Carlow University’s New EdD Program: Devoted to the Future of Education
Carlow University’s New EdD Program: Devoted to the Future of Education
Carlow University’s new Doctorate in Education (EdD) program is geared toward teachers and administrators who recognize the need for a new brand of leadership to imagine the future of education now. This three-year practice-based program is for people who are devoted to extending their voices beyond their particular disciplines and, as Scholar-Practitioner Stewards of Education, help to change the world for their future students. to help change the world for their future students. It offers four specialization strands:
- Educational Leadership
- Educational Leadership with Principal Certification
- Educational Leadership with Superintendent Letter of Eligibility
- Curriculum and Learning
- Literacy
- Early Childhood Policy and Leadership
Credits Required:
54
Cost Per Credit:
$650
Time to Completion:
As few as 36 months
Delivery:
100% online – Dissertation defense is in person.
EdD courses at Carlow are different from other programs because they feature a distinctly integrated doctoral study design, with each course building upon previous ideas while preparing students to engage with new concepts that can inform their practice. Throughout the program, students are invited to study systems design, to engage in discursive deliberation, and to explore new transformational approaches to education.
Quick Facts
- Our EdD is rooted in our rich history and traditions of social justice, Mercy values, and Scholar-Practitioner philosophy
- We invite and respect diversity of thinking and expression as we learn together to challenge social injustices and inequities in schools.
- This program positions students as innovative thinkers as they present their ideas and practice-based research.
- Students can learn and work with other innovative system thinkers.
Online Degree
Gain the knowledge you need at your convenience with our online degree.
Career Opportunities for EdD
The EdD degree is the highest degree that can be awarded in the field of education. It signifies unparalleled expertise and concentrated study in the field. This degree is valued by individuals seeking a career as principals, school district superintendents, assistant superintendents, college faculty, executive directors, and heads of foundations and educators who wish to examine the dilemmas of practice in relation to the changing systems of education.
Admission Requirements and Application Process
- 3.0 GPA Minimum for Admission
- Apply anytime, start date in the Fall and Spring Semesters.
- It is possible to transfer up to 18 post-Masters credits
- This program accepts international students
- Current CV, graduate transcript, an essay, and an interview are required to apply
- Three (3) professional recommendations are required
Apply:
Any time
Start Terms:
Fall and spring
Contact Admissions
If you are interested in this doctorate program, our Admissions team is available to assist you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit.
Discover the advantages of Carlow University’s Education Programs
Now more than ever, our nation’s schools need skilled and compassionate educators, curriculum specialists, and instructional leaders.
In Carlow University’s Education programs, you will gain specialized knowledge and hands-on teaching experience. Just as importantly, you will come away with a deeper understanding of how to care for the whole student as an empathetic instructor and mentor.
Carlow purposefully offers programs devoted to the unique needs of today’s diverse student populations. Program options include art education, early childhood development, special education, and secondary education. Certificate options include dyslexia, online teaching, and autism. Learn firsthand from passionate faculty and recognized experts in the field.
New! Doctorate in Education
The Campus Lab School provides incredible practicum and field experiences for Education students.
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It takes one teacher or one principal to change the trajectory of a child’s life. Representation matters.
The Apprenticeship Program is a degree pathway for individuals working in childcare centers devoted to high quality early education.
Education students have the opportunity to join Future Educator’s Club, Best Buddies, or by-invitation, the international honor society in Education, Kappa Delta Pi.
Our College in High School provides four Education classes during the school year and summer opportunities for those interested in teaching.
We offer special graduate level PD classes for $270.00, and we have a robust Speaker Series available for community organizations and schools. In addition, we offer a virtual Educator Workshop series accessible free of charge to the community.
$1.2M
in scholarships are awarded every year to graduate and undergraduate students.
$16M
in grants have been awarded over the last five years to support student learning and advance innovative educational practices.
800+
educators and community members are provided with professional development trainings and workshops every year.
Newsletter
Learn about Carlow’s personalized education in our quarterly newsletter.
Educator workshops on Eventbrite
Keep up on the latest topics and trends in education with our Carlow Educator Workshops. Led by Carlow School of Education instructors, workshops offer additional learning opportunities to help ready tomorrow’s educators.
