Overview

ACU’s Master of Arts in Education program trains students in the art and science of teaching. They are given the information and training necessary to develop into skillful educational leaders and educators.

The ACU School of Education has a long-standing, excellent reputation for training teachers, and we’re proud to offer our Master of Arts in Education programs. We have developed these with working professionals in mind and offer two distinct paths. One is Teaching and Learning, where a student with a bachelor’s degree in any field can choose an elementary or secondary education emphasis, leading to teacher certification. Our Instructional Leadership is designed for those currently teaching and has three specific areas of emphasis: Bible, Instructional Coaching, and Special Education. The Special Education Emphasis is designed to enable certified teachers to become certified Special Education teachers using the Mild / Moderate Disabilities Endorsement. Teachers choosing this path can advance in their careers and have even more impact at their schools.

Admissions Requirements

• • • Undergraduate bachelor’s degree from an institutionally accredited organization.  Non-institutionally accredited organizations and international applicants will be considered on a case-by-case basis. 3-year international degrees may be considered.
    • Minimum 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA.  Students that do not meet this minimum but are within 10% of the required GPA or who have other compelling strengths in their application may be designated by the director of admissions for review by the Graduate Admission Review Board.
    • Contact information for two character references that can be reached if needed.  These should be academic or professional references.
    • Evidence in the application of agreement with ACU’s statement of faith and core convictions, a deep and credible Christian faith, and vocational fit with the program.
    • For programs leading to certification, Content Area Exam taken or proof it is scheduled to be taken.
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Degree Concentrations

• Concentration in Instructional Leadership (36 Credit Hours Required)

The Instructional Leadership concentration has three specific areas of emphasis: Instructional Coaching, Special Education, and Bible. Instructional Coaching qualifies you to come alongside teachers to help improve instruction at your school. The Special Education Emphasis leads to Arizona Certification in Mild-Moderate Disabilities (Endorsement). The Bible Emphasis strengthens biblical knowledge and can lead to ACSI (Association of Christian School International) Certification.

• Concentration in Teaching and Learning (36 Credit Hours Required)

The expectation for students with a concentration in Teaching and Learning is that they will become Arizona certified teachers who are fully equipped to challenge, motivate, and inspire their students and enable their students to reach their greatest potential. There are emphases in Elementary and Secondary education.

Professional Licensure/Certification Disclosure Statement

In compliance with U.S. Federal Regulations (34 CFR § 668.50 and 34 CFR § 668.43), Arizona Christian University provides the following disclosures concerning its Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education program.

The Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education may lead to Educator Certification in Arizona. All students who satisfactorily complete the Elementary Education certificate program at Arizona Christian University, will receive an Institutional Recommendation (IR) from the university. A program “audit” will be conducted upon completion of the last program requirement to ensure 3.0 GPA in required program coursework (including transfer coursework), a 2.5 GPA overall, tuition/fees paid in full, and materials checked out from library have been returned. The IR will be uploaded to the Arizona Department of Education. It is good for one year and cannot be reissued. The IR saves you time and money when you are applying for your teaching certificate. An informative chart on the benefits of completing the Education Program at ACU can be found at https://www.arizonachristian.edu/education-program-benefits/. Information on Educator Certification in Arizona can be found at the Arizona Department of Education website (https://www.azed.gov/educator-certification).

Additionally, certificated graduates receive an Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) teaching certificate that qualifies them to teach in Christian schools in the 180 U.S. and around the world. For information on how to apply for ACSI certification, please visit their website (https://www.acsi.org/accreditation-certification/certification-for-teachers/certification).

States vary in their certification requirements. ACU has made reasonable, good faith efforts to determine if its certified education programs meet the applicable education requirement for professional licensure or certification in all fifty states and several U.S. territories. This information can be accessed here.

These disclosures do not guarantee that any jurisdiction will approve an application for certification, and ACU shall not be held liable for an unsuccessful professional certification application.

Updated 2/16/2022