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Master of Education in Initial Licensure
LEAPs (Lutheran Education Alliance with Parochial Schools)

Program Description
This program provides talented people the opportunity to explore teaching as a lifelong vocation, while serving as apprentice teachers in urban parochial schools. The program has three components: academic and teaching preparation, community living experiences while serving the teaching needs of parochial schools, and exploration of spirituality and faith in the context of service and vocation.

Specifically, this is a two-year program that prepares students holding baccalaureate degrees in any field (except for Education) for teaching in elementary and secondary parochial schools. Apprentice teaching placement is in Lutheran and Catholic schools located in Northwest Indiana and Chicago. The program benefits include:

1. Pre-professional coursework qualifying for initial teacher certification.
2. Pre-professional full time teaching experience for two years.
3. On-site mentoring.
4. Community living experiences.
5. Opportunity for spiritual growth.
6. Education benefit and summer housing at VU.
7. Living stipend of approximately $12,000/year.
8. Completion of a master's degree in education.

Students integrate graduate level coursework with actual full time teaching experiences. For each of the two summers, candidates live and study together at Valparaiso University. At the completion of each summer training component, students serve as full time teachers within a parochial school setting under the guidance of a local mentor. During the school year, teachers live together in community, sharing the challenges and rewards of their beginning teaching experiences. Safe, low-cost, and simple community housing is provided in the vicinity of the teaching sites.

As models within the elementary and secondary parochial systems, student teachers are encouraged to develop their own personal spirituality and faith in the context of community. This important dimension of the program is facilitated through four retreats and contact with local church members from the various communities.

Program Schedule

Living & Learning Together
Because a significant component of this academic program involves two years of service as an apprentice teacher, costs are minimal to the student. Students earn a stipend during their two years of teaching, and from this they assume their living and transportation costs. Because student teachers share housing, living expenses are generally modest. In addition, VU provides full tuition benefits as well as housing during summer study on the VU campus. Students assume incidental costs including such things as textbook purchases, travel to and from campus, entrance and licensing examination fees, graduate activity fee ($65/year), and applicable graduation fees.

Criteria for Admission
This program encourages talented seniors and college graduates from any field (excluding education) to apply for admission. Such graduates, however, should be interested in exploring teaching as a lifelong vocation and should be motivated by the desire to serve the teaching needs of church and society. Furthermore, they must be able to provide evidence of their independence, maturity, and resilience. Students with background in the sciences, mathematics and Spanish majors are particularly encouraged to apply.

Applicants are expected to be able meet the rigorous demands of graduate study at VU by presenting a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0, passing scores on the Praxis I Exam, and two strong letters of support from from faculty plus one letter of recommendation from a spiritual adviser. In addition, as part of a personal essay, applicants must articulate their reasons for wanting to enter the program, including how their goals are consistent with those of community living and spiritual development. There is also an interview with the LEAPs Admission Committee before formal acceptance.

Although students professing any Christian faith are invited to apply, those having familiarity with Lutheran or Catholic values may realize the greatest benefit, as most teaching placements are in the Lutheran and Catholic school systems.

By accepting a position in the program, students are committing themselves to two years of teaching in a parochial school system as well as to the overall goals of the program. Upon completion of the program, students must take the Indiana teaching certification exam and will then receive a master's degree. Although no further teaching is required, graduates are strongly encouraged to continue their vocation within a parochial school.

LEAPs Application Requirements

1. Valparaiso University Graduate Application & LEAPs Supplemental Application;
2. Official transcripts of all prior undergraduate and graduate coursework. If you have received an undergraduate or graduate degree from Valparaiso University, you are not required to submit an official transcript from Valparaiso University;
3. 3 Letters of Recommendation (1 from a Spiritual Adviser);
4. Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Exam;
5. Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) with following scores required: Math: 175, Reading: 176, Writing: 172;
6. Personal Essay (Specifics are indicated on the supplemental application for the LEAPs program);
7. Application Fee: $30.

For information regarding the LEAPs program, contact the Office of Graduate Studies at 219-464-5313.  For further information and application materials, contact the Office of Graduate Studies directly at 800-821-7685 or submit an inquiry.

Program Administration and Affiliations
This program is administered through the Office of Graduate Studies and Department of Education of Valparaiso University. Within the Department of Education, Maryann Dudzinski, Ed.D., Associate Professor, is the coordinator for the LEAPs Program in the Education Department.  Valparaiso University is a partner in teacher education with the United Consortium for Catholic Education (UCCE) based at Notre Dame University.

This program represents a Valparaiso University partnership with the Alliance for Catholic Education of the University of Notre Dame.

For more information about the Master of Education in Initial Licensure-LEAPs program
To learn more about the Master of Education in Initial Licensure-LEAPs, visit their department website at http://www.valpo.edu/education/programs/leaps/leapsindex.php.