Faculty & staff
Our faculty and staff are devoted to nurturing and supporting current and future Scholar-Practitioners who are reflective in action, capable of creating and serving in High Performance Learning environments, and who support and respect the dignity and diversity of all learners.
Keely Baronak, EdD Chair, Professor, Education
Tanya Baronti, MS, MEd Director of Clinical Placements
Ann Bisignani Graduate Program Coordinator
Debra Campbell Administrative Assistant
Sean P. Freeland, PhD Assistant Professor of Education, Program Director for Secondary Education
Mimi Loughead, MEd Southwest Workforce Apprenticeship Coordinator
Marissa McClure-Sweeny, PhD Professor and Program Director, Early Childhood Education
Patricia L. McMahon, PhD Professor
Tammi McMillan Power of One Director & ECE College in High School Coordinator
Lillian Naccarati, EdD Executive Director
Valerie Piccini, MEd Program Director, MEd in Reading Specialist & Graduate Certificate in Dyslexia Teaching
Susan L. Polojac MEd Director, Dr. Rae Ann Hirsh Apprenticeship Program for Early Childhood Education
MiIsha Reid, PhD Program Director and Assistant Professor of Special Education
Pamela Zimmerman MEd Undergraduate Program Coordinator
Rachel Griffo, PhD Director of Grants and Special Projects
Accreditation
Our Education programs are accredited by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. In addition, our Reading Specialist Program is accredited by the International Dyslexia Center.
View our student teaching handbook
View our education department handbook
Department of Education Points of Pride (2019-2023)
- In June 2023, Carlow University’s Education Department and Campus Laboratory School received a $85,000 grant from a private charitable foundation to continue the legacy of The Campus Lab School’s Founder, Sister Mary Paul Hickey. “The Sister Mary Paul Hickey Professional Educator Development Project,”encompasses an annual Sister Mary Paul Hickey Professional Development Educator Workshop Series; The Sister Mary Paul Hickey Symposium; The Sister Mary Paul Hickey Teacher Research Mini-Grants Project; and graduate scholarship awards to teachers from The Campus Lab School and schools in the Pittsburgh and Greensburg Dioceses. Sister Mary Paul Hickey was the founder of The Campus Laboratory School of Carlow University and served as Principal for more than 40 years. She left a legacy of service, innovation and a deep love for the students and teachers at The Campus Lab School. This grant honors her memory while building on her legacy of excellence in education and support of teacher development.
- In January 2023, Carlow University’s Department of Education was awarded two workforce diversity grants from the Pennsylvania Department of Education in the amount of $100,000 each. These grants established, “The Innovative Teacher Prep2Practice Program,” and “The Innovative Principal Prep2Practice Program,” for aspiring educators and principals and to support Pennsylvania’s workforce.
- In September 2022, Carlow’s Department of Education was awarded a $12 million sunsetting grant from a local, anonymous donor. “The Dr. Rae Ann Hirsh Apprenticeship Hub for Early Childhood Education,” was successfully endowed, following a two-year concept testing period that resulted in the receipt of the sunsetting grant. Carlow University is the first, four-year university in Pennsylvania to be designated by the Department of Labor as a four-year early childhood apprenticeship program and its work will continue in perpetuity as a result of this endowment gift.
- In May 2022, Carlow’s Department of Education was awarded an $808,025 grant from the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Professional Development Organization (PASSHE PDO) in support of apprenticeship scholarships, student supports, and professional development opportunities.
- In December 2021, the Education Department was the recipient of a $109,122 grant from The Peirce Family Foundation in support of “The Peirce Dyslexia Program at Carlow University.” Funding encompasses a 4-week intensive summer structured literacy program, Camp Carlow and after school literacy workshops for children from The Campus Laboratory School and from the West Oakland/Hill District and greater Pittsburgh community. The program also provides literacy tutoring support for Perry High School students (one of Pittsburgh Public Schools) conducted by graduate students of Carlow’s four-course dyslexia track, which is embedded in the MEd Reading Specialist Program.
