Programs of Study in
Teacher Education

Admission, Continuation and Retention in Teacher Education at KSU 
Continuation in Teacher Education Program
Admission to Student Teaching 
Additional Admissions Policies 
Retention in Teacher Education 
Retention in Student Teaching
Admission and Retention Decision Appeals
Policy Statement Regarding Field Experience Assignments 
Certification 
Degree Requirements 

Admission, Continuation, and Retention 
in Teacher Education at KSU

Formal screening and monitoring of progress in teacher preparation represent institutional obligations to the teaching profession, the schools served by and working with the University's programs, and the agencies that approve and accredit teacher education programs. Kennesaw State University is committed through its admission and monitoring processes to recruit and prepare highly qualified and capable prospective teachers.

Admission to Teacher Education
Admission to teacher education is separate from admission to Kennesaw State University. Declaration of a major in one of the University's teacher education programs is a prerequisite to making a formal application for admission to teacher education. Following are the necessary conditions for admission to teacher education.

Before a student may enroll in professional level education courses at the upper division level (the required 3000- and 4000-level professional education courses), he or she must be formally admitted to teacher education at Kennesaw State University. A criminal history background check will be performed prior to admission to teacher education and may preclude admission to teacher preparation programs.

Students typically apply for admission to teacher education as sophomores after having completed most of their general education requirements. Applications for admission to teacher education are available in the Office of Graduate Studies in Education and Teacher Education Services. In order to meet the minimum requirements for admission to teacher education programs students must have:

1. Completed at least 45 semester hours of general education coursework including a minimum of 9 semester hours at Kennesaw State University
2. Completed English 1101 and English 1102 with grades of C or higher.
3. Passed the Regents' exam.
4. Passed the Praxis I examination.
5. Completed EDUC 2201 and EDUC 2204 with grades of C or higher.
6. Received two positive faculty recommendations, one of which must be from their instructor for either EDUC 2201 or EDUC 2204.
7. Received positive evaluations in field experiences.
8. Achieved an adjusted or cumulative G.P.A. of 2.75 for all coursework at Kennesaw State University.
9. Exhibited responsible, professional behavior in all classes, field experiences, and interactions with peers and faculty.
10. Exhibited potential for success in the program.
11. Been approved for admission by the Admission and Academic Standing Committee for each program area.

 

Individual programs/departments may have additional criteria for admission to the program.

To be considered for admission, applications must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies in Education and Teacher Education Services on or before the deadlines specified below:
 

The Office of Graduate Studies in Education and Teacher Education Services will inform the students of their admission status by letter.

If all criteria are met and the student is still denied admission to Teacher Education, an appeal may be made to the Teacher Education Appeals Board. (Form is available in the office of the Dean, Bagwell College of Education.) Before initiating an appeal, the student should meet with the appropriate program area Admission and Academic Standing Committee and/or Department Chair.

Continuation in Teacher Education Programs
While student progress will be monitored throughout the program, a formal progress check will occur when students have submitted the Intent to Register for Teaching of Specific Subject (TOSS) Courses form for the appropriate program area signed by their advisor to the appropriate TOSS coordinator.

Minimum requirements for continuation in the program are:

1. Completion of teaching field and professional sequence coursework with a 2.75 or better adjusted or cumulative G.P.A.
2. Grades of C or better in teaching and professional sequence coursework.
3. Positive evaluations in field experiences.
4. Responsible behavior in all classes, field experiences, and interactions with peers and faculty.
5. Approval by the Admissions and Academic Standing Committee of the appropriate program area.

Individual programs/departments may have additional criteria for continuation in the program.

The Intent to Register for Teaching of Specific Subject (TOSS) Courses form must be submitted to the appropriate TOSS coordinator on or before the deadline dates specified below:

Admission to Student Teaching
Student teaching normally is the last requirement completed in teacher education programs. Student teaching requires a full-time academic and professional commitment; therefore, no other courses should be taken during the semester of student teaching. Since student teaching is based in the field, the typical school-day hours for teachers at the placement site will be observed by the student teacher. The student teacher is expected to follow the direction of the Cooperating Teacher, the School Principal, the KSU University Supervisor, and the KSU Director of Educational Field Experiences.

