Mercy Announces Dual Degree in Education
Erin Wynne
Issue date: 11/1/08 Section: News
Students interested in a career in education can get one step further to their goal this fall semester.
Mercy College has announced a new five year B.S/M.S. Dual Degree in Education. This innovative program is designed to meet the needs of current as well as transfer students pursuing a career in Early Childhood, Childhood, Middle, and Adolescent education.
The idea for this program started when students of undergraduate majors wanted to become teachers. Mercy College only offers education certificates for undergraduates and only a Masters in education for graduates. By the time students finished a regular undergraduate degree plus a graduate degree, they had more than 150 credits.
"It just wasn't worth it," said Dr. Andy Peiser, Interim Dean of School of Education. "The student will now major in a specific area and take 15 graduate education credits as electives during their junior year," he said. These credits will be used to satisfy degree requirements for both undergraduate and graduate degrees.
However, students must currently be majoring in one of the specified areas - Psychology, Behavioral Science, Biology, English, Mathematics, Social Studies or Spanish. Students wishing for a degree in Early Childhood or Childhood education should be majoring in Behavioral Science or Psychology and students wishing for a degree in Middle Childhood, Adolescence, as well as Early Childhood and Childhood education should majoring in either Biology, English, Mathematics, Social Studies, or Spanish.
"Education comes primarily from these certain areas," said Dr. Mary Lou Pagano, Interim Chair of Literary and Multilingual Studies. Transfer students with an A.A or A.S degree are also encouraged to take part in the program. An Associate degree in Liberal Arts with an overall GPA of 3.0 is required. An essay and interview are also criteria for transfers as well.
Combining undergraduate and graduate degrees streamlines teacher preparation and enables students to achieve teacher certification on an accelerated basis. This program has been specifically designed to reduce cost and time needed to invest in a Master's Degree.
"I think cooperation between the undergraduate and graduate departments and the expertise of our excellent professors makes Mercy College different," said Pagano.
While the program has existed for a few years, the state approved the program this July. "Enrollment has definitely gone up because of this program," Peiser stated. "We are very excited about this new program. It is unique, it is innovative, and it is something beneficial for students. It also reduces a year of tuition."
Mercy College has announced a new five year B.S/M.S. Dual Degree in Education. This innovative program is designed to meet the needs of current as well as transfer students pursuing a career in Early Childhood, Childhood, Middle, and Adolescent education.
The idea for this program started when students of undergraduate majors wanted to become teachers. Mercy College only offers education certificates for undergraduates and only a Masters in education for graduates. By the time students finished a regular undergraduate degree plus a graduate degree, they had more than 150 credits.
"It just wasn't worth it," said Dr. Andy Peiser, Interim Dean of School of Education. "The student will now major in a specific area and take 15 graduate education credits as electives during their junior year," he said. These credits will be used to satisfy degree requirements for both undergraduate and graduate degrees.
However, students must currently be majoring in one of the specified areas - Psychology, Behavioral Science, Biology, English, Mathematics, Social Studies or Spanish. Students wishing for a degree in Early Childhood or Childhood education should be majoring in Behavioral Science or Psychology and students wishing for a degree in Middle Childhood, Adolescence, as well as Early Childhood and Childhood education should majoring in either Biology, English, Mathematics, Social Studies, or Spanish.
"Education comes primarily from these certain areas," said Dr. Mary Lou Pagano, Interim Chair of Literary and Multilingual Studies. Transfer students with an A.A or A.S degree are also encouraged to take part in the program. An Associate degree in Liberal Arts with an overall GPA of 3.0 is required. An essay and interview are also criteria for transfers as well.
Combining undergraduate and graduate degrees streamlines teacher preparation and enables students to achieve teacher certification on an accelerated basis. This program has been specifically designed to reduce cost and time needed to invest in a Master's Degree.
"I think cooperation between the undergraduate and graduate departments and the expertise of our excellent professors makes Mercy College different," said Pagano.
While the program has existed for a few years, the state approved the program this July. "Enrollment has definitely gone up because of this program," Peiser stated. "We are very excited about this new program. It is unique, it is innovative, and it is something beneficial for students. It also reduces a year of tuition."
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