- In July 2021, Carlow’s Department of Education was awarded an $80,150 grant from McAuley Ministries for the “Community Literacy Engagement Project (CLEP),” an individualized literacy support, four-week summer program for children from Campus Lab School and the West Oakland/Hill District communities. The grant also supports literacy tutoring in The Campus Lab School’s Dyslexia Center throughout the school year.
- In July 2021, Carlow University’s Education Department and Campus Laboratory School received a $93,500 grant from a private charitable foundation to establish, “The Sister Mary Paul Hickey Symposium and Teacher Leader Institute.”Components of the project include an annual professional development educator workshop series and symposium, teacher research mini-grants, and scholarship awards to teachers from The Campus Lab School and from schools in the Pittsburgh or Greensburg Diocese.
- In June 2021, the Department of Education was the recipient of two separate $225,000 grants to fund the “Power of ONE,” a program aimed at providing teacher certification for educators of color. Funded generously by the McElhattan Foundation and The Grable Foundation, these grants benefit a strategic partnership between the University and partnering school districts. The grants allow Carlow to partner with school districts to diversify Pittsburgh’s teacher pipeline, allowing for a more seamless and supportive degree pathway for initial teacher certification for Black and Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC), having a tangible impact on increasing the number of educators of color in school districts where many students identify as Black and multi-racial.
- In May 2021, Carlow University was awarded $886,892 from the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s Professional Development Organization Grant (PASSHE PDO) through the Office of Child Development and Early Learning for scholarships and supports for childcare providers who are attending a college or are enrolled in university programs. Supports include textbooks, tutoring support, a full-time workforce coordinator, and an apprenticeship coaching website. Part of the grant will support Carlow’s early childhood apprenticeship program, which helps to improve childcare employee retention, reduce barriers for workforce entry, and increase diversity in teacher candidates.
- In February 2020, The Heinz Endowments awarded a $1 million grant and a $1 million endowment to support “The Dr. Rae Ann Hirsh Apprenticeship Hub for Early Childhood Education” to improve the quality of early childhood education in Pennsylvania.
- In September 2019, a local, anonymous foundation awarded two grants totaling $1 million to Carlow’s Department of Education to support a two-year concept testing period for the establishment of, “The Western Pennsylvania Early Childhood Apprenticeship Hub,” the first, four-year early childhood apprenticeship program in the state of Pennsylvania.
In the Healthcare Social Work concentration of Carlow University’s online BSW, you’ll gain a conceptual, ethical and practical framework for social work practice in healthcare.
Healthcare Social Work Concentration (for BSW Majors only)
The Healthcare Social Work concentration provides the student with a conceptual, ethical, and practice framework for social work practice in health care. Emphasis is on an overview of the United States health care system, the unique knowledge and skill base of social work in health care, the biopsychosocial/spiritual impact of illness on patients and their family members and/or support system, and the special psychosocial needs of populations most often served in health-related social work. The introduction to biomedical ethics is provided as well as the fundamental medical terminology necessary for social work practice in health care. 11 required credits (4 courses) plus 9 pre-requisite credits (3 courses)
| Course Number | Course Name | Required or Elective | N of Credits | Prerequisite |
| SW 298 | Social Work Pathways in Healthcare | Required | 3 | |
| SW 309 | Social Work Practice in Healthcare | Required | 3 | SW 104, SW 302 |
| SW 404 | Grief and Loss Across the Lifespan | Required | 3 | PY101 (3 cr) |
| HIM 102 | Medical Terminology | Required | 2 | |
*Students who wish to take a course(s) and are not a Healthcare Social Work Concentration, may request to enroll in the course with permission from the department chair/program director approval.
** Minimum of six credits in Healthcare Social Work must be taken at Carlow University.
Enhance your career opportunities in the biotech industry
Designed for the biotech working professional who is looking to effect change in the health sector, our Quality Control and Assurance Certificate program offers a pathway to new and impactful career paths in healthcare and the life science fields. Designed in partnership with industry leaders, this online certificate will equip you with employable skills that you can take into the workforce at any time.
- Gain knowledge of therapeutic and medical device life cycle management
- Learn how financial risk and regulations play a part in discovering and developing healthcare and medical products.
