All students who matriculate at Mary Baldwin University agree to abide by the rules, regulations, and standards set by the college. The School of Education offers the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), Master of Education (MEd), or Master of Science (MS) to those who meet the established standards.
Students who seek the MAT, MEd, or MS must be conditionally or fully admitted to the graduate program to be eligible for financial aid services. The Declarations section of this catalog states Mary Baldwin’s policies on nondiscrimination, student privacy rights, and other important provisions.
Admission Requirements for the MAT (including BA/MAT) and the MEd in Elementary Education PK-6 and Special Education General Curriculum K-12
Applicants to the MAT program (including BA/MAT) and MEd in Elementary and Special Education must submit the following to the School of Education at Mary Baldwin University. The School of Education, in compliance with our accrediting agency, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), has adopted a Levels of Teacher Education Program Progression for Initial Licensure Programs to meet requirements. Students are admitted and progress through varying levels of program progression. This process is outlined below.
Levels of Teacher Education Program Progression
Level One (Admission/Pre-Candidate)
Requirements for admission:
The Master of Arts in Teaching (including BA/MAT) and Master of Education in Elementary or Special Ed admission requirements:
- Graduate – a bachelor’s degree
- GPA - 3.0 from most recent transcript
- Application:
- MyMBU for undergraduate BA/MAT
- University Admissions for MAT, MEd
- Correct, fluent written and spoken English. Non-native English speakers must submit one of the following with the minimum score noted:
- Duolingo, 130
- IELTS, 7.0
- TOEFL, 98
Program/Pre-Candidate Admission
A Level 1 “Pre-Candidate” has met requirements above and been admitted to the MAT program (including BA/MAT) or the MEd program in Elementary or Special Education.
Level Two (Admitted Candidate)
Requirements for admission:
Level 2 “Admitted Candidate,” meaning eligibility for methods/instructional strategies. The admitted candidate must have:
- GPA 3.0 (in courses, so far)
- Resolved any conditions related to Level 1 admission
Admitted Candidate Admission
A Level 2 “Admitted Candidate” has met the requirements above and is now eligible for primary methods/ instructional strategies (ED 312, 315, 345, 607, 608, 624, 649).
Level Three (Selected Candidate)
Requirements for admission:
Level 3 “Selected Candidate,” meaning eligibility for seminar and student teaching. The selected candidate must have:
- GPA 3.0 (in all courses)
- Completed all prerequisite courses (in progress are acceptable)
- Successfully completed methods/instructional strategies (B- or better)
- Received an acceptable score from the methods instructor on the PQDT evaluation
- Completed the following:
- Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting Training
- Cultural Competency Module (eff.7/23)^
- Dyslexia Awareness training
- Professional Ethics Module
- Special Education Module requirements*
- Passed VCLA Reading and Writing
- Successfully completed Academic Competencies, one Verbal and one Quantitative from the choices below:
- ACT, SAT, GRE scores in Reading, Math, and Writing (top 50th percentiles in each component)
- VCLA, passing score
- Praxis Core Reading, Math, and Writing (must meet the CAEP minimum score)
- College Algebra (grade of C or better)
- Attempted and scores received for the following: (pass not required for Level 3)
- Praxis II (if applicable)
-
RVE (if applicable and taken prior to 9/1/22) or Praxis Teaching Reading: Elementary (if applicable and taken after 9/1/22)
*The Special Ed Module requirements will be met in ED 112 and ED 510 beginning Fall 2022, or by completing an MBU mini course.
^ Cultural Competency Module requirements will be met/available in ED 342 or ED 646 beginning Fall 2023, or by completing a VDOE training module.
Selected Candidate Admission
A Level 3 “Selected Candidate” has met the requirements above and been selected to progress to seminar and student teaching.
Level Four (Completer)
Requirements for admission:
Level 4 "Completer" is ready to proceed toward licensure application and employment. The completer must have:
- Successfully completed seminar and student teaching
- Successfully completed the Student Impact Project
- Received an acceptable score from the University Supervisor on the PQDT evaluation
- Passed Praxis II (if applicable)
- Passed RVE (if applicable and taken prior to 9/1/22) or Praxis Teaching Reading: Elementary (if applicable, after 9/1/22)
- Completed the following:
- First Aid/CPR/AED training, Civic Education Module (if applicable), Regulations Governing the Use of Restraint and Seclusion in Elementary and Secondary Schools in Virginia
- Submitted licensure application, transcripts, and certified check or money order to the Licensure Coordinator for processing
Completer Admission
A Level 4 “Completer” has met the requirements above and their licensure application has been submitted to the Virginia Department of Education for processing. A “Completer” is a licensed student/alumnus who is employed in the field.
Periodic reappraisal of teacher candidates will be made as the student progresses through the program.
In the event that a MAT student does not meet the Candidate requirements for Methods/Instructional Strategies or Student Teaching, or does not complete student teaching for other reasons, reviewed by the Associate Dean on a case-by-case basis, the MAT student may request to change programs to the Master of Education in Educational Foundations in order to complete their Master’s degree. This program utilizes their current MAT coursework substituting student teaching, seminar, and reflective synthesis with IN 630 Methods of Professional Inquiry and ED 632 Inquiry Research Project. Graduation requirements would no longer include other licensure obligations.
Admission Requirements for the MEd and MS
Applicants to the MEd and MS programs must submit the following to the School of Education at Mary Baldwin University. In some cases, depending on program and concentration, admissions requirements must comply with our accrediting agency, CAEP. See Additional Requirements for MEd Advanced Licensure Programs section below.
