Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education (birth-kindergarten), School of Family and Consumer Sciences Mathematics Education (8th -12th grade), School of Mathematics and Computer Science Music Education (kindergarten-12th grade), School of the Humanities and Performing Arts Physical Education (teaching) (kindergarten-12th grade), School of Education and Human Development Social Studies Education (8th -12th grade), School of the Social and Behavioral Sciences Special Education with a specialization in Learning and Behavioral Disorders (master program, kindergarten-12th grade), School of Education and Human Development. In addition to the TEPs, the School of Education and Human Development offers one professional programs that prepares graduates for professional careers in fields other than education.
The Physical Education (non-teaching) 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 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:
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 three degree programs housed in the School of Education and Human Development and the six teacher education programs housed in other KSU departments has 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 and Human Development 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 and Human Development faculty, staff, students, and representatives from local school districts.
To prepare graduates for the real world of teaching, the School of Education and Human Development 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 have clear criminal history verified each year. Teacher candidates must enter data pertaining to all field experiences in the Kentucky Field Experiences Tracking System (KFETS). Teacher candidates must complete a minimum of 200 hours of field experiences as a prerequisite of admission to student teaching.
To earn an undergraduate degree from the School of Education and Human Development, a student admitted to KSU must complete all course, field and clinical experiences. Students should consult with their academic advisors and the faculty to learn more about their specific programs. Requirements for admission to the University, admission to a Teacher Education Program (TEP), admission to student teaching, and/or program completion may be changed by a decision or action of an accrediting agency, the Kentucky Legislature, KSU Faculty Senate, KSU administration, the Teacher Education Committee (TEC), or the TEP. Students who are admitted to a TEP and then are not enrolled in courses for a period of 18 months or longer, are withdrawn from the TEP. When students re-enroll in the University, they must meet the criteria for admission to their TEP that are in place at that time.
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