- Understand the integration of supply chain management and how it intersects with the healthcare sector
Credits required:
12 credits
Cost per credit:
$875/credit
Time to completion:
As few as 8 months
Delivery:
100% online
Quality Assurance and Control online courses include:
- Quality Assurance in Health Sector
- Pharmaceutical Business Lifecycle Management
- Supply Chain Management in Pharmaceutical Industry
- Financial Processes & Risk in Pharmaceutical Industry
Pittsburgh, a force in the biotech industry
The Pittsburgh Region, already known for its innovation and excellence in healthcare, is now a force in the biotech industry, one of the fastest-growing fields in the country. Here at Carlow, innovation is what drives us. We are partnering with industry leaders who share a vision for the future of Pittsburgh to provide solutions to meet the next great need.
“As an industry expert- Pittsburgh is committed to building the infrastructure needed to support those working in the biomedical and life science fields.”
— Patrick Bailey, BioTech Professional
Contact Admissions
If you are interested in this certificate program, our Admissions team is available to answer any questions or assist you with the next steps.
Esports Business Management Degree, discover a world of career possibilities
The popularity and growth of esports has created a multitude of new career possibilities, providing you with pathways to pursue your passions and earn a good living.
With our carefully designed Esports Business Management curriculum and commitment to teaching excellence, you will build your business, management and financial knowledge through an esports lens, while also increasing your capacity for soft skills including critical thinking, problem-solving, and communications.
Put your passion to work.
DISCOVER a world of career possibilities in esports.
Now Recruiting for Fall 2025
Compete on Carlow’s coed esports team this fall. You will practice and compete in our on-campus esports facility equipped with experience-focused computers, hardware, and audio equipment.
Interested? Fill out the RecruitMe Form
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Delivery:
On campus & online
Campus:
Oakland
Transfer Credits:
Up to 90 credits
Esports Curriculum
Taught in a personalized, hands-on learning environment, our esports business management curriculum is designed to equip you with employable skills that you can take into the workforce at anytime. These include:
- Leadership and ethical management
- Communication (oral, written, visual and nonverbal)
- Marketing, including social media (Facebook, Twitter, Twitch, YouTube, Discord)
- Strategic planning
- Team-building
Quick facts
Apply now for Fall!
- Compete on an esports team while getting your degree
- Complete a curriculum designed for the esports career of your choice
- Participate in hands-on internships on campus and around the city of Pittsburgh
As you build on your business, management and financial knowledge, you will define what success means for you. Our supportive faculty and staff can help put you on the pathway to the career of your choice in esports.
Did you know there’s more to esports than professional gaming?
It is an industry full of opportunity1 in management, operations, sales, marketing, and coaching. It’s growing, too. The Esports industry is now the fastest growing segment of media and entertainment, supporting nearly 2 million jobs across the nation2.
Internship opportunities
Resume-building internships are available in and around the city of Pittsburgh as well as on campus with our official esports athletic team and gaming lab. Real-world, on-campus opportunities include:
GAME PLAY INTERNSHIPS
Serve as shotcasters/hosts, tournament administrators or analysts for Carlow events
OPERATIONAL INTERNSHIPS
Assist with the operation of the gaming lab in collaboration with our IT team
Other opportunities exist among a range of age groups and communities through high schools, independent organizations and professional organizations that compete in esports.
Put your passion to work with a career in esports
You can explore a variety of majors, minors and specializations to add to your esports major.
Operations & Game Play
Coordinate events, manage tournaments, coach a team, referee, games or announce a team
Management & Sales
Build business strategy, secure partnerships, investors, sponsorships and advertising sales
98%
of Carlow undergraduates are employed within 6 months of graduation
$5k
average pay per month for esports management positions3
Marketing
Create content using videography, photography, or write social media posts, blogs, stories and articles
Technology
Create new worlds for gamers through design, development, coding and testing
Admission requirements and application process
- Submit an application for admission. It is free to apply.
- Request that official transcripts from all current and previous institutions you’ve attended are sent directly to the Carlow University Office of Admissions.
Apply
anytime
Start term:
Fall
“Students can develop important competitive advantages for their future academic and professional performance by focusing on the soft skills that eSports participation provides. The latest research and interviews with industry professionals suggests that eSports is a perfect training ground to let students test and develop these skills.”
