School of Education

The School of Education at Azusa Pacific University equips teachers, counselors, school psychologists and administrators for excellence and leadership in educational settings.

The School of Education at Azusa Pacific University equips teachers, counselors, school psychologists, and administrators for excellence and leadership in educational settings. The school provides an EdD program in Educational Leadership, an EdS degree in School Psychology, master’s programs, teaching credentials, and specialist credentials in special education, school counseling, and school psychology. The school also offers an undergraduate major in liberal studies, a minor in educational studies, and a bachelor’s degree completion program in early childhood education.

For a full listing of programs and affiliated faculty, visit the appropriate department pages: Educational Leadership, School Counseling and School Psychology, and Teacher Education.

Mission Statement

Based upon Christian values and principles, the APU School of Education prepares educators to be creative, collaborative, critical thinkers and scholars for diverse educational settings.

Learner Goals

The School of Education seeks to prepare:

  1. Ethical professionals who understand and articulate the integration of a Christian worldview in their communities of practice.
  2. Responsive educators who practice reflective, creative, critical thinking in their engagement with diverse communities of learners.
  3. Informed scholarly professionals who are dedicated to collaboration, professional growth, and lifelong learning.

Affiliated Programs

APU offers a number of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC)-approved subject-matter programs for candidates completing their bachelor’s degrees. The following programs can be used to meet the subject matter authorization requirement for a preliminary teaching credential:

In collaboration with the College of Arts, Humanities, Sciences, and Theology, the School of Education offers the Integrated Bachelor’s/Credential Programs to undergraduate students seeking to earn a preliminary teaching credential in high-demand areas (e.g., multiple subject (elementary), special education, science, and math) during their undergraduate degree program.

APU offers programs in graduate physical education. The Master of Arts in Physical Education and Single Subject Teaching Credential, Master of Arts in Physical Education with an Added Authorization in Adapted Physical Education, and the Adapted Physical Education Added Authorization programs are approved by the CTC. For more information, visit the School of Health Sciences section of this catalog.

APU offers a program in school nursing services—the School Nurse Services Credential (SNSC), which is approved by the CTC. For more information, visit the School of Nursing section of this catalog.

APU offers a Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Social Work and Child Welfare and Attendance Services, which is approved by the CTC. For more information, visit the Department of Social Work section of this catalog.

Credit Hour Policy

The School of Education follows the university credit hour policy, except when clinical experience expectations from our professional accrediting bodies require more clock hours.

Department of School Counseling and School Psychology

  • School Counseling: The CTC requires a minimum of 800 clock hours of supervised fieldwork/internship. This equates to 8 units of fieldwork/internship within the program.
  • School Psychology: The CTC requires a minimum of 450 clock hours of practicum experience. This equates to 3 units of practicum within the program. Additionally, the CTC requires a minimum of 1,200 clock hours of supervised fieldwork/internship. This equates to 10 units of fieldwork/internship within the program.
  • Applied Behavioral Analysis Specialization: As of January 1, 2022, the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) requires a minimum of 2,000 clinical hours for individuals applying for certification. The ABA program includes two fieldwork courses that have assignments that must be completed in the field under the supervision of a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) or school psychologist. The time necessary to complete the assignments equates to approximately 200 fieldwork clock hours. These fieldwork courses support students toward meeting their clinical requirements for the BACB, and these courses equate to 2 units of fieldwork within the program.

Department of Teacher Education

  • Preliminary Teaching Credential Programs: The CTC requires 600 clock hours of clinical experiences. A minimum of 60 hours of early field experiences are embedded in foundations courses, while a minimum of 140 hours of early clinical practice and 400 hours of culminating clinical practice are completed at student teaching or internship. This equates to 4 units of clinical practice within the program.

Faculty

Dean

Stacy Kula, PhD

Professors

Tammy Bachrach, PhD

Jennifer Courduff, PhD

Michelle Cox, PhD

Randy Fall, PhD

Paul Flores, PhD

Gregory Kaiser, PhD

Young K. Kim, PhD

Stacy Kula, PhD

HeeKap Lee, PhD

Robert Martin, PhD

David R. Morrison, EdD

Associate Professors

Richard Barsh, EdD

Cynthia Dollins, EdD

Ie May Freeman, EdD

Angela Guta, PhD

Amber Lynwood, EdD

Regula Schmid, EdD

Assistant Professors

Crystal Alstot, PsyD

Catherine Hahs Brinkley, EdD

Julia “Judy” Johnson, EdD

Lorraine Perez, EdD, Superintendent in Residence

Gregory Plutko, EdD

Joshua Ryoo, EdD

Michael Salce, EdD

Robert Taylor, EdD, Superintendent in Residence

Instructor

Susan Hall, MEd