrolled in six graduate units or more may audit any course, undergraduate or graduate level, free of charge, on space available basis. If students do not wish that the audit course appear on their transcript, no paperwork is required. However, students need to notify the course professor of their intent prior to the first session. If students wish the audit course to appear on their transcript, they must still register for audit status with the Records Office prior to beginning the course. Audit courses are for regular standing students only.
International Students. International students must complete the admissions process, be accepted by the University, and submit a certification of finances form showing sufficient financial resources to pay the expenses of the graduate program, including tuition, fees, books, living expenses, and return fare home. Also, one year’s tuition and living costs must be deposited with the University before a Certificate of Eligibility (for non-immigrants "F-1" Student Status - form I-20) is issued. International students must maintain 9 graduate level units of non-repeatable courses each semester and renew the I-20 forms annually for any travel outside of the U.S.
All students are expected to be fluent in English. The Graduate Admissions Committee may require documentation of fluency in English. Such tests as TOEFL and/or TSE may be required of international students whose first language is not English. A minimum score of 650 is normally expected. However, a slightly lower score may be accepted if accompanied by documentation of a successful evaluation from an English as a Second Language program (ESL) here in the United States.