School of Education

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Martha E. MacCullough, Ed.D., Dean

Division of Graduate Education

Professor

Dianne K. Alexander, Ed.D.
C. Richard Beach, Ph.D.
Patricia L. Cook, Ed.D., Chair, Graduate Educational Leadership and Administration Program
Sheryl A. Vasso, Ed.D., Chair, Graduate Teacher Education Program

Associate Professor

M. Jean Minto, D.Litt.

Assistant Professor

Paula L. Beach, M.S.
Deborah L. MacCullough, Ph.D.
Christopher J. Palladino, M.Ed.
Ann C. Rivera, M.Ed.
Jason D. VanBilliard, Ed.D.

Part-time Faculty

Diane K. Kloth, M.Ed. 
Barbara Underhill, M.Ed.

Adjunct Faculty

Sharon R. Berry, Ph.D.
Richard Bucko, Ed.D.
John L. Cooley, J.D.
Donald Dawes, Ed.D.
Stephen P. Dill, Ed.D.
Daniel J. Egeler, Ed.D.
Jack Layman, Ph.D.
Dennis W. Mills, Ph.D. 
David Sandowich, M.Ed.
Stephen Weir, M.S.
David K. Wilcox, Ph.D.
Karen Wrobbel, Ed.D.

In a day when traditional and progressive educational philosophies continue to play tug-of-war and modern and postmodern worldviews vie for the public mind, Christian educators need to develop a set of educational moorings that will form the basis for intellectually coherent and biblically informed practice.  The School of Education exists to provide the best in teacher preparation and school leadership and administration to fulfill that goal.

The Graduate Education program of Philadelphia Biblical University began in 1992 with the distinct purpose of providing a quality education for teachers and administrators in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the nation, and the world.  The core curriculum, built upon a distinctively Christian philosophy, promotes academic excellence, celebrates wise and innovative practices, and champions a global perspective and human diversity.

Core Values of the Graduate Education Programs

The faculty and staff in the School of Education hold to the following core values:

Relationship with God
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind!”

Human Relationships
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” This includes friends, colleagues, students, and people everywhere, all of whom are made in the image of God.

Scholarship
An education that prepares for excellence utilizing the mind, the heart, and actions! Knowledge and pedagogical skills go hand-in-hand.

Global Perspective and Diversity
Knowledge and skills to prepare instructional events that meet the needs of diverse people groups and individuals. All humans are created in the image of God and therefore reflect the Creator.

Worldview Integration
All of life and learning are viewed from a Christian theistic worldview which underlies the University’s philosophy of education.

Distance Learning

It is possible for students to pursue a graduate degree with Philadelphia Biblical University even if they live a distance from the main campus in Langhorne.  Several options are available.

E-Courses, Conferences, and Weekend Courses  Some courses are offered via the internet in an e-course or hybrid format. Every year several courses are rostered at regional, national, or international conferences and/or on weekends on the main campus.

International Sites
It is possible to take the M.S. in Education program through summer modules in Kandern, Germany, at the Black Forest Academy, or in BangNa (metropolitan Bangkok), Thailand, on the campus of the International Community School of Bangkok.  Careful planning may allow students to take courses in both locations or combine the program with courses on the main campus.  Core courses in the M.S. in Educational Leadership and Administration program are also available at these international locations.

International Convention Courses
The Graduate Education programs offer courses at the ICEC conferences sponsored by the Association for Christian Schools International.  Courses have been taught in Germany, South Korea, Hungary, Malaysia, Ecuador, Kenya, and the Philippines.

Independent Research
The Action Research Project and Instructional Design Project are culminating projects in which research is conducted and completed independently by students who  are assigned an advisor/reader. These projects are highly practical and culminate the professional experience at PBU.

Internships
In the M.S. in Educational Leadership and Administration program, students may take a three-credit administrative internship at an accredited school or organization under the mentoring of an approved administrator. Internships are available for all levels of administration in elementary school, middle school, high school, or K-12.

International Program

The Graduate Education programs began offering an M.S. in Education degree with an International Education specialization in Kandern, Germany, in 1997.  This program uses the facilities of Black Forest Academy.  Kandern is located approximately twenty-five minutes north of Basel, Switzerland, and fifteen minutes from Alsace, France.

The second international program began in the summer of 2001 in Bangkok, Thailand.  The facilities of the International Community School of Bangkok, now located in BangNa in metropolitan Bangkok, are used.  The exotic city of Bangkok serves as a convenient campus for educators throughout the Pacific Rim.

Certification

Twelve areas of certification are offered through the School of Education. Master of Science in Education students who are not already certified may work toward PA Instructional I or ACSI certification in a blended master’s and certification program.

Diversity

A strength of the Graduate Education programs is the diversity represented in every class.  Strategic interactions with educators who share unique experiences and wisdom provide a dynamic learning environment. Students in the programs are evangelical, yet come from varied church backgrounds.

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