About This Program
The Education certificate allows students pursuing a major other than teacher education to prepare for public school teaching. The certificate provides the professional coursework necessary for graduates to seek an Ohio teaching license.
Contact Information
- Lisa Testa | etesta@kent.edu
- Speak with an Advisor
Program Delivery
- Delivery:
- In person
- Location:
- Kent Campus
Accreditation
Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
Admission Requirements
Admission to the certificate is selective, open only to students who have a minimum 2.500 overall GPA and are declared in a major or graduated from a Kent State University in a major that the state of Ohio issues a teaching license for. Those majors at Kent State are the following: Spanish; Mathematics; American Sign Language; and Teaching English as a Second Language.
The Education certificate does not provide preparation for teacher licensure in English or individual social science areas (e.g., economics, geography, history, political science, psychology or sociology). Students wishing to pursue licensure in one of those areas should declare, instead, the Integrated Language Arts or Integrated Social Studies major. Students should contact a college advisor for more information.
To apply for this certificate, students must have attempted a minimum 12 credit hours at Kent State and earned a minimum 2.500 overall Kent State GPA. Students who have not attempted 12 credit hours at Kent State will be evaluated for admission based on their high school GPA for new students or transfer GPA for transfer students. Transfer students who have not attempted 12 credit hours of college-level coursework at Kent State and/or other institutions will be evaluated based on both their high school GPA and college GPA.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate Requirements | ||
| ADED 47330 | READING AND WRITING IN ADOLESCENCE/ADULTHOOD | 3 |
| CULT 29535 | EDUCATION IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY (min C grade) | 3 |
| ENG 31007 | PEDAGOGY FOR TEACHING ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (min C grade) | 3 |
| or MCLS 30660 | ORIENTATION TO SECOND LANGUAGE PEDAGOGY | |
| ENG 41392 | STUDENT TEACHING (ELR) | 9 |
| or MCLS 40692 | STUDENT TEACHING OF A SECOND LANGUAGE (ELR) | |
| ENG 41525 | INQUIRY INTO PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE (min C grade) | 3 |
| or MCLS 40525 | INQUIRY INTO PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE | |
| EPSY 29525 | EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY (min C grade) | 3 |
| ETEC 39525 | EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY (min C grade) | 3 |
| or MCLS 40654 | TECHNOLOGY AND SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION | |
| SPED 23000 | INTRODUCTION TO EXCEPTIONALITIES (min C grade) | 3 |
| Kent Core Composition (min C grade) | 6 | |
| Foreign Language Majors or Teaching English as a Second Language Majors Electives, choose from the following: | 12 | |
Students in a Foreign Language Major in MCLS | ||
| FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND CULTURE STUDIES (min C grade) | ||
| METHODS OF TEACHING FOREIGN LANGUAGE (min C grade) 1 | ||
| CHILD SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION (min C grade) | ||
or ENG 31009 | ADULT SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION | |
| LINGUISTICS | ||
or ENG 41003 | LANGUAGE CURRICULUM, MATERIALS AND ASSESSMENT | |
or RMS 45610 | CLASSROOM ASSESSMENT | |
Students in Teaching English as a Second Language Major | ||
| CHILD SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION | ||
| LANGUAGE CURRICULUM, MATERIALS AND ASSESSMENT 2 | ||
| ESL PRACTICUM IN A P-12 SETTING (ELR) (min C grade) | ||
| ADULT SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION | ||
or MCED 40005 | EFFECTIVE USE OF PHONICS IN READING | |
or MCLS 30420 | FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND CULTURE STUDIES | |
or RMS 45610 | CLASSROOM ASSESSMENT | |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 48 | |
- 1
Methods II course for MCLS students
- 2
Methods II for TESL majors
Progression Requirements
Minimum 2.500 overall GPA and 2.500 in the corresponding major GPA are required for advanced study, student teaching, graduation and licensure.
- Students must meet all professional requirements for admission to advanced study. This includes obtaining a grade of C or Better in both ENG 11011 and ENG 21011.
- To manage enrollment and deliver high-quality programs, the faculty will select the most qualified applicants for admission based upon evaluation of academic success (overall GPA) at Kent State University; non-academic criteria and other specific program criteria.
- Please be aware that reapplication may be necessary if postponing advanced study coursework or if withdrawn for one year or more.
