Department of Educational Studies

Jubilee Hall
(973) 761-9668
https://www.shu.edu/educational-studies
Faculty: Adjapong; Daly; Hansen; Katz; Martinelli; May; McFadden; Mueller; Ruzicka; Zinicola (Chair)

The Department of Educational Studies offers courses leading to the Bachelor of Science in Education degree and applicable certification(s). Graduates of teacher preparation programs are eligible for recommendation to the State of New Jersey for certification in accordance with state guidelines and codes. Under current state rules, candidates must pass required exams and assessments to qualify for certification and must pursue an applicable academic major in conjunction with their professional education major. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 must be maintained in order to take any course in a certification program and participate in required field experience(s) and clinical practice(s).  The College of Human Development, Culture, and Media may exceed state standards for teacher certification while always adhering to minimum state standards. Any changes in state certification requirements must be followed by the College of Human Development, Culture, and Media and apply to all candidates.

All teacher preparation programs in the college require a sequence of field experiences and senior clinical practice in the surrounding communities. All initial teacher candidates must complete a clinical experience with P-12 students from diverse groups including students with exceptionalities, English Language Learners, diverse socio-economic levels, gender, race and ethnicity.

The Department of Educational Studies is dedicated to the preparation of highly competent, socially conscious, reflective professionals. All the programs within the department reflect this goal. Our emphasis is on outcomes, meaning our candidates have not just heard what was taught, but we can see evidence of their learning. The dispositional qualities a candidate brings to the university classroom, fieldwork, and community are an essential component to their overall development and performance. The dispositions listed below are expected of all candidates in the Department of Educational Studies.

Professional Code

Candidates enrolled in the teacher preparation programs in the College of Human Development, Culture, and Media operate under the following professional code:

1. Dependability: candidates are reliable, timely, and consistent in their presence and preparation for courses at the University as well as their field settings.
2. Respect & Empathy: candidates are respectful in their address, writing, language, and physical space toward faculty, university staff, school personnel, peers, and students in the field.
3. Open-mindedness: candidates respect the context and experience of others; developing the skills to use that information in classroom conversation, writing, and lesson planning.
4. Integrity: candidates submit original work, fully cite all sources associated with the development of their work (including information from the internet) and recognize that the university fully supports the use of anti-plagiarism software in support of academic integrity.
5. Dress code: candidates recognize that they are considered representatives of the University, College, and program when they are in their field placements. They are expected to adhere to the dress code of the field placement where they are working, recalling that their professional appearance and behavior reflects Seton Hall.
6. Passion for the profession: candidates display in action, word, and commitment their passion for the profession of teaching, the right for all children to have access to positive and productive learning environments, and a recognition that life as a teacher means dedication to life-long learning.
7. Professional Communication and Technology Use: candidates maintain consistent timely and professional communication with faculty, administrators, supervisors, cooperating teachers, and school leaders in written, telephone, and digital communication. Candidates exercise professional discretion in their use of social media and recognize the responsibility of professional educators to refrain from expressing defamatory opinions of peers, professionals, parents, and students in public platforms.

Failure to adhere to the professional code in either coursework or field experiences may result in referral to the Department for consideration of consequences up to and including dismissal from the Department and/or College.

In addition to general University admission criteria and processes, entering candidates must formally declare their interest in an education program by applying to the College of Human Development, Culture, and Media.

General Department Requirements

Admission

All candidates, interested in educator preparation programs when they enter the University as first semester new undergraduates, are welcome to take the introductory courses in their area of interest (elementary/special education or secondary education):

• EDST 1001 Introduction to Teaching: The Profession
• EDST 1501 Education in the United States: Past and Present
• CPSY 1001 Diverse Learners - Fam Part I

To fully matriculate into a Department of Educational Studies major, candidates must:

• Have a GPA of 3.0 or higher for admission to the elementary, special education program, secondary education, and secondary/special education.
• Have a GPA of 3.2 or higher for admission to the 4+2 program
• Have a GPA of 3.3 or higher for admission to the BSE/MA Program with Applied Behavior Analysis
• Pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators or demonstrate a passing score in the top third of the SAT or ACT.
• Detailed information about pre-major requirements, available courses, and how to enroll fully in the elementary or secondary education programs are available from academic advisers.

