The University offers eight undergraduate Teacher Education Programs (TEPs) and one graduate TEP. Each program is state-approved by the Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB, http://www.epsb.ky.gov) and nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP, http://caepnet.org). The TEPs include:
Biology Education (8th -12th grade), Division of Mathematics and Sciences
Elementary Education (kindergarten-5th grade), School of Education
English Education (8th -12th grade), Division of Literature, Languages, and Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education (birth-kindergarten), School of Education
Mathematics Education (8th -12th grade), Division of Mathematics and Sciences
Music Education (kindergarten-12th grade), Division of Fine Arts
Physical Education and Health (kindergarten-12th grade), School of Education
Social Studies Education (8th -12th grade), Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Special Education with a specialization in Learning and Behavioral Disorders (master program, kindergarten-12th grade).
In addition to the TEPs, the School of Education offers two professional programs that prepare graduates for professional careers in fields other than education.
Students interested in early childhood who do not want to become certified preschool or kindergarten teachers may pursue an Associate of Arts, Bachelor of Arts, or minor in Child Development and Family Relations (CDF). Graduates are ready to embark in careers supporting families and young children through childcare, social services, or child nutrition.
The Physical Education program addresses the tremendous surge of public interest in sports, fitness, and physical activity. Career opportunities for physical education graduates include athletic coaching, athletic training, sports administration, sports communication, sports management, sports marketing, and recreation. Graduates also have the option of pursuing graduate study in health-related occupations, including physical therapy and occupational therapy.
Instruction and assessment in Child Development and Family Relations, Physical Education “non-teaching”, and the nine Teacher Education Programs (TEPs), are aligned with standards that are determined by state and national organizations. These standards include the following:
Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP);
InTASC Model Core Teaching Standards and Learning Progressions for Teachers 1.0:
Kentucky Framework for Teaching;
Kentucky Teacher Internship Program (KTIP);
21st Century Skills;
Standards of the specialized professional association (SPA) of each program. Examples of SPAs include National Organization for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) for IECE; Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) for Special Education; National Association of School Musicians (NASM) for Music Education; American Kinesiology Association (AKA), Society for Health and Physical Education (SHAPE), and National Health Education Standards (NHES) for Physical Education and Health.
Each of the six programs housed in the School of Education and the five educator preparation programs housed in other KSU departments has eight hallmark assessments. These are program-level assignments and standardized tests, across courses, that the faculty has determined represent the knowledge, skills, dispositions, and cultural competence graduates of these programs need as they embark as professionals in their fields. Some of the hallmark assessments are shared across programs while others are specific to the program's academic content. Students should discuss their programs' hallmark assessments with their academic advisors and School of Education faculty to be sure that they understand their requirements and importance. As they progress through their programs, students need to devote the time and effort required to complete each hallmark assessment to the best of their ability.
The Teacher Education Committee (TEC) provides oversight and determines the policies and procedures of KSU's Teacher Education Programs (TEPs). The TEC is composed of all School of Education faculty and staff; two students representatives, the president of KSU's student chapter of the Kentucky Education Association and a representative elected by student peers; a representative from each of the five educator preparation programs housed outside the School of Education (Behavioral and Social Sciences; Fine Arts; Literature, Languages, and Philosophy; and Mathematics and Sciences); representatives from pertinent KSU departments (e.g., registration, advising, library); and representatives from two local school districts. When a student wants to request a waiver to a policy or procedure pertaining to educator preparation, her or his application and explanation of extraordinary circumstances are considered by the TEC, which makes a final determination.
To prepare graduates for the real world of teaching, the School of Education provides multiple opportunities for teacher candidates to practice what they learn through their coursework by engaging in professional experiences in a variety of professional settings. Before being approved to begin field experiences in schools, candidates must submit clear state-level criminal reports each academic year, which may be obtained through Franklin County Schools for a discounted rate or through
The University