School of Education's new degree programs
The William Carey University School of Education announces the addition of new programs and career pathways for classroom teachers and administrators approved in May by the Mississippi Department of Education. These programs affect teacher license endorsements, assistant teacher certifications and degrees awarded by WCU at the master, specialist and doctoral levels.
Pre-K Teacher Endorsement- Teachers licensed for kindergarten to sixth grade can earn an endorsement from the Mississippi Department of Education to teach pre-kindergarten by completing an online course series.
- Teacher assistants working in public schools can also complete the four-course online series to receive Pre-K certification. Teacher assistants showing proof of employment in a public Pre-K classroom can apply for a 50 percent tuition waiver through WCU.
Dyslexia Therapy- WCU has added an educational specialist degree in dyslexia therapy to its program offerings. The 36-hour program will be delivered in a hybrid format.
- Upon completion, students will have met the requirements for attaining a Mississippi Department of Education AAA license in dyslexia therapy. Those who successfully complete the program will be eligible to sit for the Academic Language Therapy Association and International Dyslexia Association examinations. In addition to this new specialist route, candidates can also still achieve this degree at the master’s degree level.
Teacher Leader Endorsement- School employees who are interested in working as lead teachers or instructional coaches can pursue a specialist degree in instructional leadership. While this program does not lead to an administrative license, it does consist of 30 hours of online coursework that provides a foundation in these areas.
- This degree program offers the option of adding a lead teacher endorsement to an existing educator license and provides clarity for schools looking to hire lead teachers. This endorsement would also create in-house upward mobility for teachers who also wish to be closely engaged with overall student achievement.
Interscholastic Athletic Administration- WCU’s educational specialist degree in interscholastic athletic administration is coordinated by the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. This 39-hour program includes 18 hours of physical education coursework which qualifies graduates to teach at the university or community college level.
- Courses focus on how to effectively plan, organize, and control the quality of interscholastic athletic and/or private sector sports programs. This degree program is fully approved for AAA licensure by the Mississippi Department of Education and is a pathway to licensure as an athletic director. It is also offered at the master’s degree level.
Educational Leadership and Principal Licensure- The degree requirements for master’s and specialist’s degrees in educational leadership have been revised. The required coursework was reduced from 36 hours to 33 hours. The program uses a hybrid design, all online except for three Saturday class meetings each trimester. The five-trimester degree takes 15 months.
- The doctoral degree in educational leadership now includes a pathway for administrative licensure. This option is open to doctoral students with three years of licensed teaching experience. In addition to the doctoral requirements, qualified students may enroll in 12 additional hours and complete an internship. Due to COVID-19, the MDE has waived all requirements for passing the SLLA licensure test to receive an administrative license; this waiver applies to students who graduate by Dec. 31, 2021.
To learn more about the educational opportunities available at William Carey University, visit www.wmcarey.edu or email education@wmcarey.edu.