- Online application for admission/enrollment
- A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 from the most recent degree-conferring transcript
- Correct, fluent written and spoken English. Non-native English speakers must submit one of the following with the minimum score noted:
- Duolingo, 130
- IELTS, 7.0
- TOEFL, 98
Students who do not meet the requirements may inquire about conditional admission. Not all programs are eligible. Students approved for conditional admission to the MEd or MS programs should work with their advisors for opportunities to address and remedy any deficit areas. See Conditional Admission below.
Additional Requirements for MEd Advanced Licensure Programs
Applicants to our Master of Education Advanced Licensure Programs in English as a Second Language, Gifted Education, Reading Education, and Special Education K-6, 6-8, or 6-12 Add-on endorsements must submit the following to the School of Education at Mary Baldwin University. The School of Education, in compliance with our accrediting agency, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), has adopted an Advanced Levels of Teacher Education Program Progression to meet requirements. Students are admitted and progress through varying levels of program progression. This process is outlined below.
Advanced Levels of Program Progession
Level One (Admission/Pre-Candidate)
Requirements for admission:
- GPA 3.0 (last 60 s.h.)
- Online application
Program/Pre-Candidate Admission
A Level 1 “Pre-Candidate” has met the requirements above and been admitted to the MEd program in English as a Second Language, Gifted Education, Reading Specialist, and/or Special Education K-6, 6-8, or 6-12 Add-on endorsements.
Level Two (Admitted Candidate)
Requirements for admission:
Level 2 “Admitted Candidate,” meaning eligibility for methods/instructional strategies. The admitted candidate must have:
- GPA 3.0 (in courses, so far)
- Resolved any conditions related to Level 1 admission
Admitted Candidate Admission
A Level 2 “Admitted Candidate” has met the requirements above and is now eligible for primary methods/ instructional strategies (ED 607, 624, 649).
Level Three (Selected Candidate)
Requirements for admission:
Level 3 “Selected Candidate,” meaning eligibility for field experience or comprehensive practicum experience. The selected candidate must have:
- GPA 3.0 (in all courses)
- Completed all prerequisite courses (in progress are acceptable)
- Successfully completed methods/instructional strategies, if applicable (B- or better)
- Received an acceptable score from the methods instructor on the PQDT evaluation
Selected Candidate Admission
A Level 3 “Selected Candidate” has met the requirements above and been selected to progress to field experience or comprehensive practicum experience (ED 608, 615, 672).
Level Four (Completer)
Requirements for admission:
Level 4 "Completer" is ready to proceed toward licensure application and employment. The completer must have:
- Successfully completed field experience or comprehensive practicum experience
- Passed Praxis II (if applicable)
- Passed RVE (if applicable and taken prior to 9/1/22) or Praxis Teaching Reading: Elementary (if applicable, after 9/1/22)
- Completed the Professional Ethics Module
- Submitted licensure application or college verification form request, transcripts, and certified check or money order to the Licensure Coordinator for processing
Completer Admission
A Level 4 “Completer” has met the requirements above and their application for additional endorsement has been submitted to the Virginia Department of Education or their college verification form has been processed for their school division to proceed with their additional endorsement. A “Completer” is a licensed student/alumnus who is employed in the field.
Periodic reappraisal of teacher candidates will be made as the student progresses through the program.
Admission Decisions (MAT, MEd, MS)
Admissions decisions are made by the policies established through the Education Policy Committee. The Mary Baldwin University Admissions office informs applicants, in writing, of their admission status. At the time of admission, applicants are advised by the School of Education regarding any additional undergraduate course requirements that must be fulfilled as conditions of enrollment. Any individual may be denied admission or have admission retracted to the graduate Education program for the following reasons:
- Attempting to obtain admission by fraudulent means or through misrepresentation or omission of material facts (including failure to report all prior institutions attended)
- Falsification of records or documents
- Conviction of any felony
- Conviction of any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, sexual offense, drug distribution, or physical injury
- Failure to meet stated program admission requirements
Full Admission
Students who meet all admissions requirements are admitted to the graduate education program as fully admitted degree-seeking students.
Conditional Admission
Students who do not meet the full-admission criteria may be considered for conditional admission on the basis of strong evidence that they can succeed in a graduate program that requires maintenance of a 3.0 GPA. Conditionally admitted students must achieve a minimum 3.0 GPA in all graduate work and complete all other admissions requirements in order to be considered for full admission. In general, conditional admission status does not continue for more than three successive semesters.
Conditional admission is not available in all programs.
Moving from Conditional to Full Admission Status
The School of Education monitors the progress of conditionally admitted students at the end of each semester. Course grades, course instructors’ assessment of students’ writing and speaking skills, and professional qualities evaluations are considered in this review. The College of Education informs students and their academic advisors in writing regarding their status:
- continued conditional admission,
- admission to full degree-seeking status,
- suspension, or
- dismissal.
Non-Degree Seeking Students
Students who do not meet admission requirements but hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution are eligible to enroll in education courses as non-degree seeking students. No financial aid services are provided to non-degree seeking students. Teachers seeking recertification credits may enroll as non-degree seeking students. One must be admitted to Level 2 in the Teacher Education Program or hold a provisional license and be admitted to the CPLT program in order to enroll in ED 607, 608, 624, and 649.
Admission Requirements for the Graduate Comprehensive Certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorder
A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. (This requirement can be waived on a case-by-case basis for individuals without undergraduate degrees who are professionally serving individuals with autism and who demonstrate the capability to handle the curriculum.)