School of Education

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Martha E. MacCullough, Ed.D., Dean

Department of Graduate Education

Professor

Patricia L. Cook, Ed.D., Chair, Graduate Teacher Education Program
Sheryl A. Vasso, Ed.D.

Associate Professor

Dianne K. Alexander, Ed.D.
Patricia L. Rahn, M.Ed.

Assistant Professor

J. Scott Cawood, M.S.

Part-time Faculty

Jay Desko, Ph.D.
Barbara Underhill, M.Ed.

Adjunct Faculty

Sharon R. Berry, Ph.D.
John L. Cooley, J.D.
Stephen P. Dill, Ed.D.
Daniel J. Egeler, Ed.D.
Brian Foutz, M.Ed.
Wayne K. Lynch, M.Ed. 
Deborah L. MacCullough, M.A.
Dennis W. Mills, Ph.D.
Frank Severn, M.A.
Judy E. Severns, M.Ed. 
David K. Wilcox, Ph.D.

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

The Graduate Education programs 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

Philosophy of Education
The Graduate Education programs are consistent with the core values inherent in a Christian world view.

Worldview Integration
All knowledge is studied in light of Christian values recognizing that “all truth is God’s truth” wherever it is found.

Multicultural Diversity
Central to a Christian world view is acceptance of, service to and love for all humankind.  Diversity is a mark of biblical Christianity.

Academic Excellence
Excellence in study and performance is consistent with a view of life that reflects the excellence of our Creator.

Cooperative Learning
Learning is an active process that includes lively discussion, dynamic questioning strategies, hypothesis testing, group learning and research.

Personal and Interpersonal Integrity
Integrity as the linchpin of character is the best predicator of credibility and behavior.  Integrity is manifested by an integrated person.

Technological Skills
Accessing and presenting information are foundational for effective educational leadership and communication.

Reflective Practice
Developing metacognitive skills that focus on one’s thinking, interpersonal communication and behavior are prerequisites for effective change.

Stakeholdership
Graduate program faculty, staff, students and families share in the educational experience and encourage one another.

Constant Evaluation and Improvement
Ongoing assessment, revision, and improvement are integral componenets of the educational experience and are practiced personally as a natural part of total quality management in the program.

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
All educators will deal with the issue of distance learning.  For that reason, several core and elective courses are offered via the internet.

International Sites
It is possible to take the entire M.S. in Education program through summer modules in Kandern, Germany at Black Forest Academy or in Bangkok, Thailand at 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.  Selected core and elective courses in the M.S. in Educational Leadership and Administration program are also available at these locations.

International Convention Courses
The Graduate Education programs offer courses during international educator’s conferences.  Courses have been taught in Germany, South Korea, Hungary, Malaysia and Ecuador.

Independent Research
MEL 961 and MTE 952 are courses where research is conducted and completed off campus by students.

Internships
In the M.S. in Educational Leadership and Administration program, students may take 2-6 credits as an administrative internship at an accredited school or organization under the mentoring of an approved administrator.

International Program

The Graduate Education programs of Philadelphia Biblical University began offering an M.S. in Education degree, with the International Education minor concentration 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 are used.  The exotic city of Bangkok serves as a convenient Pacific Rim campus for educators throughout Asia.

Sudent Profile

One of the most significant issues in determining the quality of a graduate program is who students interact with during their graduate studies.  A tremendous strength in the Graduate Education programs is that there is genuine diversity represented in every class.  Strategic interactions with educators who share unique experiences and wisdom provides a dynamic learning environment.

Church Diversity
Students in the programs are evangelical in their doctrine, yet come from varied church backgrounds including Baptist, Mennonite, Methodist, Presbyterian, Charismatic and Independent.

Gender Diversity
A typical class in the M.S. in Education program is approximately 28% male and 72% female.  A typical class in the M.S. in Educational Leadership and Administration program is approximately 42% male and 58% female.

Age Diversity
The age range in a typical class ranges from mid-twenties to mid-fifties while the average age of students is 37 in the M.S. in Education program and 39 in the M.S. in Educational Leadership and Administration program.

Ethnic Diversity
The average M.S. in Education class is made up of students from the following ethnic backgrounds: African American 10%, Asian 6%, Caucasian 83%, and Hispanic 1%.  The average M.S. in Educational Leadership and Administration class is made up of students from the following ethnic backgrounds: African American 11%, Asian 6%, Caucasian 77%, Hispanic 1%, and other International students 5%.

Career Diversity
Student within the M.S. in Education program work in leadership roles in the following areas: U.S. Christian Schools 30%, U.S. Public Schools 9%, U.S. Private Schools 1%, International Christian Schools 27%, Businesses 8%, Churches 1%, and Non-Profit Organizations 27%.  Students within the M.S. in Educational Leadership and Administration program work in leadership roles in the following areas: U.S. Christian Schools 69%, U.S. Public Schools 11%, International Christian Schools 3%, and Businesses 3%.  The remaining 14% of both programs includes full-time students and mothers working at home.

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