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Alvernia College
Graduate and Doctoral Catalog

Program Requirements


The Graduate and Certification Programs
...described herein are based upon reasonable projections of faculty availability and appropriate curriculum considerations. Alvernia College reserves the right to terminate or modify programs, program requirements, content, course descriptions and sequence of program offerings from semester to semester for financial reasons, educational reasons, insufficient enrollment, or other reasons which it deems sufficient to warrant such action. Programs, services, or other activities of the College may be terminated at any time due to reasons beyond the control of the College including, but not limited to, acts of God, natural disasters, destruction of the premises, labor disturbances, governmental orders, financial insolvency, or other reasons or circumstances beyond the control of the College.

Master of Arts Community Counseling
MASTER OF ARTS (M.A.)

The Program in Community Counseling leading to a Master of Arts is designed to combine theoretical knowledge, research, professional skills and an ethical foundation to prepare students to work with individuals, families, couples, groups and communities to enhance their ability to function within society. Special emphasis is placed on working
with populations experiencing co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders. The Community Counseling Program leading to a Master of Arts is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The program requirements for this Master of Arts are as follows:

Course Requirements - 51 Credits

Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS)

The Program in Liberal Studies leading to a Master of Arts degree is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The program requirements for this degree are as follows:

Course Requirements - 30 Credits

Master of Arts with emphasis in Human Behavior or Criminal Justice

Course Requirements - 36 Credits

Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree

The Program in Community Service and Economic Leadership leading to a Master of Business Administration degree is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The program requirements for the Master of Business Administration are as follows:

Course Requirements- 36 credits (not including prerequisites)

Master of Education (M.Ed.)

The Program in Urban Education leading to a Master of Education degree is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The program requirements for the Master of Education are as follows:

Course Requirements - 33 credits

Requirements for various M.Ed. emphases:

School Health (M.Ed.) & School Nurse Certification

Alvernia College offers graduate opportunities in Education and School Health through the Master’s Degree with emphasis in School Health and the School Nurse Certification. The program requirements are as follows:

There are three unique program options to meet your educational background and professional goals.

Option 1:

Option 2:

Option 3:

Additional Requirements to Earn a Master of Education

Principal Certification Programs

Before the Pennsylvania Department of Education will grant Principal Certification, candidates must successfully complete five years of classroom teaching in the state of Pennsylvania. The requirements for the Master of Education with Principal Certification and Principal Certification only programs are as follows:

Master of Education with Educational Leadership emphasis and Principal Certification (39 credits)

Principal’s Certification (minimum of 15 credits beyond Master’s Degree)

Required Field Experience:
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) requires that all candidates for Principal Certification accumulate and log a minimum of 360 hours of administrative field experience. Hours are typically accumulated in conjunction with normal teaching responsibilities. Field experience is to be split equally between elementary, middle school,
and secondary educational settings.

The field experience hours are allocated by individual classes. 45 hours of logged field experience are required for each of the following required administrative courses: MED 550, MED 553, MED 650 and either MED 610, MED 560 or MED 611. The remaining 180 hours are logged in conjunction with MED 685 - Principal’s Internship. One- half of the required hours for each course must be accumulated during the term in which the course is taken. The remaining hours can be logged and submitted to the Coordinator of Graduate Admission and Student Services at any time after the completion of the courses. Application to the PDE for certification cannot be made until all of the required field experience hours have been logged by the student and submitted to the Graduate Office.

Teaching Certification Programs

The requirements for each Teaching Certification program are as follows:

Teaching Certifications (31 credits or 46 credits with Master's Degree)

Additional Teaching Certification Requirements
Choose a Certification:

Elementary Education
Required Elementary Certification Courses (12 credits)

Secondary Education
Required Secondary Certification Courses (12 credits)

Special Education
Required Special Education Certification Courses (12 credits)

Additional Courses to Earn a Master in Education In Urban Education (in addition to teaching certification coursework requirements)
 Required Interdisciplinary Courses (6 credits)

Required Education and Capstone Courses (9 credits)

Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT)