From the blog, “How eSports Help Students Cultivate Soft Skills” by Liz Alton, Connected
Esports Faculty
Susan Rubisch-Gisler, PhD Chair, Associate Professor, Business Management
Howard A. Stern, PhD, MA, MPA, MSIS Professor, MBA Program Director, Director of The Center for 21st Century Innovation and Workforce Development
Eugene Ney Instructor Business Management
Carl Zappa Instructor and Associate Head Coach
Contact Admissions
If you are interested in this major, our Admissions team is available to help you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an upcoming event.
1 “What Esports Jobs are Available Other than Gaming?“, Ready Esports
2 “National Economic Impact of the U.S. Gaming Industry“, American Gaming Association
3 “Esports Management Annual Salary“, ZipRecruiter
Expand your career opportunities with a healthcare management degree
Our healthcare management degree provides the educational and business background necessary to pursue a career in a variety of healthcare positions including healthcare advocacy, long-term care, healthcare institutions, insurance or physicians’ practice.
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Delivery:
On campus, some online
Campus:
Oakland
Transfer credits:
Up to 90 credits
Healthcare Management curriculum
The Healthcare Management major curriculum focuses on healthcare finance, services, and data analytics. In consultation with your advisor, you may construct your major (add biology or chemistry and 6 electives) to help accomplish your healthcare career goals.
Quick facts
- Take advantage of Carlow’s location and medical resources
- Explore healthcare data analytics as part of your core classes
- Get a jump start on master’s in Fraud and Forensics or Business Administration
Alternate degree completion options
Online Degree
Gain the knowledge you need at your convenience with our online degree option. When applying, indicate your interest in the online option.
Accelerated
Fast track your way to a master’s by taking graduate courses as an undergraduate student. Course credits count toward both degrees. Apply for the accelerated option after your sophomore year.
Career opportunities for Healthcare Management
According to the U.S. Bureau of Statistics, employment for medical and health services managers is expected to increase by 32%.
Admission requirements & application process
- Submit an application for admission. It is free to apply.
- Request that official transcripts from all current and previous institutions you’ve attended are sent directly to the Carlow University Office of Admissions.
Apply
anytime
Start terms
Fall, Spring & Summer
Healthcare Management faculty
Michael Kistler, PhD Chair, Department of Public Health
Contact Admissions
If you are interested in this major, our Admissions team is available to assist you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit.
Help students improve their literacy skills
As a reading specialist, you can help students identify their reading difficulties and develop methods to overcome those struggles by providing remedial instructions. The Graduate Certificate in Reading Specialist prepares you to teach reading programs at various educational levels.
Credits required:
25 credits
Cost per credit:
$600/credit
Time to completion:
As few as 12 months
Delivery:
Online
In-Person Practicum
Graduate Certificate in Reading Specialist Curriculum
Interested in pursuing a a graduate certificate in Reading Specialist with an embedded Dyslexia Certificate from Carlow University?
Carlow Univeristy is a LEADER in the field of evidenced-aligned reading instruction. Carlow Reading Specialist candidates learn how to deliver systematic, explicit, multi-modal, diagnostic and intensive instruction.
At Carlow University, our Reading Specialist program is accredited by the International Dyslexia Association (IDA). We are in an elite crowd, as one of only a small number of universities nationwide with IDA accreditation! Best of all, Carlow’s Reading Specialist certificate program is available online, with class meeting times occurring synchronously (virtually) and asynchronously.
At Carlow all of our coursework is aligned to IDA and Structured Literacy, and we are proud to have been awarded IDA accreditation for our MEd in Reading Specialist program!
