Location: Mathematics-Education-Psychology Center 206
Telephone: 859-572-6069
Fax: 859-572-6623
Email Address: coehsdean@nku.edu
Web Address: https://nku.edu/academics/coe.html
Dean: Dr. Ginni Fair
Other Key Personnel:
Interim Associate Dean: Dr. Ginger Blackwell
Department Chair, Department of Educational Leadership and Advanced Studies: Dr. Jim Allen
Department Chair, Teacher Preparation and Educational Studies: Dr. Eileen Shanahan
Business Officer: Sheila Rubin
Assistant to the Dean: Jennifer Brown
Academic Coordinator: Sarah Hellman
Teacher Education Program Assistant: Lesley Webster
Doctor of Education Program Assistant: Lori Smith
Graduate Program Director, Master of Arts in Education: Teacher as Leader - Dr. John Huss
Graduate Program Director, Education Specialist: Teaching and Leading - Dr. Jim Allen
Graduate Program Director, Master of Arts in Teaching - Dr. Melissa Hess
Graduate Program Director, Doctor of Education - Dr. Missy Jones
Graduate Program Director, Education Specialist: Educational Leadership - Dr. Ginger Blackwell
Introduction
Purpose
The faculty and staff of the College of Education (COE) are committed to providing graduate programs that set a standard of excellence. The programs in the college have rigor, relevance, and sustainability of the highest caliber and the faculty and staff pride themselves in the quality relationships they create and foster with students and colleagues alike.
The college offers the following graduate level programs:
Master of Arts in Education: Teacher as Leader: This program is designed specifically for certified teachers 1) to provide learning experiences that will improve the professional performance of classroom teachers, 2) add additional endorsements/teaching areas to certificate, and 3) to enable Kentucky teachers to upgrade their certification to Rank II, or the equivalent in other states.
Rank I Program (non-degree): This program is designed to be a logical professional step beyond Rank II for currently certified teachers. It continues to build the knowledge, skills, and leadership abilities of teachers in their current positions while also providing direction and assistance toward meeting the long-term professional career goals of teachers. A Rank I can also be earned through the Education Specialist in Teaching and Leading program described below.
Master of Arts in Teaching: This alternative certification program is designed for individuals who have completed a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution and wish to become teachers. Candidates will choose a teaching field at the middle grade levels, secondary grade levels, or P-12 languages of French, German, or Spanish.
Education Specialist in Teaching and Leading: The Education Specialist degree in Teaching & Leading is for teachers who wish to enhance their teaching, leadership and mentoring skills. This program engages students in learning and practicing principles and skills of collaboration, mentorship, and research-based practice, leading to improved skills for graduates, the teacher candidates under their influence, and the P-12 students in their classrooms. Program completers would be eligible for rank change (Rank 1) in Kentucky.
Education Specialist in Educational Leadership: This program is designed to prepare certified teachers to become effective leaders as principals and/or supervisors. A separate certification for Superintendent is also offered by the educational leadership programs, although not as a degree. A separate certification for Director of Pupil Personnel (DPP) is also offered by the educational leadership programs, although not as a degree.
The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership: This program is designed to enhance leadership skills for instructional and administrative leaders in P-20 settings, as well as other instructional specialists. It is a practitioner degree designed to meet a set of “best practice” competencies/outcomes integrated with individual career and personal goals for leaders with five or more years of professional experience.
All graduate students must demonstrate progress toward meeting the state and national standards appropriate for each degree program. Students enrolled in the education related degrees must meet the Kentucky Teacher Performance Standards, the Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education Teacher Standards, or the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL 2018). Each set of standards identifies the knowledge, skills, and dispositions students must demonstrate to become effective professionals in their respective area of study.
Accreditation and Membership
The education and educational leadership programs at Northern Kentucky University are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and are authorized by the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board to offer Rank II and Rank I certification programs. The University holds membership in the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, Teacher Education Council of State Colleges and Universities, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the World Council for Curriculum and Instruction.
The Teacher Education Committee
The Teacher Education Committee (TEC) is the official body to establish the policies for admission, retention, and exit of all students in education and instructional leadership, as approved by the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board (KYEPSB). The TEC approves all curriculum changes. Its deliberations, in the case of graduate education programs, proceed to the University Graduate Council and then the University Curriculum Committee. The program directors of each graduate program work closely with the dean of the College of Education to provide the highest caliber graduate program. In consultation with the associate provost of graduate studies, the directors are responsible for administering and ensuring compliance with regulations of the Graduate Council.
The Teacher Education Graduate Office
The Teacher Education Graduate Office is responsible for assigning academic advisors, processing applications, and teacher licensure forms. The office is in MEP 263C and can be reached at gradedu@nku.edu or 859-572-1567.
All students enrolled in COE graduate programs must check their NKU email on a regular basis to obtain updated information regarding their graduate program.
Academic Requirements
Program Offerings
Master of Arts in Education- Teacher as Leader Students who enter under this program already hold a teaching certificate, and intend to complete the admission and degree requirements for the Master of Arts in Education - Teacher as Leader program.
Rank I Teaching Students who enter under this program intend to complete the admission and program requirements for the non-degree Rank I program in education.