Formal application to student teach must be completed and submitted to the Office of Educational Field Experiences. Students become eligible to student teach by meeting the following requirements:

1. Grades of C or higher in TOSS coursework.
2. A 2.75 adjusted or cumulative G.P.A. in all coursework at Kennesaw State University.
3. Positive evaluations in field experiences.
4. Responsible professional behavior in all classes, field experiences, and interactions with peers and faculty.
5. Positive recommendation from the instructor(s) of the Teaching of Specific Subject (TOSS) course(s).
6. Approval by the Office of Field Experience and the Admissions and Academic Standing Committee of the appropriate program area.

Individual programs/ departments may have additional criteria for admission to student teaching.

Applications for student teaching must be submitted to the Office of Educational Field Experiences on or before

in the year preceding the year in which student teaching will occur. For example, students wishing to student teach in Spring, 2005 must submit completed applications by March 30, 2004. Students wishing to student teach in Fall, 2005 must submit completed applications by October 30, 2004.

Applications will not be accepted after the deadline.

If all criteria are met and the student is still denied admission to student teaching, an appeal may be made to the Teacher Education Appeals Board. (Form is available in the Office of the Dean of the Bagwell College of Education.) In all cases, the student may initiate an appeal after seeking resolution with the appropriate program area Admissions and Academic Standing Committee and/or Department Chair.

Additional Admissions Policies

1. Transfer students must complete 9 semester hours at Kennesaw State University prior to enrolling in the professional education sequence classes of the teacher education programs. Students who have earned an adjusted or cumulative G.P.A. of 2.75 or higher at other institutions may request permission, if necessary, from the appropriate department chair to enroll in one 3000-level education course during their initial semester at Kennesaw State University.
2. Students who have been denied admission must address deficiencies within 3 semesters of the initial application for admission to continue in a teacher education program.
3. All applications for admission and supporting documents must be submitted by the announced deadlines in order for students to be considered at each admission phase.
4. The criteria herein described are the minimum for all teacher education programs. Individual programs/departments may have additional criteria for admission to the program, continuation in the program, and/or admission to student teaching. For more information contact an advisor in the appropriate program area.

Retention in Teacher Education
Once admitted to teacher education, a student will not be eligible to continue in teacher education if:

1. Responsible, professional behavior is not exhibited in all classes, field experiences and interactions with peers and faculty, as judged by the program faculty and/or cooperating teachers and school personnel.
2. The student is found guilty of a major violation of the student code of conduct or civil law.
3. Two or more D or F grades are earned in the teaching specialty and/or professional education components of the student's teacher education program. A review may be triggered if the student's adjusted or cumulative G.P.A. falls below 2.75 at KSU.
4. The individual fails to observe or meet the required course and program prerequisites, especially for field-based teaching methods courses and student teaching.
5. Teaching skills and effectiveness are judged by two or more faculty instructors and/or cooperating teachers to be unsatisfactory.
6. Student teaching is not completed satisfactorily.

One or more of these deficiencies will trigger a review by the Admissions and Academic Standing Committee of the appropriate program area, which will determine whether the student will be permitted to continue in the teacher education program. Decisions to remove a student from the teacher education program will be recommended by the AASCTE of the program area and approved by the Assistant Dean of the Bagwell College of Education and the Office of Educational Field Experiences. Mentoring of satisfactory, unsatisfactory, and remedial progress will be continuous throughout the student's tenure in the teacher education program and will occur through the appropriate program coordinator, and the Bagwell College of Education-Office of the Assistant Dean.

If the student is removed from the teacher education program, an appeal may be made to the Teacher Education Appeals Board. (Form is available in the Office of the Dean of the Bagwell College of Education.) In all cases, the student may initiate an appeal after seeking resolution with the appropriate program area Admissions and Academic Standing Committee and/or department chair. A further appeal may be made to the dean of the Bagwell College of Education. The decision of the dean is final.