Unique options exist, that meet various needs:
1. Four Course Dyslexia Certificate, 12 credits
- READ 721 Dyslexia and Structured Literacy
- READ722 Critical Components of Phonological Awareness
- READ723 Structures of Language & Linguistics I
- READ 724 Data Integration and Instruction
2. Reading Specialist Certificate, 25 credits
The four courses in the Dyslexia Certificate, plus:
- READ 725 Teachers as Writers
- READ 726 Critical Analysis of Text
- SE 711 Disciplinary and Digital Literacy
- READ 729 Structures of Language & Linguistics II
- READ 740 Evaluating Literacy Curriculum
3. MEd in Reading Specialist, 31 credits
All courses in the Dyslexia Certificate and the Reading Specialist Certificate, plus:
- READ 727 Adolescent and Adult Literacy
- ED 731 Creative Inquiry
International Dyslexia Association’s Accredited Universities
Center for Effective Reading Instruction, Structured Literacy/Dyslexia Interventionist
Quick facts
- International Dyslexia Association, IDA Accredited
- Practioner oriented equipping teachers of reading and writing with Structured Literacy and evidenced-aligned teaching practices
- Faculty instructors who serve as national LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) trainers, Certified Orton-Gillingham Fellows, and literacy leaders and practitioners in the field
- Connected to Carlow’s Campus Laboratory School where Reading Specialist candidates have the unique opportunity of working directly with students with dyslexia in the school’s multi-sensory learning lab
- Partnerships with regional schools that enhance professional development
- No student teaching required
- Approved provider for the federal TEACH Grant
Career opportunities for reading specialists
Highly qualified Reading Specialists who possess a deep knowledge in the body of research known as the Science of Reading are in high demand. As NAEP, National Assessment of Educational Progress continues to report, nearly two-thirds of our nation’s 4th and 8th graders are reading below proficiency. Teacher knowledge is key in resolving this literacy crisis. Carlow’s rigorous coursework equips literacy practitioners with the essential knowledge and critical skills needed to support students, systems, and stakeholders in closing literacy achievment gaps for students across our county.
Work as a Reading Specialist, Literacy Coach, Interventionist, Consultant, Specialized Dyslexia Tutor, or Independent Literacy Contractor in a variety of settings!
Admission requirements and application process
You can apply for free online, and must submit the following materials:
- Official transcripts from all degree-granting institutions you have attended
- Personal essay that describes your academic objectives
- Current resume or curriculum vitae
- Two letters of recommendation that address your leadership potential and ability to succeed in graduate-level work
Apply
anytime
Start terms:
Fall and Summer
An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred; however, provisional admission is also possible if you do not meet all of the admission criteria but exhibit a strong possibility of academic success. No prerequisites or teacher licensure are required for this degree and certification.
Contact Admissions
If you are interested in this graduate certificate program, our Admissions team is available to assist you with the next steps.
Follow us on social media
Follow us and stay up-to-date on events and opportunities to learn more about our program and faculty.
Testimonials
“Carlow’s Dyslexia Certificate is exceptional! The knowledge gained throughout my experience has helped me to better support and understand evidence based practices that are beneficial for all students and vital for students with dyslexia. In addition to the coursework and learning, I found valuable relationships in the Carlow faculty! The professors were excellent in their knowledge base, course structures, and accessibility. Knowing that all our students deserve instruction rooted in what the collective science says about how the brain learns to read, working through Carlow’s Dyslexia Certificate program was a must for me!”
-Tanya Lewis is a principal in the Butler Area School District, Pennsylvania and a graduate of Carlow’s Educational Leadership Program and Dylslexia Teaching Certificate track
“I recently completed the accelerated, one-year MEd Reading Specialist and Dyslexia Certification program at Carlow University. I was initially attracted to Carlow because of the IDA accreditation, course offerings, and virtual instruction. Each course in the MEd Reading Specialist program and accompanying texts expanded my knowledge of reading science and structured literacy. The practicum experiences allowed me to put my new learning into practice. My fondest memories of Carlow are the classes taught by enthusiastic, expert instructors in the field of literacy. I am proud to be a Carlow graduate, reading specialist, and a CERI Certified Structured Literacy Interventionist!”
-Laurie Gibbons is a Reading Specialist in Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland and a graduate of Carlow’s MEd in Reading Specialist Program with embedded Dyslexia Certificate
“I highly recommend Carlow University’s MEd Reading Specialist program to anyone who is looking to expand their knowledge of evidence-based reading instruction and structured literacy. The professors are knowledgeable educators who have a wealth of experience in the field of education. The coursework helped me dive deeper into how children learn to read, the difficulties they may experience, and how to facilitate learning for students who struggle with reading. The embedded practicum allowed me to use the skills I was learning and provided opportunities for feedback and discussion with my professors and peers.”
