Mission
Graduate Programs in Behavioral Sciences and Education provide bachelor’s and master’s degree-holding candidates access to specialized expertise, avenues to earn advanced professional credentials, and opportunities to earn advanced degrees in their fields. Our programs are distinctive for their focus on reflective practice, their emphasis on experiential learning in professional contexts, and by the individualized attention students receive from our experienced and respected faculty in their courses, during advising, and through the many opportunities for collaboration and mentoring that exists in all of our programs.
Application Procedures
Application for admission to the Graduate Programs in Behavioral Sciences and Education programs may be made for fall, spring, or summer sessions. To be considered for admission, applicants should submit their applications and all required supporting materials to the York College Graduate Admissions Office at least 10 business days prior to the start of their anticipated entry semester. Applicants are admitted on a rolling basis.
Admission Requirements
- Completed Application
- Statement of professional and academic goals
- Two positive professional recommendations
- Official undergraduate transcript demonstrating the possession of a Bachelor’s Degree with a GPA of “3.0”
- Official graduate transcripts (if applicable)
- Current professional resume
- Current Pennsylvania Teaching Certification (if applicable to the program)
*Pennsylvania certified educators may be eligible for PDE endorsements and certificates depending on their curriculum selections
Additional materials may be required in order for the admissions committee to evaluate a degree candidate’s credentials. Requests for additional materials are typically limited to applicants who seek acceptance of transfer credits or whose application materials fall short of the minimum expectations. Applicants to any graduate program within the School of Behavioral Sciences and Education will be subject to approval by the Graduate Program Office; admission of all candidates to the program will be at the discretion of the Director of Graduate Programs in the School of Behavioral Sciences and Education.
Types of Admission
There are four types of admission classifications in the program: degree candidate, certificate candidate, Early-Entrance - “4+1” candidate, and continuing education candidate.
Degree Candidate
There are four types of admission classifications in the program: degree candidate, certificate candidate, Early-Entrance - “4+1” candidate, and continuing education candidate.
Certificate Candidate
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate candidates must hold an undergraduate degree to be eligible for admission. Post-Master’s Certificate candidates must hold a master’s degree to be eligible for admission. Candidates may also be eligible to earn certifications, and/or endorsements from external accreditors if they meet the criteria designated by those accreditors.
Early-Entrance -(4+1) Candidate
Undergraduate students may apply for early-entrance to the Applied Behavior Analysis program. Admissions requirements for early-entrance students are summarized in the Admissions section of the Graduate and Professional Catalog.
Continuing Education Candidate
Students interested in engaging in professional development, maintaining their certification, or building their capacity in a specialized area, may enroll in up to 9 credits of individual program courses as Continuing Education Candidates. These students will not be eligible to earn a degree or certification unless they choose to re-apply to a program as Degree or Certificate Candidates.
Admissions Requirements for Continuing Education Candidates
- Completed Graduate Studies Application
- Statement of applicant’s professional and academic goals
- Official undergraduate transcript(s)
- Instruction Modalities
- Graduate programs in Behavioral Sciences and Education are designed for working professionals and/or full-time undergraduate Early Entrance Candidates. All courses employ an engaged online instructional modality. During fall, spring, and summer sessions, synchronous course meeting windows are designated Monday through Thursday during the evening hours. Synchronous course meetings are facilitated with video conference software. All courses also include asynchronous activity.
Programs of Study
Graduate Programs in Behavioral Sciences and Education prepare highly effective practitioners with the advanced skills and knowledge needed to thrive in their careers and serve the institutions and communities in which they work. A variety of degrees and certificates are offered.
Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) Educational and Organizational Leadership
The Doctorate of Educational and Organizational Leadership program admits highly qualified educators and leaders as candidates. Candidates complete an advanced program of study which culminates in the Applied Research Capstone, in which candidates produce an applied research product. Additionally, candidates select from one of five program specializations including:
- Business Administration
- Public Policy
- PA Principal Leadership and Certification
- Teacher Leadership
- Youth Resilience
Doctoral candidates may utilize up to nine credits of previously completed York College of Pennsylvania coursework (Level 500+) to satisfy specialization requirements. Credits applied to a previously completed graduate degree or certificate may not be applied in this way. Application of these credits is at the discretion of the Program director.
Master of Education Degree Specializations
- The School of Behavioral Science and Education at York College of Pennsylvania offers a Master of Education degree with six available specializations, including:
- Applied Behavior Analysis, M.Ed. *accredited as a verified course sequence from the Association for Behavior Analysis International
- Diversity and Student Resilience, M.Ed. *qualified educators may concurrently earn the Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Wellness Endorsement (PK-12) from the Pennsylvania Department of Education
- Educational Leadership, M.Ed. *qualified educators may concurrently earn the School Principal Certification (PK-12) from the Pennsylvania Department of Education
- Educational Technology, M.Ed. *qualified educators may concurrently earn the Instructional Technology Specialist Certification (PK-12) from the Pennsylvania Department of Education
- Effective Teaching, M.Ed. *Pennsylvania certified educators may be eligible for PDE endorsements and certificates depending on their curriculum selections.
- Reading Specialist, M.Ed. *qualified educators may concurrently earn the Reading Specialist Certification (PK-12) from the Pennsylvania Department of Education
The School of Behavioral Sciences and Education at York College of Pennsylvania offers a Post-Master’s Certificate Program:
- Post-Masters certificate - Applied Behavior Analysis *accredited as a verified course sequence from the Association of Behavior Analysis International
The School of Behavioral Sciences and Education at York College of Pennsylvania, offers five Post-Baccalaureate Certificates, including:
- Educational Leadership *qualified educators may concurrently earn the School Principal Certification (PK-12) from the Pennsylvania Department of Education
- Educational Technology *qualified educators may concurrently earn the Instructional Technology Specialist Certification (PK-12) from the Pennsylvania Department of Education
- Master Teacher *qualified educators may concurrently earn the Skills for Teacher Leaders Endorsement (PK-12) from the Pennsylvania Department of Education
- Reading Specialist *qualified educators may concurrently earn the Reading Specialist Certification (PK-12) from the Pennsylvania Department of Education
- Youth Resilience *qualified educators may concurrently earn the Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Wellness Endorsement (PK-12) from the Pennsylvania Department of Education
Educators who hold valid Pennsylvania Instructional I, Instructional II, or Administrative Certifications at the conclusion of their programs, successfully complete all designated courses, and pass any required state assessments, are eligible to independently apply for their desired certification or endorsement from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Applied Behavior Analysis candidates, both degree and certificate, who successfully complete the York College verified course sequence and document the completion of their requisite supervision hours are eligible to independently apply to the Behavior Analyst Certification Board to sit for the ABA examination and, after receiving a passing score on this examination, become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (credential awarded by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board).
Course Embedded Field Experience
Candidates for PDE credentials must complete the course-embedded field experience activities associated with their coursework. These activities are aligned to PDE competencies and require candidates to apply the knowledge and skills they acquire in their courses in real-world contexts. These performances are documented independently of coursework with digital portfolios. Candidates for PDE credentials must complete all course-embedded field experience activities designated for their desired credential to be approved as a successful candidate to PDE.
Education Foundations and Capstone Performances
Degree candidates must complete four Education Foundations courses, as well as the courses designated in their selected professional core.
Degree and credential candidates who elect the Educational Leadership specialization must complete either a one-semester (three credits) or two-semester (two credits each semester) administrative internship. Candidates must complete all course requirements prior to beginning the internship. An Administrative Internship Manual will be provided by the Program Supervisor of the Educational Leadership program.
Degree and credential candidates who elect the Reading Specialization must complete two semesters (six credits) of practicum experience. All Reading Specialization courses must be completed prior to the first semester of reading practicum. Updated clearances (within one year of practicum) are required for any practicum experiences completed in local districts. Guidelines for reading practicum will be provided by the Program Supervisor of the Reading Specialist Program.
