Mar 29, 2024  
2022-2023 Graduate Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Rank I Teaching


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Jim Allen, Ed.D., Graduate Program Director

Purpose

The Rank I Teaching program is designed as the next logical step for a teacher to obtain a Rank change following the completion of a Rank II.

Contact Information

Teacher Education Graduate Office - MEP 263C
gradedu@nku.edu or 859-572-1567

Admission Criteria

Individuals applying must meet all requirements for admission to graduate study at Northern Kentucky University as defined by the Graduate Catalog at the time of application in addition to the following criteria.

To be eligible for admission applicants must have:

  1. A master’s degree from regionally accredited institution of higher education, with a total cumulative graduate grade point average of a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
  2. A Kentucky Rank II teaching certificate or out-of-state equivalent.

Application Process:

  1. Submit an online application to the Office of Graduate Education.
  2. Submit official transcripts of undergraduate and graduate coursework sent directly from all institutions of higher education previously attended.
  3. Submit a copy of Kentucky teaching certificate or out-of-state equivalent at Rank II.
  4. Submit three recommendation forms with attached letters of recommendation.  Letters may be typed directly into the recommendation form. If separate letters of recommendation are attached, they must be written on official letterhead and have the signature of the individual providing the recommendation.
  5. Submit a typewritten Statement of Professional Goals, approximately 300-400 words in length. The Statement of Professional Goals should state the applicant’s reasons for pursuing the Rank I program and the specialization and/or endorsement desired. It should also state the applicant’s goals for professional growth and explain specifically how the chosen degree program/endorsement area will make it possible for the applicant to achieve these goals and improve her/his knowledge and skills as a teacher. The Statement of Professional Goals will be evaluated for completeness, quality of written expression, and clarity of professional goals.

♦ Indicates prerequisite.

Curriculum


The Rank I - Teaching curriculum is as follows:

Professional Core (12 credit hours)


Curriculum and Teaching Option


Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education (Birth to Kindergarten)


For IECE Certification: Completion of all courses (21 credit hours) and Praxis exam(s) as required by KYEPSB.

This is an option designed to assist teachers with an existing elementary or special education teaching certificate to achieve the IECE certificate.

Moderate and Severe Disabilities (P-12)


If LBD certified (19-22 credit hours)

Moderate and Severe Disabilities for students who are currently LBD certified or have completed the prerequisite courses:

For MSD endorsement: Completion of all courses (19-22 credit hours) and Praxis exam(s) as required by KYEPSB.

Gifted Education (P-12)


For Gifted and Talented Endorsement: Completion of all courses (12 credit hours) and Praxis exam(s) as required by KYEPSB.

Prerequisite to starting the endorsement: One year of full time teaching experience

Students must take EDG 621  and EDG 623  before they will be permitted to enroll in EDG 625  and EDG 627  

Reading (P-12)


For Reading Endorsement: Completion of all courses (16 credit hours) and Praxis exam(s) as required by KYEPSB.

Environmental Education (P-12)


For Environmental Education Endorsement: Completion of 12 credit hours in accordance with the environmental education endorsements to meet the NAAEE Guidelines for the Initial Preparation of Environmental Educators Standards.

Students must gain their advisor’s approval prior to enrolling in courses. Completion of all courses (12 credit hours).

Instructional Computer Technology (P-12)


For ICT Endorsement: Completion of all courses (15 semester hours).

Prerequisite Course (First Course) (3 credit hours)

Distance Learning and Web Concepts Strand, choose one of the following (3 credit hours):

Special Education not leading to endorsement


Autism/Applied Behavior Analysis


Completion of all courses (18 credit hours)

Content Core (6 credit hours)


Six credit hours of content related to initial area of teacher’s certification. Content courses require advisor’s approval.

Electives Core (6 credit hours)


Appropriate coursework taken at the graduate level with approval of student’s advisor.

Elementary Mathematics Specialist


This program supports current elementary school teachers in improving their own practice and their school mathematics community. The courses for the program fit into three categories. The first category of courses focuses on mathematical pedagogies for grades K-2, grades 3-5, and interventions across grades K-5 for students with additional needs. The second category of courses address mathematical content that is relevant for teachers teaching grades K-5, including number and operations, algebra and functions, geometry and measurement, and data analysis and probability. The third category contains a leadership course designed to build leadership capacity among elementary teachers in the area of mathematics.

Dual Credit Teaching


STEM Concentration: Computer Science

Teachers take 18 hours of computer science graduate courses

First Course (must be taken in first semester) (0 credit hours)

Final Course (must be taken in final semester) (0 credit hours)

  •  

    Note:  Teachers with no programming experience will be required to take EDG 602  prior to CSC 500 .

    At the completion of these graduate courses, teachers will be qualified to teach the following dual-credit courses:

    • Elementary Programming (INF 120) - 3 credit hours; NKU general education course
    • Object Oriented Programming (CSC 260) - 3 credit hours; has a corresponding Advanced Placement exam
    • Intro to Web Development (INF 286) - 3 credit hours
    • Computer Science Principles - has a corresponding Advanced Placement exam
Liberal Arts/ Social Sciences concentration: Communication

First Course (must be taken in first semester) (0 credit hours)

Final Course (must be taken in final semester) (0 credit hours)

  •  

    At the completion of these graduate courses, teachers will be qualified to teach the following dual credit courses:

    • Public Speaking (CMST 101, 3 credits) - NKU general education course
    • Introduction to Communication Studies (CMST 110, 3 credits) - NKU general education course
    • Media Literacy (EMB 100, 3 credits) - NKU general education course
    • Media in a Diverse Society (EMB 105, 3 credits) - NKU general education course
    • Introduction to Popular Culture (POP 205, 3 credits) - NKU general education course
    • International Popular Culture (POP 250, 3 credits) - NKU general education course
    • Concentration for Dual Credit Teaching: Capstone (EDG 609, 0 credits)
Liberal Arts/ Social Sciences concentration: English

Teachers enroll in and complete the Graduate Certificate in Composition and Rhetoric in the Department of English

First Course (must be taken in first semester) (0 credit hours)

Select three courses from the options below (9 credit hours):

Final Course (must be taken in final semester) (0 credit hours)

  •  

    At the completion of these graduate courses, teachers will be qualified to teach the following dual credit courses:

    • College Writing (ENG 101, 3 credits) - NKU general education course
    • Advanced College Writing (ENG 291, 3 credits) - NKU general education course

Exit Criteria


  1. Completion of 30 credit hours (at least 15 hours 600 or above) with a minimum 3.0 GPA
  2. Completion of area of specialization with a minimum 3.0 GPA
  3. Completion of all required coursework used for the certificate with a C or higher.
  4. Signed Codes of Ethics for Kentucky School Personnel and College of Education.
  5. Signed copy of Rank I curriculum contract and appropriate area of specialization curriculum contract.
  6. Successful satisfactory Rank 1 final reflection demonstrating the Kentucky Teacher Standards.

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