L.E.A.D. Program (Licensure in Education for Adults with Degrees)

Any candidate who has received a Bachelor’s Degree (either B.A. or B.S.) is eligible to add teaching licensure to his/her credentials. While the individual programs vary by subject area, most post-baccalaureate candidates are able to complete their licensure preparation courses in four or five semesters, attending classes full-time. Individual program guides are available through the Graduate Admissions Office. Depending on the licensure area sought (Early Childhood Education, Intervention Specialist Education, Middle Childhood Education, or Adolescent to Young Adult Education), the Director of Graduate Education Studies will also provide assistance in planning each candidate's particular preparatory program.

Regardless of licensure program, certain commonalities apply to any candidate who elects to participate in the Teacher Preparation Program after completing his/her bachelor’s degree.

  1. Most of the basic education courses required for licensure can be taken EITHER at the graduate or undergraduate level. The equivalencies are listed below:
    Undergraduate Course/Graduate Equivalency
    EDUC 107School and Society: Intro Educ (NONE)3
    EDUC 206TH1:SL:DV:Ex&MultiCultGlobSoci3
    or EDF 606 Acc Learn w/Special Needs
    EDT 601Information and Communications3
    EDUC 264TH1:H2b:TH3:DM:EducationPsych3
    or EDF 601 Psychology of Learning
    EDUC 250Foundation of Literacy3
    or EDT 650 Dev Language/Literacy
    EDUC 351Methods of Teaching Devel Lit3
    or EDT 651 Meth Teach Dev Reading
    EDUC 252Prin/Prac of Tch Phon Aw & Pho3
    or EDT 652 Prin/Pract of Teach Phonics
    EDUC 353Literacy Assess/Intervention3
    or EDT 653 Reading Assess/Intervention
    ISE 243Positive Learning Environment3
    or EDT 670 Positive Strat in Discipline
    Candidates may elect, by individual courses, to take any class at the graduate OR undergraduate level in fulfillment of licensure program requirements.
  2. In preparation for licensure, each candidate must complete at least 300 hours of field experience PRIOR to student teaching.  These documented hours must represent a range of experiences with diverse learners in urban, suburban, and rural districts, and both public and parochial schools. Additionally, at least one of these experiences must include accommodating students with special needs. The candidate's course instructors, advisor, and the Education Placement Office will assist each candidate in fulfilling these requirements prior to student teaching.
  3. As a condition for visiting schools or working with students, Walsh University requires each licensure candidate to submit a clear BCII/FBI background check.
    All candidates should be aware that prior criminal convictions, whether or not the conviction has been expunged, can affect his/her ability to obtain a license to teach in the State of Ohio and/or affect his/her ability to obtain employment in a preschool program, parochial school, public school district or chartered non-public school.
    It is the candidate's responsibility to determine whether he or she is eligible for licensure and/or employment as a teacher in the State of Ohio. Each Walsh University education candidate is responsible for maintaining the high moral and ethical standards necessary to be included in field experiences, pre-student/student teaching and to become licensed to teach in the State of Ohio.
  4. The preclinical (pre-student) teaching experience at Walsh University is completed in the same location, and with the same cooperating teacher(s) as the planned clinical (student teaching) semester.  Depending on the intended licensure area, these preclinical (pre-student) teaching classes are to be taken one semester before clinical (student teaching).
    Licensure Area and Preclinical (Pre-Student Teaching) Course(s)
    All AYA and MCE Licensure Areas
    EDUC 450Preclinical:ProfesInPractice3
    EDUC 345AYA/MCE: Instructional Methods3
    P-5 Elem. Educ/P-5 ISE Dual
    EDUC 450Preclinical:ProfesInPractice3
    Intervention Specialist Education
    EDUC 450Preclinical:ProfesInPractice3
  5. Upon completion of all required courses, a minimum of 300 hours of documented field experience, approval of the Student Teaching Application, and successful completion of the preclinical  teaching methods course(s), the candidate completes his/her clinical semester. Working in cooperation with the Education Placement Office, each licensure candidate is regularly observed by a university supervisor, in addition to his/her assigned cooperating teacher. Throughout the Teacher Preparation Program, and especially during the student teaching semester, the Ohio Educator Standards are utilized to evaluate the student teacher’s preparation, classroom practices, and professionalism. A professional e-portfolio is developed to document achievement in each Ohio Educator Standards and is aligned with the Division of Education Candidate Proficiencies. The licensure candidate normally registers for two courses in fulfillment of the student teaching requirement: a seminar (3 credit hours) and the student teaching experience itself (3 credit hours). The specific courses are listed below:
    Intended Licensure Area and Student Teaching Semester Courses
    All AYA Subjects
    EDUC 468H3:TH1:DV:CIT:StudentTeachSem3
    EDUC 469Student Teaching-LEAD3
    Middle Childhood
    EDUC 468H3:TH1:DV:CIT:StudentTeachSem3
    EDUC 469Student Teaching-LEAD3
    P-5 Elem. Educ/P-5 ISE Dual
    EDUC 468H3:TH1:DV:CIT:StudentTeachSem3
    EDUC 469Student Teaching-LEAD3
    Intervention Specialist
    EDUC 468H3:TH1:DV:CIT:StudentTeachSem3
    EDUC 469Student Teaching-LEAD3
  6. Successful completion of the Teacher Preparation Program and student teaching includes the licensure candidate’s passing the Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) tests  in his/her content areas. Each candidate is required to take the Assessment of Professional Knowledge Test AND the test(s) associated with his/her specialization area(s). The Education Placement Office can provide additional OAE registration information. Passing all tests associated with the intended licensure area is required by the Ohio Department of Education, regardless of completed course work, as a condition for state approval for initial licensure.
  7. A candidate may elect to expand his/her teaching credentials by adding an endorsement to his/her license.
  8. Upon completion of the licensure program, candidates often elect to complete their Master of Arts in Education requirements immediately. Others choose to obtain teaching positions, and then complete their remaining courses, as required by the Ohio Department of Education. Those interested in completing the Masters of Arts in Education program AND licensure courses simultaneously are required to fulfill a separate set of course requirements. See the Director of Graduate Education Studies  for additional information about the Master of Arts in Education program.