Retention and Graduation

• Maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher for elementary/special education program, secondary education, and secondary/special education.
• All students are evaluated each semester as part of an academic standing review.  If any education major’s (early childhood/elementary/ special education, secondary education, secondary/special education 4+2 program or B.S.E./M.A. with A.B.A.) GPA falls below a 3.0, the student is considered ‘on probation’ from their education program and may not take additional education classes nor continue fieldwork. If the candidate’s GPA remains below a 3.0 for another consecutive semester, the student is at-risk for dismissal from the Department.  The student may pursue an alternative major within the College or University, subject to admission requirements.
• Students on probation or who are dismissed may be readmitted and permitted to take education classes if they raise the GPA to 3.0 or higher. Re-admittance into the major may only occur one time. Failure to maintain the 3.0 a second time leads to permanent dismissal from the Department.
• All education majors (elementary/special education, secondary education, secondary/special education 4+2 program or B.S.E./M.A. with A.B.A.) must complete an applicable full major, a general education sequence of liberal arts courses, and their professional major in education.
• Each education program requires clinical experiences and a culminating clinical practice. Candidates must fully meet the requirements of the clinical component of their program (including specified number of hours, course related assessments, and evaluation forms).
• All education majors:
  • Must meet with their education advisor each semester for a review of their academic and clinical requirements in order to determine potential areas of need and standing in the program.
  • Must adhere to the Department of Educational Studies Professional Code within courses and the clinical component.
  • Must earn a C or higher in their professional education course sequence. Any grade lower than a C must be repeated and done prior to the start of the senior clinical practice.
  • Must pass the Praxis II content exam associated with their education or content major to be eligible to begin the senior clinical practice.
  • Must pass the state established performance assessment associated with their senior clinical practice.

Additional Requirements for 4+2 Majors

All of the requirements of an education major apply to students in the 4+2 program in addition to the following requirements:

• Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher, earn a B or better in each GMSL class, and earn at least a C in the 5 (five) courses required by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), including English, statistics, biology, physical science and a social behavioral science.
• Note the semester GPA requirement will not be applied to overall University summer coursework if a student takes less than 12 credits. However, the cumulative GPA cannot drop below 3.2 at any time.
• Students may repeat one of the six GMSL speech courses if a grade of B is not obtained during the first attempt. A student will be only permitted to retake a GMSL course to retain their automatic admission if they have a 3.2 cumulative and per-semester GPA. A second grade of B- or below in any of the speech-language pathology preparatory courses results in a loss of automatic admission which cannot be regained. Upon loss of automatic admission, the student’s major in the student information system will be automatically switched from DVSL to DVSN.
• If a student drops below the required 3.2 semester/cumulative GPA, automatic admission to the graduate speech-language pathology program is lost. The student cannot retake courses to increase their GPA (includes both GMSL and/or non-GMSL courses) and regain admission into the program. Upon loss of automatic admission, the student’s major in the student information system will be automatically switched from DVSL to DVSN. Students may continue to take the preparatory courses and apply via the general admission process to the program. Please see the University speech-language pathology website for details about admissions requirements for the general admission process.

Additional Requirements for B.S.E./M.A. with A.B.A. Majors

All of the requirements of an education major apply to students in the B.S.E./M.A. with AB.A. program in addition to the following requirements:

• Maintain an overall GPA of 3.3 or higher at the completion of each year.
• Grades of B- or higher must be earned in each A.B.A. course.
• Submission of a personal statement and professional writing sample
• Interview with A.B.A. program director and/or faculty
• If overall GPA falls below 3.3, automatic admission to the graduate M.A. in Special Education with A.B.A. concentration program may be lost. Students in this situation may continue with their undergraduate degree in education as long as those requirements continue to be met. Students may apply for the M.A. program upon graduation, according to graduate admission procedures.

Transfer Student Details

• Internal and external transfer candidates interested in transferring into education (elementary/special education, secondary education and secondary/special education) must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Students must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher to take any education classes or be assigned a field placement.
• All transfer students must pass the PRAXIS Core Academic Skills for Educators or demonstrate a passing score in the top third of the SAT or ACT.