Degree credential candidates who elect the Educational Technology Specialization must complete a capstone project during their internship semester. Guidelines for this project will be provided by the Program Supervisor of the Educational Technology Program.
Degree Candidates who elect the Diversity and Resilience Specialization or Effective Teaching Specialization must complete a capstone project during the semesters in which they enroll in the Education Innovation Practicum.
External Credentials
York College of Pennsylvania is approved by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education to award Doctorate Degrees, Master’s Degrees, Post-Masters Certificates, and Post-Baccalaureate Certificates. Other credentials, such as certifications and endorsements, are awarded by external accreditors. While the curricula of many York College programs are approved by these accreditors, these credentials often include requirements beyond the successful completion of these curricula. Admission to a degree or certificate program at York College does not guarantee a candidate eligibility to be awarded a certification or endorsement from an external accreditor. It is the responsibility of each candidate to understand, and meet, the requirements of any external certification or endorsement they wish to earn.
Policies and Procedures
Academic Professionalism
The professional orientation of graduate and professional programs in the School of Behavioral Sciences and Education necessitates the maintenance of professional dispositions by students while participating in course or program activity and in and in all communications made as a student. These dispositions include:
- Competence in written and oral expression
- Ethical, moral character
- Professional comportment during synchronous course activity
- Personal organization Ability to meet deadlines
- Ability to accept and profit from constructive criticism
- Use of prudent judgment
- Class attendance
If a course instructor, advisor, or program director becomes aware of a pattern of academic behavior from a student in which these dispositions are not being displayed by a student, a professional dispositions meeting will be scheduled by the program director. Attendees will include the student, Program Director, Graduate Director, the associated School Dean and/or the Assistant Provost for Graduate and Professional Programs. The meeting will communicate the area(s) in which the student fell short of the Academic Professionalism required of students in the program. The program director will document the required immediate and observable steps to address improvement in a formal memo delivered via email after this meeting. Continuation in the program will be determined by the candidate’s ability to successfully address the identified concerns. Failure to maintain the professional dispositions designated in the formal letter may result in an administrative removal from the program. Administrative removal will be initiated by the program director with the approval of the associated School Dean and/or the Assistant Provost for Graduate and Professional Programs.
Grading, Degree Progress, and Dismissal
- Degree, Certificate, and Early Entrance Candidates are required to maintain a minimum of a 3.0 grade point average to remain in good standing and be eligible to earn a degree or certificate.
- Students who fail to achieve at least a 2.0 in their first 6 credits are placed on probation, Students who are placed on probation and who do not raise their GPA above a 3.0 in the next 6 credits will be dismissed from the program.
- If a student’s cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0 at any time, the student may be placed on academic probation. Students on academic probation must achieve a 3.0 cumulative grade point average during the next nine credits or three graduate level courses. Students who are placed on probation and who do not raise their GPA above a 3.0 in the next 9 credits will be dismissed from the program.
- Courses in which a student receives a grade less than a 2.5 must be retaken in the earliest semester that the course is offered. A particular course may be retaken only one time. The student is permitted to repeat no more than two courses total. If a course is retaken, both grades will be recorded on the transcript, but only the highest grade is used in calculating the GPA. Failure to earn a 2.5 or higher on the second attempt of a retaken course will result in the student being dismissed from their program.
- All students are expected to follow all York College of Pennsylvania policies in regards to academic honesty and professional dispositions. Further, all students enrolled in the Graduate Programs in Behavioral Sciences and Education are expected to demonstrate the highest standards of ethics and professional behavior. Violation of the program Academic Professionalism dispositions, York College Academic Integrity Policy, or the Pennsylvania Code of Professional Practice and Conduct for Educators (22Pa.Code §235.1-235.11.) may result in dismissal from the graduate program.
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