Introduction
Mission
The College of Education embraces the mission of Pacific University and its commitment to the liberal arts and sciences. The mission of the Pacific University College of Education is to be a community of thoughtful and responsive educators and speech language pathologists who
- Inspire professionals to value and serve individuals within their unique personal, family, and community context;
- Construct and disseminate new understandings through teaching and scholarship;
- Advance critical evaluation of theory and practice;
- Advocate for justice through outreach and service in reciprocal partnership with underserved communities; and
- Cultivate learning in and through our inclusive and diverse communities.
Values
The College of Education is guided by our core values:
- Equity
- Access
- Collaboration
- Partnership
- Agility
- Wisdom
- Kindness
About the College of Education
The College of Education is committed to increasing its sphere of influence and deepening its commitment to quality. The School of Learning and Teaching is preparing for national accreditation with the Association for Advancing Quality in Education Preparation, and previously held national accreditation from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Its licensure programs are approved by the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC). The School of Communication Sciences and Disorders Speech-Language Pathology Program has been accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (AHSA). Degree programs are accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
The Master of Science education program in speech-language pathology at Pacific University is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700. Degree programs are accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
The College of Education actively works with school district, medical and other clinical partners across Oregon through our Eugene, Forest Grove and Woodburn campuses. As we seek to meet the needs of a rapidly changing world we partner with many organizations. We are institutional members of: American Association for Colleges of Teacher Education (AACTE), Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), Oregon Latino Administrators Association (OALA), Oregon Alliance of Independent Colleges and Universities (OAICU), Oregon Association of Teacher Educators (OACTE), Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CAPCSD), Oregon Speech and Hearing Association (OSHA), and American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA). Our faculty are leaders in many state and national discipline-based organizations.
For further information, visit the COE website at www.pacificu.edu/coe.
Programs, Schools and Locations
The College of Education is comprised of two schools, the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders and the School of Learning and Teaching. The School of Communication Sciences and Disorders is located on the Forest Grove campus. The School of Learning and Teaching has programs in Eugene, Forest Grove, and Woodburn.
The School of Communication Sciences and Disorders offers three programs:
- A Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP)
- A Post-Baccalaureate course sequence in Communications Sciences and Disorders (CSD)
- An undergraduate minor in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD)
The School of Learning and Teaching offers undergraduate and graduate teacher preparation and education programs:
- Preliminary Licensure Programs: Eight distinct programs lead to Oregon’s Preliminary Teaching License. These programs prepare teachers at the following four focus area levels: early childhood education (age 3 to grade 4); elementary school (grades 3-8); middle school (grades 5-9); and high school (grades 7-12).
- Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT): General Education Full-Time
- Cohort program offered for those holding a bachelor’s degree
- Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT): General Education Part-Time Hybrid
- Part-time (evenings and weekends) cohort program offered for those holding a bachelor’s degree
- Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT): STEM and English Language Learning
- Full-time cohort program for those holding a bachelor’s degree and seeking preliminary licensure in science and/or math and ESOL endorsements
- Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT): Special Education Part-Time Hybrid
- Program for those holding a bachelor’s degree and seeking preliminary licensure in special education or adding a special education endorsement
- Bachelor of Arts (BA): General Education and Special Education options available
- An undergraduate teacher education program offered in conjunction with the College of Arts and Sciences (including a minor in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) that does not lead to a license)
- Bachelor of Education (BEd): Teaching and English Language Learning
- An undergraduate Teaching and English Language Learning teacher education program for transfer students
- Bachelor of Music Education (BME): Music Education
- An undergraduate teacher education program offered in conjunction with the College of Arts and Sciences
- Residency Teacher Licensure Program: Non-degree, graduate-level program for candidates holding bachelor’s degrees and serving as the lead teacher in a Pk-12 classroom.
- Advanced Programs: Advanced Programs, as described below, primarily are intended for licensed educators who wish to continue their development as professionals in the field of education. They are designed to develop and document advanced competence in meeting the education needs of individual students within a collaborative learning community. Candidates can complete specializations that lead to an endorsement, specialization, or certificate and can embed any of these into the Master of Education degree.