Graduation Requirements
| Minimum Certificate GPA | Minimum Overall GPA |
|---|---|
| 2.000 | 2.500 |
- Based on program requirements, credits may exceed the minimum required for the certificate. When a difference exists between the two colleges' major requirements in teaching fields, students must also complete the specific major sequences required by the College of Education, Health and Human Services. This ensures that the students will meet licensure requirements.
- Those pursuing an Education certificate must be admitted to advanced study prior to student teaching. For complete student teaching information, refer to the Clinical Experience/Student Teaching website through EHHS Vacca Office of Student Services.
- Minimum 2.500 overall GPA and 2.500 major GPA are required for advanced study, student teaching, graduation and licensure. All courses in the certificate must be completed with a minimum C or S grade. Some majors may have a higher GPA required, see advisor.
- Students must also graduate from the corresponding major for the certificate to be issued.
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Describe the Ohio Standards for the Teaching Profession.
- Describe the Ohio Standards for Professional Development.
- Describe the Ohio School Operating Standards.
- Describe the Ohio Value Added Progress Dimension(s).
- Demonstrate knowledge and skills consistent with their content standards.
- Demonstrate knowledge and skills identified in CAEP Standards.
Admission GPA for Undergraduate Students
For admissions, the College of Education, Health and Human Services considers a student to have established a Kent State University GPA after the student has successfully completed a minimum of 12 Kent State University credit hours. Undergraduate students who have not completed a minimum of 12 Kent State University credit hours will be evaluated for admission into programs, Advanced Study, and the Professional phase based on their high school GPA for new freshmen, or transfer GPA for transfer students. Once a student has successfully completed a minimum of 12 Kent State University credit hours, only the student’s Kent State cumulative GPA will be considered for admission into a program, Advanced Study, and Professional Phase.
Students who have completed 12 or more credit hours of previous college-level coursework, either at Kent State University or at another accredited institution, need an overal GPA of 2.00 or higher to declare a College of Education, Health and Human Services majors, minors or certificates unless a higher minimum GPA is specified by the program. See specific programs in this catalog for more information on required minimum GPA to declare. Non-degree EHHS General can be declared without a minimum 2.00 overall GPA.
Transfer applicants who have completed fewer than 12 semester hours of college-level coursework will be evaluated on both collegiate and high school records.
Background Checks for Teacher Licensure Candidates
For field experience, student teaching and any culminating internship in teacher education that requires candidates to be placed within a school or agency ("school/agency") setting, the college requires candidates to complete Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification (BCII) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) background checks and submit the results to authorized personnel at their assigned school/agency before the beginning of the field experience or the first day of the semester in which the student teaching/internship will take place. Authorized school/agency personnel will determine whether a candidate may participate in fieldwork in that setting. The BCII and FBI background checks are good for one year and are mandatory for licensure application. Electronic fingerprinting is available for BCII and FBI in 221 White Hall and should be completed at least two months prior to field experience/student teaching/culminating internship. Regional campus students should contact their Regional Campus coordinator to identify fingerprinting availability at each campus. Candidates are responsible for fees incurred for this requirement. For more information on this policy, contact the Director of Clinical Field Experience in 304 White Hall. Visit the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) website at www.ode.state.oh.us for more information about background check requirements for educators in Ohio. Contact the Office of Professional Conduct at the ODE for specific information about the results of the background check.
Education Licensure Application
Students in the teacher education programs must apply for State of Ohio Licensure within 12 months of program completion (defined by completion of all licensure program requirements) . After 12 months, applicants must meet State approved program/licensure requirements that are in effect at the time of application. This means that students who apply after the 12 month deadline may have to take additional coursework if the content, methods courses, program requirements, or licensure requirements have changed from the catalog in force.
If a student does not apply for their license within 6 years, they are subject to any additional state licensure requirements and are also subject to additional coursework based on changes in areas such as content, age of coursework and changes in program requirements. A minimum of 9 credit hours will be required to apply for licensure after 6 years of program completion.
Professional Education Warning
Professional Education Warning for students in teacher licensure programs and the Community Health Education major must have a minimum 2.75 GPA to progress in their programs and ultimately graduate. Unless other factors are present, students who do not meet the prescribed conditions are required to transfer out of their declared major. An appeal of this decision is directed to the associate dean of undergraduate student services, College of Education, Health and Human Services, 304 White Hall.
