Keene State College has a long history of preparing teachers at the undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, and graduate level. Students seeking teacher certification may select from several options, which are described below and in other sections of this catalog. In addition to being accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, the Keene State College Teacher Education programs have received accreditation from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the New Hampshire State Board of Education.

1. Undergraduate Teacher Preparation
   Undergraduate Teacher Preparation is designed for students seeking to become certified teachers. The undergraduate program requires three areas of study. Integrative Studies provides students with a background in liberal arts. Students need to adhere to the Integrative Studies requirements stipulated by the Education major and any other major/concentration they are pursuing. Teacher Education coursework focuses on the development of an understanding of the teaching profession, diversity of learners, and effective teaching practices, along with a series of supervised preprofessional experiences. The third area of study is a major in a discipline outside of education. Though the programs appear intensive, it is possible to complete most of them within four years, provided students seek the support of advisors, maintain required grades, and fulfill requirements for acceptance into Teacher Education during the second year.

   Undergraduate students preparing for the teaching profession may choose from one of the following options:

   • Option I: Education.
     Requires second major.
     See B.S. Education for more information.
     
     • Early Childhood
       (birth through age 8)
     • Elementary Education
       (kindergarten through grade 6-8)
     • Secondary Teacher Certification
       – includes Middle School certification with options in:
       • Biology (grades 7-12)
       • Chemistry (grades 7-12)
       • Chemistry-Physics (grades 7-12)
       • Earth Sciences: Geology (grades 7-12)
       • General Science (Middle School certification, grades 5-9)
       • Social Studies (grades 5-12) – in addition to core Social Science and History courses, a teacher candidate must choose one of the following majors:
         • Geography
         • History
         • Social Science
       • English (grades 5-12)
       • Mathematics (Middle School, grades 5-8, and Secondary, grades 7-12)
       • French
       • Spanish
     • Special Education
       (General special education certification K-12 with additional certification in Elementary or Secondary options are available.)
   • Option II: K-12 Certification.
     • Music (see B.M. in Music Education for more information)
     • Physical Education (see B.S. in Physical Education for more information)

   Admission to the College does not guarantee admission to a Teacher Education Program. Students seeking admission to Teacher Education must meet higher standards for academic performance, dispositions, and testing.

   Teacher Education and programmatic standards are updated annually based on professional state and national requirements and are published in the ROUTE Handbook, which is available at the Keene State College Bookstore and online at the Teacher Education website.

   Students interested in entering the teaching profession should take EDUC 100 during their first year and consult with a faculty member in their content area. Advising information will be made available each semester.

2. Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification Program
   Students who have earned a bachelor's degree from an appropriately accredited institution and are interested in obtaining teacher certification may apply for admission to the Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification Program. Additional information on the post-baccalaureate program, policies, and procedures may be found in the Advanced Study in Education – Post-Baccalaureate Certification Programs section of this catalog.

     

3. Master's Degree with Teacher Certification
   (The following line was added online 10/06/2009 by the Registrar.)
   

   This program is currently under review. Consequently, there is an administrative hold on all admissions. Contact the dean of Graduate and Professional Studies for further information.