- Master of Education (MEd)
Program for licensed teachers who desire to deepen their expertise. Candidates can specialize in one of the following:
- Reading Intervention endorsement
- English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) endorsement
- Talented and Gifted Specialization
- Technology and Learning Certificate
- Special Education endorsement
- Non-Degree Seeking Program Options
Part-time programs for practicing teachers wishing to add additional endorsements or specializations to their licenses
- Certificates and Specializations
- Talented and Gifted (TAG) Specialization
- Part-time program for teachers, counselors, and parents who wish to learn more about meeting the needs of gifted children.
- Technology and Learning Certificate
- Part-time program for teachers and others who are interested in learning how to effectively integrate technology into their professional practice and better support learning communities with their students.
- Dyslexia Certificate
- Part-time program for teachers and other who are interested in learning about Dyslexia. The program addresses the foundational aspects of literacy acquisition and development, literacy assessment methodologies, and literacy instructional strategies for phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, comprehension and fluency.
- Additional Programs
- Master of Arts in Education (MAE)
Advanced degree program not leading to licensure.
- Master of Education/Visual Function in Learning (MEd/VFL)
Advanced degree program for optometry students or practicing optometrists (Forest Grove campus only) that does not lead to teacher licensure.
- Endorsements (added to existing license)
Programs also are available for practicing teachers holding a Preliminary or Professional Teaching License who wish to add endorsements or upgrade their professional skills.
- Undergraduate minor in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
- PhD in Education and Leadership
Interprofessional doctoral program in partnership with the College of Health Professions.
University Rules and Policies
Candidates are expected to follow all guidelines set forth by Pacific University.
Professional and Academic Standards
Good standing in the College of Education is defined as:
- continued enrollment;
- satisfactory academic progress;
- satisfactory performance in practica, student teaching, and internships;
- satisfactory teaching competencies;
- behavior that leads to professional competence and positive interpersonal and professional relations;
- appropriate professional/ethical conduct.
Candidates are evaluated regularly in all these areas.
Satisfactory performance in courses is defined as maintaining a 3.00 minimum GPA in all professional education and endorsement area coursework with no grade lower than a C in School of Learning and Teaching courses and no lower than a B- in School of Communication Sciences and Disorders courses.
Satisfactory performance in clinic, practica, student teaching placements and internships is defined as completing them with a grade of Pass (for graduate students) and C or above for undergraduate students.
Candidates are expected to demonstrate behavior consistent with the Pacific University Code of Academic and Professional Conduct as well as the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders and School of Learning and Teaching’s codes of conduct. . The College of Education reserves the right to define professional competence and behavior, to establish standards of excellence, and to evaluate candidates in regard to them.
Agreement to abide by the policies and procedures of the University and the program is implicitly confirmed when candidates register each term. Candidates are expected to adhere to the administrative and academic deadlines listed in the academic calendar and in course syllabi. Failure to do so may jeopardize their standing in the College of Education and may constitute grounds for probation or dismissal from the program. Candidates must maintain good standing in the program in order to be eligible for federally-funded financial aid or University /College of Education scholarships.
Violations of the Code of Academic and Professional Conduct
The College of Education assigns great importance to self-discipline, the ability to work with others, and the ability to conduct oneself in a professional manner. Violations of the Code of Academic and Professional Conduct can result in the dismissal of School of Communication Sciences and Disorders or School of Learning and Teaching students without previous warning at any time in their academic career.
School of Communication Sciences and Disorders Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology program students are guided by the program handbook.
School of Learning and Teaching program students are guided by the Code of Academic and Professional Conduct sections of the program handbook.
Appeals Procedure
A candidate may appeal a decision of the College of Education related to academic standing by submitting a letter to the appropriate Director of their program within ten business days of notification of the decision. The appeals processes are outlined in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders and School of Learning and Teaching handbooks.
Dismissal
The Dean of the College of Education will consider a recommendation for dismissal for any of the following:
- If a candidate fails to sustain satisfactory progress toward completion of the degree or licensure program because two or more substandard grades exist on the candidate’s transcript at any time;
- Insufficient progress in the development of teaching competencies;
- Failure to comply with College of Education rules or procedures;
- Unprofessional conduct, unethical conduct, or illegal conduct; and
- Evidence of behavior that may hinder professional competence and interpersonal or professional relations.
Ordinarily, a candidate will have received warnings that his/her work is less than satisfactory before dismissal. However, a candidate may, for adequate cause, be dismissed without previous warning. Per university policy, a candidate can appeal the decision.
School of Communication Sciences and Disorders Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology program students are guided by the program handbook.
School of Learning and Teaching program students are guided by the program handbook.