The mission of the Occupational Therapy Program is to provide the broad-base of occupational therapy knowledge and skills along with a strong liberal arts education to prepare graduates for professional level occupational therapy practice. The program seeks to prepare graduates to think logically and creatively, act professionally and ethically, analyze ideas and situations, and solve problems encountered in their service delivery as practitioners, supervisors and managers. The curriculum also seeks to provide learning opportunities for students to discover and use their special gifts and talents in providing service to others and to experience cooperative, multi-disciplinary working relationships.
The various program requirements within the Occupational Therapy Program are as follows:

Five-year Combined B.S. in Health Science and M.S.O.T.
Alvernia College students who have successfully completed the undergraduate phase of the program including successful completion of level II fieldwork may transition directly into the graduate phase of the program.

Course Requirements - 34 credits

Entry Level M.S.O.T.
Students with a Baccalaureate Degree in a related field must successfully complete undergraduate prerequisites as outlined on an individual plan of study and approved by the Occupational Therapy Program Director, following a review of previously completed academic coursework.

Program Prerequisites - 79 credits

Masters Completion
Students with a B.S. in Occupational Therapy and Board Certification will be accepted directly into the graduate phase of the program provided all admission requirements are met, including:

Students pursuing the MSOT program complete a 9 credit track in one of the following areas: Occupational Therapy, Education, Business or Community Counseling.

Course Requirements -34 credits

Each student will select a track to pursue in Occupational Therapy, Education, Business Administration or Community Counseling. Each track is 9 credits.

- Students will be allowed to utilize the repeat/ delete option for only ONE course for any class in which a grade ‘B’ or below is received. This grade will remain on the student’s record; the second grade will be calculated into their overall GPA.
- Students will not be allowed to participate in the capstone activity in the degree unless they achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

Advancement and Retention in the Graduate phase of the Occupational Therapy Program is dependent upon:

Students with a health or physical challenge may be asked to obtain a physician’s statement that the condition will not be aggravated by or endanger clients/patients associated with the student in required coursework and fieldwork experiences. Reasonable accommodations will be made for students to meet ADA regulations. Prior to fieldwork I & II experiences, proof of ongoing ownership of health/accident insurance coverage, certification in adult, child and infant Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid, and proof of immunizations. OT majors must obtain request for criminal record check (Act 151) or FBI check if student has been a permanent resident of Pennsylvania for less than two years. Students must also complete Pennsylvania Child Abuse History clearance forms (Act 34) prior to clinical education.

The occupational therapy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824- 1220; phone number 301-652-2682. Graduates are eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of the NBCOT exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). Most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification examination. All occupational therapy students must complete Level II fieldwork within the time frame established by the program and a felony/ misdemeanor conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. It is suggested that prior to admission to the program any individual with such a conviction contact the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) and state licensing boards of occupational therapy to request information regarding credentialing eligibility. Clinical fieldwork and classroom experiences within clinical settings may require a criminal background check and or child abuse check in order to permit participation in the experience and enter the location. Organizations may deny a student access and participation in such activities due to misdemeanor or felony conviction. Additionally, organizations may require drug testing and/or health clearances prior to admittance to their facility. Negative results may preclude students from participation. Participation in such experiences is a requirement for graduation, inability to complete experiences due to convictions and/or inability to obtain satisfactory clearance would result in delayed graduation and/or the inability to graduate from the program. The College’s Career Services Office can provide assistance with resume preparation, interviewing, and job searches.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

The goal of the Program in Leadership leading to a Doctor of Philosophy is to provide an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary focus that requires a critical examination of contemporary theories of leadership, within a value-based framework. Program requirements are as follows:

Course Requirements - 63 credits

The Doctor of Philosophy has a common leadership core, research core and dissertation. In addition, there are three areas of concentration including: Corporate Leadership,
Community Leadership, and Educational Leadership.

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Graduate and Certification Programs
Master of Arts
Program in Community Counseling
Program in Liberal Studies
Master of Business Adminstration
Master of Education
School Health (M.Ed.) & School Nurse Certification
Principal Certification Programs
Teaching Certification Curriculum
Master of Science in Occupational Therapy
Doctor of Philosophy