Professional Dispositions for Teacher Candidates
Professional dispositions are the professional attitudes, values, and beliefs demonstrated through both verbal and non-verbal behaviors as educators interact with students, families, colleagues, faculty, and communities. The teacher education faculty believe that the following dispositions support student learning and development. Therefore teacher candidates are expected to demonstrate:
- Communication and Collaboration
- Fairness and Equity
- Ethical Behavior
- Professional Responsibility
These dispositions are assessed at least three times in a candidate’s program:
- Education in a Democratic Society course,
- a methods course with a field component, and
- student teaching.
In addition, a disposition assessment may be completed by a faculty member at any time a situation calls for it. A disposition is considered 'acceptable' if a candidate does not have an outstanding Professional Disposition Plan (PDPs) that requires improved performance in specified areas. A candidate may not progress through the teacher education program if they have any PDPs submitted and unresolved at the following three points:
- Applying for advanced study: If a student has an outstanding PDP at the time of application, a student will not be able to apply for advanced study until the PDP is rectified.
- Prior to the student teaching semester: All outstanding PDPs must be completed and cleared prior to the start of student teaching.
- End of student teaching semester: A student with an outstanding PDP during the student teaching semester will not successfully pass student teaching.
Repeating Field Experience Courses in Teacher Education Programs
Teacher candidates are permitted to repeat a field experience course once (see major requirements for specific courses). If a teacher candidate is unsuccessful in completing OR fails to earn the required grade in a field experience course the first time, the teacher candidate will receive a warning and will be required to work with a faculty advisor in their academic unit to develop a plan for continuation. The required grade is a C or better in a course that awards a letter grade, or Satisfactory (S) in a course that awards an S/U grade. The plan will include all actions necessary to continue in current program, the opportunity to declare a different program, a timeline of when actions should occur, and next steps if actions are not followed. If the teacher candidate does not earn the required grade in the field experience course the second time, a hold will be placed on their account, preventing them from registering for classes until they change their major out of the education program.
Requirements for Admission to Advanced Study
Admission to advanced study is required of all teacher education initial licensure majors and minors prior to enrolling in courses designated as advanced study courses. Upon completion of coursework as determined by program area, students must apply during the term which all prerequisites for advanced study will be completed, and at least one semester prior to beginning any coursework for which "Admission to Advanced Study" is a prerequisite.
Application Dates
Fall Semester:
- Application window: August 1 to September 1
- Term to begin advanced study courses: Spring semester
Spring Semester:
- Application window: January 1 to February 1
- Term to begin advanced study courses: Summer term and/or fall semester
Summer Term:
- Application window: May 1 to June 1
- Term to begin advanced study courses: Fall semester
All students apply for Advanced Study through the College of Education, Health and Human Services Student Portal which can be accessed through the Vacca Office of Student Services web page.
Please note: Admission to advanced study is required for students pursuing an undergraduate major that leads to initial teacher licensure, with the exception of students in the Career Tech Teacher Education certificate who obtain initial licensure through the Alternative Resident Educator Licensure Program (teachers recruited from business and industry).
Requirements for Admission to Advanced Study
To deliver high-quality programs, faculty will select the most qualified applicants for admission based upon evaluation of academic success (overall GPA) at Kent State University, non-academic criteria and other specific program criteria.
Students may be required to reapply if they postpone advanced study coursework or withdraw from their courses for one year or more.
College Writing
- Students are required to attain minimum C grade in each writing course (ENG 11011 and ENG 21011 or equivalent) (Integrated Language Arts majors must attain minimum B grade).
Mathematics
- The following courses must be completed with minimum C grade for the majors Early Childhood Education, Middle Childhood Education and Special Education:
- MATH 14001 (or equivalent)
- MATH 14002
- The following courses must be completed with a minimum C grade for Integrated Mathematics majors:
- MATH 12002
- MATH 12003
- In addition, a minimum 2.600 overall GPA in math content coursework is required.
Pre-Advanced Study Coursework
- To be eligible for advanced study, students must earn a minimum C grade in CULT 29535 and minimum C grade in one of the following courses (i.e., both courses must be completed with a minimum C grade for graduation):
- EPSY 29525 (note: Middle Childhood Education majors must earn a minimum C grade in this course to be eligible for Advanced Study)
- SPED 23000
- Early Childhood Education majors must earn a minimum C grade in ECED 10120 to be eligible for advanced study.
- Middle Childhood Education majors must earn a minimum C grade in MCED 20000 to be eligible for advanced study.