Additional Requirements for Transferring into the 4+2 Program

• Internal and external transfer candidates interested in transferring into the 4+2 program must have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher and have completed no more than 67 credits.
• If transfer candidates have taken any of the five Arts and Sciences courses required by the council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology and Council for Clinical Certification in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (English, statistics, biology, physical science, and social behavioral science) prior to matriculation into the 4+2 program, a grade of “C” or higher is required.
• The six GMSL speech courses are required to be taken at the University, and transfer courses cannot be accepted.

*The University reserves the right to make additional adjustments based on the requirements of the New Jersey Department of Education.

Senior Clinical Practice

Undergraduate candidates in the Department of Educational Studies who are matriculated in the College and others seeking New Jersey state certification must complete senior Clinical Practice. The culminating Clinical Practice is two semesters in length; the first semester is 2 full days and the next semester is full-time, meaning the candidate is in their school placement for the entire semester from the start of the school day until the end, as well as attending meetings and planning lessons with the cooperating teacher. Candidates must pass the Praxis II content exam associated with their major prior to the start of Clinical Practice. Both semesters of clinical practice include observation and evaluation by a University supervisor, and a nonrefundable placement fee is required prior to the start of the first Clinical Practice semester.

Requirements

The Department's culminating Clinical Practice experience is two semesters long or one full year with a tenured cooperating teacher who has been pre-approved by the College's Office of Fieldwork and Certification. The first semester consists of 2 full days in the classroom and the following semester is full-time, full-semester teaching. Clinical Practice requires a developmental sequence of in-depth observation, planning, and teaching of all subjects or class periods, parent-teacher meetings, professional development workshops, and other relevant school experiences.

Applicants are required to enroll in the Department's Clinical Practice Seminar 6-credit course during the full-time teaching semester.  Completion of a state approved performance assessment is a program requirement for Senior Seminar and a licensure requirement. Candidates are assessed on their full Clinical Practice year by a University supervisor, the cooperating teacher, and the Clinical Practice Seminar instructor.

Transfer candidates must complete a minimum of 24 credits at Seton Hall University before they may apply for senior Clinical Practice.

Candidates are responsible for their own transportation to/from the field internship(s), pre-clinical internship(s), and senior clinical internship experience.  Candidates with any concerns should contact the College's Office of Fieldwork and Certification and/or Office of Student Success.

Application Procedure

Applicants must secure an official application from the College's Office of Fieldwork and Certification. The application procedure includes a comprehensive review of the candidate’s academic record and clinical experiences. Completed applications are due nine months prior to the first semester of Clinical Practice.

Before placement in clinical practice, teacher candidates must have met the following criteria:

1. A minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.0;
2. Completion of all required Profession Education courses at the time of application with a grade of C or higher;
3. Successful completion of all required field experiences;
4. Passing scores on all required Praxis II exams or state- mandated scores on standardized tests before your application will be considered for clinical practice;
5. Approval and recommendation by advisor along with an approved application completion and compliance with all Department of Educational Studies policies for pre- placement requirements;
6. Submission of a resume;
7. Three month’s prior to clinical provide documentation of a current, negative result on a Mantoux test;
8. Additional requirements of cooperating school districts may include: a physician’s certificate indicating freedom from any infirmity that would make the applicant unfit for teaching; and
9. Fingerprinting, background check, substitute certification, other documentation or training; or in-person or telephone interview.

Certification Reminder

In accordance with Title IV of the Higher Education Act, 34 CFR 668, as of July 1, 2024 all students are advised that the College's programs leading to licensure/certification meet the requirements of New Jersey, and that by enrolling in the program, each student attests that they plan to seek employment in New Jersey.  Information on out-of-state reciprocity is available through the New Jersey Department of Education's website.  Employment and certification requirements vary by state and students interested in out-of-state employment may need to pursue supplemental coursework.  Students should contact the Office of Fieldwork and Certification for further information.

Course Identification

The subject code abbreviations used to designate courses offered by the Department are as follows:

• Applied Computing (BMIE)
• Professional Psychology and Family Therapy (CPSY)
• Educational Studies (EDST)
• English as a Second Language (ESLP)
• Health Education, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER)

Major

Accelerated and Dual Degree

Certificate

Course Descriptions

Note: The following listing represents those courses that are in the active rotation for each department, i.e., have been offered in the past five years. Some departments have additional courses offered more rarely but still available – to find the complete list of all official courses for a department, please use the “Course Catalogue Search” function in Self-Service Banner