College of Education and Human Sciences

Department of Education

Department Chair: Monica Riley

Education Faculty

Professors: Twila Alpe, Richard Holden, Sue Jolly-Smith, Linda Mahoney, Monica Riley
Assistant Professors: Shelley Bock, April Coleman, Brenda Dickey, Angela Farmer, Bob Fuller, Chrystal Hodges, Royal Toy
  

The “Educator as Reflective Decision Maker” is the model for the conceptual framework for the educator preparation programs at Mississippi University for Women. The programs have adopted the Core Standards of the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC) and the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards as goals for teacher candidates, and the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) standards for school administrator candidates. Further explanations of requirements and expectations for undergraduate teacher candidates are in the Teacher Education Handbook published by the Office of Field Experiences, and available through the MUW website.

NCATE (CAEP) Accreditation

The  MUW Educator Preparation Unit and all programs in education are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).The MUW teacher certification programs are also approved by the Mississippi Department of Education, which makes graduates of these programs eligible for Mississippi Educator Licensure in the approved areas. The NCATE accrediting body has merged with another accrediting organization (TEAC) to form the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The accreditation covers both initial and advanced educator preparation programs  . Since many states have reciprocity agreements based on graduation from  NCATE/CAEP accredited schools, graduates of NCATE/CAEP accredited institutions will generally find it easier to apply for educator licensure when they move out of state.

Quality Assurance Policy

All teacher education programs are covered by the Mississippi Institution of Higher Learning Quality Assurance Policy. The university warrants the quality of our graduates for a period of two years immediately following graduation. Certain guidelines do apply. Contact the College of Education and Human Sciences for more information.

Admission to Teacher Education

Students seeking admission to Teacher Education must submit documentation of the following to the Office of Field Experiences through a Mississippi University for Women TaskStream Account:

1. Application for admission to Teacher Education.
2. Curriculum check sheet and tentative program.
3. Minimum grade of C in ED 300.
4. Overall 2.75 GPA on a minimum of 44 semester hours completed.
5. Satisfactory score on the Core Academic Skills for Educators (CORE) Subtests (Reading, Writing, and Math) OR minimum ACT scores at the time of entrance into college, composite of 21 with no subscore below 18.
6. Verification of completed criminal background check through the university approved site.

Guidelines for this submission are reviewed in the course ED 300, Education as a Profession.

Note to Transfer Students:

Before registering, students transferring to MUW during the junior or senior year who intend to get a teaching license should report to the Department of Education for guidance.

Admission To Teacher Internship

Students must submit applications no later than October 1 for Spring Semester admission or February 15 for Fall Semester admission.

Following admission to Teacher Education, a student must complete a minimum of one semester of coursework before being admitted to Teacher Internship. Materials for application to (teacher internship) will be distributed at a required orientation seminar at the beginning of each semester. Students seeking admission to Teacher Internship must submit documentation of the following to the Director of Field Experiences, College of Education and Human Sciences:

1. Admission to Teacher Education at least one semester prior to filing application for admission to Student Teaching.
2. Application form for Teacher Internship.
3. Verification of experience with school age children and/or youth (75 hours).
4. Passing scores on Praxis II: Principles of Learning & Teaching, and Specialty Area Test.
5. Ethics statement/insurance verification and release.
6. Health information and profile.
7. Teaching Center request for placement form.
8. Completion of 84 semester hours of credit (to include all required professional education courses).
9. Minimum grade of C in each of the following: EN 101 and EN 300 (EN 102 if transferred prior to first semester of attendance at MUW); COM 101; MA 113 or higher (excluding MA 123); MA 111 and MA 112 all professional education courses and all endorsement area courses.
10.  Overall GPA of 2.75 and overall MUW GPA of 2.75.

Professional Field Experiences

Students in teacher education will be required to complete field-based assignments which are designed as a part of each methods course. Students in teacher education curricula should plan their schedules to allow approximately two to five hours per week in related field activities. These field experiences are assigned and coordinated through the Office of Field Experiences in the Department of Education. Students in field experiences will be required to complete a criminal background check through the MUW Office of Field Experiences.

Students admitted to the MUW Teacher Education Program will plan their schedules to insure one semester of the senior year for the Professional Semester, which consists of a fourteen-week teacher internship experience in the schools. The student will also enroll in ED 401, Classroom Management, for which an additional three semester hours credit will be earned. The program of the Professional Semester will be followed without deviation. No regular college course, other than ED 401, may be taken for credit during the Professional Semester, except with the approval of the Admissions/Exceptions Committee for Teacher Education.

Students majoring in elementary education need to plan their schedules so that they can take all their methods courses as a block during the semester preceding teacher internship.

Recommendation For Licensure

The student will be eligible for the recommendation by the institution for a Mississippi Educator’s license on completion of all degree requirements and approved teacher education program requirements, to include a minimum grade of C in Teacher Internship taken in the professional semester. Students must have an official copy of their scores on the Praxis Series forwarded to both the Mississippi Department of Education, Office of Educator Licensure and the College of Education and Human Sciences, Mississippi University for Women.