Master of Arts in Teaching Students who enter under this program intend to complete the admission and degree requirements for the Master of Arts in Teaching in order to obtain initial certification.
Director of Pupil Personnel (DPP) Certification Students who enter under this program intend to complete the admission and program requirements in order to obtain director of pupil personnel certification.
Superintendent Certification Students who enter under this program intend to complete the admission and program requirements in order to obtain superintendent certification.
Education Specialist in Educational Leadership Students who enter under this program intend to complete the admission and degree requirements for the education specialist in order to obtain the degree and certification as a P-12 principal and/or supervisor of instruction. Obtaining certification requires additional exams required by KYEPSB.
Education Specialist in Teaching and Leading Students who enter under this program intend to complete the admission and degree requirements for the education specialist in order to obtain the degree. Those who enter holding Rank II status in Kentucky will be eligible for apply for Rank I status upon program completion.
Doctor of Education Students who enter under this program intend to complete the degree requirements for Doctor of Education.
Visiting Students
Students enrolled in a graduate program at another regionally accredited institution may be admitted to NKU as visiting graduate students. The graduate dean of that institution must first submit a statement of approval to the NKU Office of Graduate Education in lieu of the usual admissions documentation. The general graduate application should also be completed. The application is available at http://apply.nku.edu.
Non-Degree Graduate Students
Students enrolled as non-degree graduate students seeking an endorsement or additional area of certification must submit a copy of their teaching certificate in addition to the admission requirements of Northern Kentucky University for non-degree admission. A signed curriculum contract and codes of ethics are required in the first semester if seeking an endorsement or additional area of certification. In order to add the certification or request a rank change based on the planned program of study the policies below on teacher certification apply.
Course Numbering
Courses numbered 500-599 are open to upper-division undergraduates who have completed at least 54 undergraduate semester hours and to graduate students. Courses numbered at the 600-799 level are open to graduate students only. Courses numbered at the 800 level are open to students admitted to a doctoral program only.
Academic Advising
Once students have been admitted to a graduate program in the College of Education, they are assigned an academic advisor. Because of the complexity of the programs at the graduate level, students are expected to maintain close consultation with their advisors. It is the responsibility of the students to confer with their advisors and to take the courses needed to complete their coursework. Students should be advised to follow their prescribed course of study and to check with their advisors before they schedule classes not listed on the appropriate course of study. Students should refer to the graduate COE website or the program handbook for additional information.
Certification
Teachers holding regular teaching certificates and who have completed an approved four-year college degree or the equivalent are classified as Rank III by the Education Professional Standards Board. Applicants for admission to graduate education programs at NKU must be certified at the Rank III level or above or have a statement of eligibility to be admitted to the program. Teaching certificates from out of state must be equivalent to those required for admission to the graduate studies programs. Substitute teaching certificates are not equivalent to a teaching certificate and are not accepted for the admission process.
The Education Professional Standards Board will grant Rank II status to teachers holding a teaching certificate who either have a master’s degree in a subject field approved by the Education Professional Standards Board or equivalent preparation. NKU offers two programs leading to Rank II status: 1) the Master of Arts in Education-Teacher as Leader and 2) the Master of Arts in Teaching.
The Education Professional Standards Board will grant Rank I classification to teachers holding regular teaching certificates who have either a master’s degree in a subject field approved by the Education Professional Standards Board or equivalent preparation and who, in addition, have earned 30 additional semester hours of approved graduate work or its equivalent. NKU’s non-degree Rank I, the Education Specialist in Teaching and Leading, and the Education Specialist in Educational Leadership are approved by the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board as appropriate planned programs for achievement of a Rank I classification.
Since the Master of Arts in Education -Teacher as Leader, Rank I, Education Specialist in Educational Leadership, Education Specialist in Teaching and Leading and Master of Arts in Teaching programs are planned programs, attainment of appropriate ranking will result only through an institutional recommendation. Students planning to finish the Master of Arts in Education -Teacher as Leader, Rank I Program, Education Specialist in Educational Leadership, Education Specialist in Teaching and Leading and Master of Arts in Teaching, or any certification or endorsement program as non-degree must complete the necessary application for Kentucky certification or change in salary rank according to the following time schedule:
| Completion |
Deadline |
| Spring |
May 1 |
| Summer |
August 1 |
| Fall |
December 1 |
These forms may be obtained online at the KYEPSB website (www.kyepsb.net) and submitted online to KYEPSB. For questions contact the Teacher Education Graduate Office (MEP 263C). Forms are sent as recommendations to the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board after the student’s course of study has been certified by the appropriate office. NKU master’s programs are approved curricula for the renewal of Kentucky teaching certificates. Therefore, in most cases, students completing the master’s program will be recommended for the appropriate teaching certificate in addition to the rank change. Because these programs have detailed admission standards and prerequisites including Praxis exams or other tests required by KYEPSB, students enrolling in one of the programs should work closely with their graduate advisor and the appropriate office throughout the program. Students teaching out of state should check with the licensure/certification entity for the state to see what is required of them for a change in pay or certification.
Master
Education Specialist
Doctoral
Certification