Retention in Student Teaching
The Student Teacher may be removed from a field experience when any of the following occur:

1. The appropriate school authority states that the teacher preparation student's presence in the classroom is not in the best interests of public schools students and/or requests that the teacher preparation student be removed;
2. The joint decision of the appropriate teacher education program coordinator and department chair in consultation with the director of field experiences, student teacher coordinator, supervising master teacher, and/or university supervisor that the circumstances are such as to prevent either the development and/or maintenance of a satisfactory learning environment;
3. Unprofessional/unethical behavior has been exhibited by the teacher preparation student;
4. A decision has been reached that the teacher preparation student cannot receive a satisfactory grade.
   Following the removal, an appeal may be made by the student to the Teacher Education Appeals Board. (Form is available in the office of the Dean of the Bagwell College of Education.) In all cases, the student may initiate an Appeal after seeking resolution with the appropriate program area Admissions and Academic Standing Committee and/or department chair.

Admission and Retention Decision Appeals
A formal appeal of a decision to deny admission or retention in student teaching or the teacher education program may be made to the Teacher Education Appeals Board. Instructions and forms for such appeals are available in the Office of the Dean of the Bagwell College of Education. An appeal must be based on exceptional and extenuating circumstances and/or other pertinent information not previously available or considered. A formal appeal must be submitted in writing to the Dean of the Bagwell College of Education within 30 days of being notified of admission or retention status. In all cases, the student may initiate an appeal after seeking resolution with the appropriate program area Admissions and Academic Standing Committee and/or department chair. The Dean will transmit the appeal to the Board. The decision of the Teacher Education Appeals Board may be appealed in writing within 30 days to the Dean of the Bagwell College of Education. The decision of the dean is final.

The purpose of educational field experiences is to provide each teacher education student with multiple opportunities to engage in the practical aspects of teaching in real classroom settings. The teacher education faculty, the Director of Educational Field Experiences and appropriate school personnel collaborate to plan and implement the selection of school sites, classrooms and teaching/learning environments appropriate to the needs of the students and the goals of the Professional Teacher Education Program. Emphasis shall be given to balancing each student's experiences between urban, suburban and rural as well as among the multicultural and diverse populations of learners served within the Kennesaw State University service area. Each student is expected to be engaged in the full range of the respective program's teacher licensure requirements as prescribed by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.

Teaching License requirements are established by the State of Georgia Professional Standards Commission. When an approved program is completed, students desiring certification may obtain the necessary forms from the Office of Graduate Studies in Education and Teacher Education Services. Students desiring certification in other states should consult the State Department of Education in those states.

To be issued a teaching license, it is necessary to pass a Praxis II Test in the field in which the student wishes to be licensed. Note that the Teacher Certification Test is replaced by the Praxis II test effective September 1997. It is the student's responsibility to report their Praxis II test scores to the Office of Educational Field Experiences and to the Teacher Certification Officer in the Bagwell College of Education. Students who have previously passed the appropriate Teacher Certification Test will not be required to take the Praxis II test.

Effective March 1, 1999, all students seeking initial certification in Georgia must demonstrate they have passed the Praxis I test in addition to the Praxis II test. Praxis I is a comprehensive test dealing with reading, writing, and mathematics. It will normally be taken by education majors during the sophomore year. Students with the following minimum scores on collegiate entrance examinations may be exempt from Praxis I:
SAT: 1000 Total, Including 480 verbal and 520 mathematics
ACT: 22 Total, Including 21 English and 22 mathematics
GRE: 1030 Total, Including 490 verbal and 540 quantitative

Students who believe they qualify for this exemption should see the Teacher Certification Officer in the Office of Graduate Studies in Education and Teacher Education Services to establish and record the exemption.

For further information concerning Praxis I and Praxis II, education majors should contact their advisor, the Teacher Education Advisement Center, or the Office of Graduate Studies in Education and Teacher Education Services.

Major in Early Childhood Education 
Major in Middle Grades Education 
Major in English Education (Secondary Education) 
Major in Mathematics Education (Secondary Education) 
Major in Science Education (Secondary Education - Biology, Chemistry or Physics) 
Major in Social Science Education 
Major in Art Education (P-12 Program) 
Major in Foreign Language Education - French (P-12 Program) 
Major in Foreign Language Education - Spanish (P-12 Program) 
Major in Music Education 
Major in Health, Physical Education and Sport Science (Teacher Education P-12 Track) 
Major in Health, Physical Education and Sport Science (Sport Management Track) 
Major in Health, Physical Education and Sport Science (Exercise Science Track)