Notice Regarding Licensure

Requirements governing licensure in the State of Mississippi are continually revised. As a result, requirements for degrees leading to licensure are subject to change from those published in this Bulletin. The student is advised to refer to the current online version of the Teacher Education Handbook and the Mississippi Department of Education office of Educator Licensure to insure that both degree requirements and license requirements are met.

Teacher Education Curricula

All students preparing to teach should follow the appropriate program in the next section. This includes Elementary Education; Special Subject Area-Grades K-12 (Art, Music, Physical Education and Spanish) and the various subject areas of Secondary Education-Grades 7-12 (Chemistry/Physical Science; English; Biology; Mathematics; Social Studies). A minimum grade of C is required in each Education course, in EN 101 English Composition and EN 102 English Composition II, MA 111-112 Modern Elementary Mathematics I & II (for elementary education majors), MA 113 College Algebra, COM 101 Oral Communication, and in each endorsement area course. See academic advisor for program planning.

Programs

• •  Education, Add-on Certifications
• •  Elementary Education Major, BS

Department of Health and Kinesiology

Department Chair: Mark Bean

Health and Kinesiology Faculty

Professor: Mark Bean
Associate Professors:  K. Randell Foxworth, Irene T. Pintado
Assistant Professors: Chad Murphy, Krista Woods
Instructor: Katie Cranston

Programs

• •  Exercise Science Minor
• •  General Studies Major, BA
• •  General Studies Major, BS
• •  Health and Kinesiology Major, Exercise Science Concentration, BS
• •  Health and Kinesiology Major, Exercise Science Pre-Physical Therapy Concentration, BS
• •  Health and Kinesiology Major, Secondary Education Certification, BS
• •  Health and Kinesiology Minors
• •  Health and Kinesiology, Pre-Occupational Therapy Option
• •  Public Health Education Major, BS
• •  Public Health Education Minor

Department of Psychology and Family Studies

Department Chair: Holleen Krogh

Psychology Faculty

Professors: Holleen R. Krogh
Associate Professor: James D. Roth
Visiting Assistant Professor:  Kyle Dempsey
Instructors:  Angelia Taylor, Donna White
Emeriti Faculty:  Richard Millikin

Family Studies Faculty

Associate Professors:  Dorothy Berglund, Youn Mi Lee

Programs

• •  Family Studies Major, BS
• •  Family Studies Minor
• •  Psychology Major, BA
• •  Psychology Minor

Graduate Studies in Education

Program Purpose:

The Graduate Programs in Education provide high quality, advanced professional development and leadership training for educators, which will strengthen their theoretical knowledge, their practice, and increase their accountability for student learning. This reflects the University’s mission of professional education with an emphasis on academic and leadership preparation.

The conceptual framework for graduate programs in education is based on the five core propositions of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. The related belief statements that follow each core proposition further characterize the advanced programs in education.  The program in Educational Leadership is aligned with the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium Standards.

The Graduate Programs in Education are: Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Education in Gifted Studies, Master of Education in Differentiated Instruction, Master of Education in Reading/Literacy, and Master of Education in Educational Leadership.

Progression in the Program

1. The potential Graduate student must make formal application for admission, providing transcripts of all undergraduate work, GRE scores, 3 letters of recommendation, proof of immunization and $25.00 application fee (MAT applicants must submit passing scores on Praxis I and Praxis II, content area.). 
2. The Graduate student, in consultation with his/her advisor, works out a proposed program of study.
3. After completion of 9 semester hours with a minimum 3.0 QPA, the student who has been admitted conditionally must meet with his/her advisor to determine whether the student’s admission status can be upgraded.
4. The Graduate student must meet with his/her advisor prior to registration to secure approval for courses to be taken in the ensuing semester.
5. The Graduate student must submit an official transcript of any transfer credits before his/ her last semester of course work. No more than 6 hours with minimum grade of B may be transferred.
6. Withdrawal from a graduate class should be done in consultation with an advisor and must be approved by the College Dean.
7. When a graduate student has completed at least 9 hours of degree requirements with an overall QPA of 3.0 (including no more than 6 hours with a grade of C), the Candidacy Form should be completed and submitted for approval.
8. All requests for modification of the Candidacy Form must be made in writing to the Program Coordinator whose approval allows the student to proceed with courses as planned.
9. A minimum of 15 semester hours must be completed following the student’s admission to candidacy.
10. Before graduation all graduate students will submit a professional portfolio to the Coordinator of Graduate Programs in Education. For August graduates, portfolios are due the first day of the second summer session and will be returned by the last day of the same session. For May and December graduates, portfolios are due one month prior to graduation. Students are advised to keep a copy of all contents for their own records.
11. To take the Comprehensive Examination, the student must submit a written request to the Coordinator of Graduate Programs in Education at the beginning of his/her last semester.
12. The Comprehensive Examination will be given in Room 211, Education/HS Building, 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Exams are usually scheduled for the last Saturday in April, the third Saturday in June, and the first Saturday in December. Please confirm date, time, location, and other pertinent information in advance of the exam. 
13. The Graduate student needs to meet with his/her advisor to confirm completion of graduation requirements: all admission and program requirements have been satisfied, all transcripts of transfer credit have been submitted to and processed by the registrar, the comprehensive examinations have been complete satisfactorily, the overall QPA is at least a 3.0, and no Incompletes remain on the student’s academic record.