-Sarah Seyler is a Reading Coach in Sussex County Public Schools, Virginia and a graduate of Carlow’s MEd in Reading Specialist Program with embedded Dyslexia Certificate
“My courses in the Reading Specialist program at Carlow have been career-changing. I have been an elementary teacher for 17 years and have learned more about teaching reading in courses I’ve taken than I have in my previous combined eight years of higher education. Already having an MEd, obtaining another was not my original plan. Being introduced to the Science of Reading and getting a taste of the research changed my mind. I want to keep learning and growing as a teacher and soak up as much knowledge as I can from the amazing professors and education department at Carlow.”
-Samantha Buterbaugh is a teacher in South Butler County School District, Pennsylvania and a graduate of Carlow’s MEd in Reading Specialist Program with embedded Dyslexia Certificate
Enter the workforce ready to make a change
Studies in the area of Restorative Justice will provide you with a foundational focus in addressing community-based issues pertaining to inequities in the justice system. You will also be introduced to alternate methods for addressing crime-related issues beyond the typical incarceration models most often employed by the United States.
You will be encouraged to consider how race and class affect interactions with the police and court systems. This concentration provides a solid foundation of theory, policy and research to help students become active change agents as they enter the workforce
Degree:
BSW
Delivery:
On campus & online
Campus:
Oakland
Transfer credits:
Up to 90 credits
Restorative Justice concentration curriculum
Students are required to complete the Restorative Justice sequence — Communities, Organizations in Praxis and Race, Class and Justice, as well as two courses from the following:Violence and Victims of Crime, Crime and Mental Health, Prison and Society and/or Juvenile Delinquency. Prior to taking these courses, students must complete Introduction to Social Work and Introduction to Criminal Justice.
Quick Facts
- Students are required to satisfy the requirements for the Social Work or Criminology major
- Concentration requires 12 credits, not including prerequisites
- A minimum of six credits of the selected Restorative Justice courses must be taken at Carlow University
Alternate degree completion options
Online Degree
Gain the knowledge you need at your convenience with our online degree option. When applying, indicate your interest in the online option.
Career opportunities for Restorative Justice graduates
Restorative justice provides social workers with a framework and set of practices to repair or produce resolution, to the extent possible in individual, family, community situations that may or may not involve the criminal justice system. At the macro or societal level, social workers advocate for social justice policy as well as provide resources for disenfranchised members of society.
Social workers may be working with individuals victimized by a crime or individuals court-ordered to treatment because of offending behaviors. Applications of restorative justice may be used by social workers within the criminal justice system such as in jails or prisons; or re-entry initiatives for incarcerated individuals; or within the child welfare system in cases of child abuse and neglect; or in educational settings where restorative practices are used by school social workers to build community and respond to conflict.
Accreditation
The Bachelor of Social Work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). CSWE’s Commission on Accreditation is responsible for developing accreditation standards that define competent preparation and ensuring that social work programs meet them. CSWE administers a multistep accreditation process that involves program self-studies, site visits, and reviews. Carlow University’s next accreditation visit will be in 2028.
View or download the following for more information:
- View or download the Bachelor of Social Work field manual [pdf]. It contains information and documents specific to the field placement component of the program
- View or download the Bachelor of Social Work program handbook [pdf]. It contains policies, procedures and information about the program
- View or download the Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes [pdf].
Admission requirements and application process
- Submit an application for admission. It is free to apply.
- Request that official transcripts from all current and previous institutions you’ve attended are sent directly to the Carlow University Office of Admissions.
Apply
anytime
Start terms
Fall, Spring & Summer
Social Work faculty
Susan Rubisch-Gisler, PhD Chair, Associate Professor, Business Management
Howard A. Stern, PhD, MA, MPA, MSIS Professor, MBA Program Director, Director of The Center for 21st Century Innovation and Workforce Development
Eugene Ney Instructor Business Management
Carl Zappa Instructor and Associate Head Coach
Contact Admissions
If you are interested in this major, our Admissions team is available to assist you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit.
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Carlow University prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to the Title IX Coordinator, Jackie smith at jmsmith@carlow.edu or 412-578-6050.