- Middle Childhood Education majors must complete at least 50 percent of content area coursework from each concentration (minimum C grade) to be eligible for advanced study. Students should meet with their advisor.
- Adolescence/Young Adult Programs: majors must earn a minimum C grade in ADED 20000 to be eligible for Advanced Study.
Grade Point Average
All students must have a minimum 2.750 overall GPA, with additional conditions for the following majors:
- Adolescence/Young Adult Programs: A minimum 2.600 GPA in the chosen adolescence/young adult content area is required for admission to advanced study, student teaching and graduation. A minimum C grade is required in each course within the content area. The following majors are affected: Earth Science, Integrated Language Arts, Integrated Mathematics, Integrated Science, Integrated Social Studies, Life Science, Life Science/Chemistry and Physical Science.
- For minimum GPA criteria for Art Education and Music Education, please see Requirements for Admission to Advanced Study for Art Education and Music Education in the College Policies section for the College of the Arts in the University Catalog.
- Education Minor: Students in a program eligible to declare the Education minor must achieve a minimum 2.500 overall and a content GPA to declare the Education minor, be admitted to advanced study, participate in student teaching and be recommended for licensure.
All GPA requirements must be met at the time of application.
Disposition Assessment/Professional Disposition Plans (PDPs)
Students are required to have completed all professional dispositions plan (PDPs) at the time of application to be eligible for advanced study.
Teacher Candidate Acknowledgments and Legal Questions for Licensure
Candidates are required to electronically sign five statements acknowledging that they have read and understand the following areas: pre-service teacher permit / background check requirements, professional dispositions, licensure application information, legal questions asked on the licensure application, and teacher education handbook information. Statements can be found on the student portal.
Student Teaching
The application for student teaching is completed online through the College of Education, Health and Human Services' student portal. Students will be required to complete the application during specified windows posted on the Vacca Office of Student Services' (VOSS) website. Application windows will typically be accessible during the months of October and November in the fall semester and March and April in the spring semester. Failure to complete the application and submit the prerequisite training documents within the designated time frame may delay the student teaching placement. Depending on the program area, students will apply either 2 or 3 semesters prior to their anticipated student teaching semester. Students should meet with their academic advisor for details on which semester to apply.
Once the application is submitted, VOSS staff (or appropriate regional campus staff) will determine eligibility by reviewing coursework, GPA, disposition assessments, and other program area requirements. Specifically, staff will review the following:
- Coursework – aside from student teaching and inquiry seminar, all coursework in the program of study must be completed with the minimum grade required in each course (i.e., a ‘C’ or higher in a course where the program requirements prescribe a minimum grade of C).
- GPA – confirmation that the applicant has a 2.75 cumulative GPA or higher and meets the minimum major GPA required for their program as listed in the university catalog.
- Disposition Assessments – no outstanding Professional Disposition Plans (PDPs) are permitted. An applicant with an outstanding PDP must have it cleared before beginning student teaching.
- Program Area Requirements – applicant must have completed all program requirements for their major that are outlined and specified in the university catalog.
Students should meet with their faculty and/or academic advisor in VOSS for any clarifications. Written notification of eligibility will be emailed to each applicant.
Those eligible for student teaching are required to attend a mandatory meeting where additional information about student teaching is provided. Failure to attend this meeting may result in a delay of student teaching. Placement forms, distributed at this meeting, need to be completed by the deadline.
The Clinical Experience Office will make the final decision about the placement site for the Kent Campus. Placement decisions at the Regional Campuses are made by the designated placement officer at each campus. Candidates are not to contact schools or potential mentors directly to make their own arrangements. Placements are generally made within a 50 mile radius of Kent State University. Student teaching is a full-time commitment and candidates are expected to follow the schedule of the cooperating teacher.
Undergraduate Graduation Requirements
- Students declared in a teacher licensure major or minor must earn a minimum C grade in all major/minor and professional coursework.
- Students declared in the Education minor must earn minimum 2.500 content GPA.
- Students may apply a maximum 4 credit hours of Physical Activity, Wellness and Sport (PWS) courses toward their degree.
- Students may apply a maximum of 4 credit hours of variable-titled workshop (xxx93) toward an undergraduate degree. Identical workshop topics that are repeated for credit will not count towards graduation requirements. All workshops are graded S/U (satisfactory/unsatisfactory). Some program areas may be more restrictive. Students are advised to consult their program regarding application of workshop credit toward degree requirements.
To see graduation requirements for a specific program, please select a major from the undergraduate program listing.