CAEP Accreditation

The Early Childhood Education program, a blended plan with early childhood and special education, prepares pre-service teachers to teach all children, regardless of ability, from birth to age five. We have experiences with infant/toddlers, pre-kindergartners, preschoolers with special needs and administrators. The successful candidate will be able to be licensed to teach typically developing preschoolers as well as preschool children with special needs.  The program offers a standalone degree as well as an add-on endorsement to an elementary education degree (Pre-K – Kindergarten).

The CIF (Curriculum, Instruction, & Foundations) Program includes elementary, secondary, educational foundations, and educational computing for pre-service teachers. The elementary program is designed for those interested in teaching K-6. Students receive broad content knowledge in the core academic areas as well as in the art and science of teaching children.

Optional Endorsements:
Early Childhood Education (Pre-K)
Special Education

The CIF (Curriculum, Instruction, & Foundations) program includes elementary, secondary, educational foundations, and educational computing for pre-service teachers. The secondary programs are designed for those wanting to teach content to middle school and/or high school students.  The educational foundations and computing courses are designed for those entering the education field. Students receive broad content knowledge in the core academic area of choice as well as in the art and science of teaching children.

Currently, the Secondary Education program offers licensure degree programs in the following areas:

Grades PreK-Adult
Art
Music
Wellness

Grades 5-Adult
English
General Science
Mathematics
Social Studies

Grades 9-Adult
Biological Science
Chemistry
Physics

The MAT and PBC programs offer a 100% online route to teacher certification for individuals that have an undergraduate degree in an area other than education. Content coursework such as math, science, history, English, foreign language, fine arts, or a professional field provide the content foundation, and the program provides the required professional education courses and clinical experiences at the graduate level. Because applicants for certification must have completed all classes required by the state of West Virginia for the content area, applicants must have a transcript analysis to determine which content requirements have already been met. Even though applicants have a degree in a specific field, they may not have taken the courses prescribed for teachers in their field of study, and therefore additional content classes may be required prior to application and enrollment. The transcript analysis will provide a list of courses needed to complete the content area. Upon successful completion of the program coursework, all content courses, and testing requirements, the candidate receives a recommendation to the West Virginia Department of Education for a teaching certificate.

The Special Education Master’s Degree may be earned with a specialization in any of the areas of emphasis listed below (except autism). Students without a background in education must acquire certification in regular education prior to endorsement in special education, or they can enter the Non-Education Certification Program.  The Non-Education Certification Program is designed to allow candidates from non-education backgrounds to obtain West Virginia teacher licensure in visual impairments or multi-categorical. The non-education program does not include a general education teaching endorsement.

The Preschool Special Education Area of Emphasis is exempt from this requirement. The MA in Special Education, Preschool Special Education Area of Emphasis is a full certification program and students are not required to have an existing teaching certification to obtain certification in Preschool Special Education in WV. The program includes all coursework and student teaching requirements needed to obtain certification in preschool special education regardless of the student’s undergraduate degree (this includes other fields of discipline that are not education-related and RBA degrees). Students completing an undergraduate degree in early childhood education from Marshall University are not required to complete a student teaching field experience for the Preschool Special Education Program as this requirement is previously met as part of the undergraduate Early Childhood Education Degree. Additionally, students who wish to only complete the MA in Special Education with an emphasis in Preschool Special Education (without certification) have this option available to them.

Marshall University also offers coursework leading to the WV Autism Teaching Endorsement.  To qualify for the endorsement students must take two graduate level autism courses.  The endorsement is attached to a teaching certificate in emotional/behavior disorders, multi-categorical special education, mental impairment (mild/moderate), severe disabilities or pre-school special needs. Students may take the autism courses a part of their M.A. plan of study or as a non-degree student.

Accredited Areas of Emphasis:
Deaf & Hard of Hearing
Multicategorical Special Education
PreSchool Special Education
Teaching Visually Impaired

The Education Specialist (Ed.S.) program in School Psychology is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) in association with the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). It is designed to prepare students to meet the Department of Education requirements for certification in West Virginia and other states. The Ed.S. consists of 39 hours of required coursework and field experiences, in addition to a Master of Arts (M.A.) Degree in Psychology with an emphasis in School Psychology (36 hrs).

You apply to the Master’s Degree in Psychology with School Psychology Emphasis first. After successfully completing 12 hours in the fall semester, you apply to the Ed.S. in School Psychology. You receive two degrees in our program after three years of full time enrollment!

The School Psychology Ed.S. Program at Marshall University focuses on practitioner training for the delivery of comprehensive school psychological services primarily in school settings. Ed.S. students are trained in a “scientist practitioner” model that emphasizes the use of research findings in clinical decision-making, both in terms of creating interventions as well as evaluating their efficacy. Ed.S. students draw upon scientific literature to make decisions regarding best practice with a focus on empirically supported services.

Graduate programs in Curriculum and Instruction include the Master of Arts in Education (MA in Education), Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), Education Specialist in Curriculum & Instruction (Ed.S), Doctor of Education in Curriculum & Instruction (Ed.D.), and several graduate certificates.

Students pursuing the Master of Arts in Education may choose from a variety of concentrations including Early Childhood Education, Elementary Math Specialist, English as a Second Language, Individualized Plan of Study, Instructional Processes and Strategies, Instructional Technology & Learning, Library Media Specialist, and Math thru Algebra I.

Graduate Certificates are available in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Math Specialist, English as a Second Language, Instructional Technology & Learning, Library Media Specialist, Math thru Algebra I, and Program Evaluation. For specific information concerning each of these areas, please visit their webpage by clicking one of the links below.

If you are interested in applying for admission, please contact Kelly Sowards (program secretary) or the appropriate program coordinator, listed on the respective overviews.

Accredited Areas of Emphasis: 
Early Childhood Education
Elementary Mathematics Specialist
Mathematics Through Algebra I
School Library Media Specialist
Teaching English as a Second Language

Graduate Programs in Leadership Studies include the Master of Arts degree, the Doctor of Education, and several graduate certificates. Students pursuing the Master of Arts may choose from two concentrations:  Education Leadership (School Principal) or Leadership Specialist.

Accredited Area of Emphasis:
Educational Leadership

• We offer a Master of Arts in Literacy Education, an Educational Specialist Degree in Curriculum and Instruction, and a Graduate Certificate in Literacy Education to meet the unique needs of literacy professionals.
• Programs lead to careers as Classroom Teachers, Literacy Specialists/Coaches, and Title One Literacy Teachers
• Master’s Degree is a pathway to a Reading Specialist Endorsement from WVDE
  • Applicants from other states should check with their state agency about their accreditation requirements.
• Programs are CAEP accredited
• Online and face-to-face delivery options
• School-based field and practicum experiences
• Typically take 2 years to complete the Master’s Degree if enrolled as a full-time student
• Affordable online classes
• Financing options available

• Early Childhood Education
• Elementary Mathematics Specialist
• Literacy Education
• Mathematics Through Algebra I
• School Library Media Specialist
• School Principalship
• Social Service and Attendance
• Teaching English as a Second Language