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Tomorrow’s educational leaders emerge from Keene State as new teachers, advanced special educators, master teachers, school counselors, and principals. At Keene State, we successfully guide intelligent and enthusiastic individuals as they become confident, competent educators actively improving public and private school environments. Keene State College has a long history of preparing teachers at the undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, and graduate level. The KSC programs of Advanced Study in Education are designed for the adult learner who aspires to enter the field of education, as well as for the experienced educator who seeks new knowledge, skills, and/or additional certification as his or her career develops.
Whether you are an experienced educator or are taking your first step toward teacher certification, KSC is ready to help you achieve your goals. Your opportunity to have a positive influence on the lives of children and youth and the future of education begins when you enroll in an area of Advanced Study in Education. Keene State College proudly offers programs and options that lead toward the master of education degree, post-master’s certification, and post-baccalaureate teacher certification.
The Keene State College programs of Advanced Study in Education are accredited by one or more of the following: the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), or the New Hampshire State Board of Education.
More importantly, KSC is committed to bringing the highest level of state and national education standards to life. We strive to create an educational environment that fosters the development of professionals – educators dedicated to addressing the needs of students in ways that will dramatically improve their lives.
The faculty and staff of Keene State College are excited about each program option. Our instructors include full-time faculty members and model practitioners in the field, who present meaningful, relevant information and structured experiences essential to the development of strong, practitioner-oriented knowledge, skills, and dispositions. Our graduates are noted for an active leadership style that stimulates positive systemic change within demanding school environments.
Major Themes
In the programs of Advanced Study in Education we emphasize the study of students within schools, families, and community contexts in addition to identifying best practices through assessment and evaluation of classroom and school activities. The primary themes around which the department of Education, Special Education, and Early Childhood is organized are Self-Esteem and Confidence, Striving for Excellence, Social Responsibility and Ethics, Collaboration in a Community of Learners, Diversity, Life Span Development, Families, Integration of Knowledge, Problem Solving, and Creating and Constructing One’s Own Knowledge.
Professional Standards
Each of the programs of advanced study in education is framed by standards from national organizations. These standards specify the knowledge, skills, and dispositions professional educators should have, and in that way suggest desired outcomes of the various programs and options. Each specialty area uses the standards in planning courses and experiences and strives to meet as many standards as possible.
Program Administration
Admission
Candidates for admission to a program of Advanced Study in Education must submit the appropriate application, including required materials, to the KSC Admissions Office. Furthermore, the following requirements must be met: submission of transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate course work, three letters of recommendation, an admissions essay, and an application fee. Applicants with a current official teacher certification from any state Department of Education must include a copy with their application. A personal interview is also required to complete the application process. Each program or option may specify additional admissions criteria. Refer to the specific admissions criteria for each program or option listed on the Application for Advanced Study in Education.
Applicants must have earned a baccalaureate degree with a minimum 2.5 grade point average for all undergraduate course work or must submit an official score report indicating a performance score at or above the 50th percentile on each of the three subtests of the (General) Graduate Record Exam (GRE).
Normally, application folders completed by the stated deadline will be evaluated for matriculation for the following semester.
| Deadline |
Semester of
Matriculation |
| April 1 |
Fall |
| December 1 |
Spring |
Keene State College reserves the right to close admissions, irrespective of the stated deadlines. Once accepted, students are required to submit a $100 nonrefundable enrollment services fee before matriculation.
Program applicants may enroll for core courses – ESEC 601 Research Strategies in Education and ESEC 602 Students, Families, Schools, and Society – at any time before matriculation. In addition, electives may be taken prior to matriculation. However, no more than nine credits, completed at Keene State College or another institution, may be transferred into any graduate program option.
Administration of the Program
The Graduate Program is administered through the Teacher Education and Graduate Studies (TEGS) Office in collaboration with the Education faculty and Education coordinator(s). The College’s Admissions Office coordinates the admissions process and notifies students of acceptance into the graduate program. The Office of the Registrar maintains academic records. The Office of Continuing Education monitors students who enroll in graduate courses but are not matriculated in order to assist nonmatriculated students in the admission and course selection process.
Upon admission to the Graduate Program, the TEGS Office, after consultation with the student and Education faculty, identifies an advisor. The TEGS Office monitors matriculated student progress through the program.
The Education faculty offers courses in a planned three-year cycle that allows realistic student planning for completion of degree requirements in two to three years. The three-year cycle includes fall, spring, and summer semesters. Courses are offered 4:30-7 p.m. and 7-9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday during the academic year. Courses may also be offered on a Friday evening-Saturday schedule. Summer session classes include day and evening meetings as well as weeklong institutes. Classes typically have at least eight and up to 20 students enrolled in order to provide faculty attention to student needs appropriate for graduate study.
Electives
Electives for the graduate program are designed to provide each graduate student with experiences that are appropriate for their professional portfolio plans but are not studied in depth in specialty areas. Each elective course includes an identification of the Teacher Education Themes and Professional Standards dimension elements to which it relates. Electives are selected and organized around four overarching themes: Research, Assessment, Curriculum Development, and Human Development.
Elective courses are offered during the academic year and during the two summer sessions to facilitate student planning and completion of the program. Elective course offerings are planned one year in advance, with many scheduled for summer sessions. Electives will vary from 1 to 3 credits numbered at the 500 or 600 level.
Degree Requirements
- The minimum course requirements must be completed as specified in the program, with an average grade of B or higher (3.0 on a scale of 4.0). No grade less than C is acceptable, and no more than two grades less than a B may be applied to the degree. The Course Retake Policy does not apply to courses taken for graduate credit.
- The residence requirement for graduate students must be fulfilled (normally completed by taking at least 80 percent of credits through Keene State College courses).
- An Intent to Graduate Form must be submitted to the TEGS Office during the first two weeks of the semester before the semester of graduation.
- Payment of the graduation fee is required.
Transfer of Credit
Matriculated students may submit a Transfer of Credit Request form to the TEGS Office. Keene State College may accept up to nine transfer credits provided these credits apply to a candidate’s graduate program and are approved by the student’s advisor and/or the Education faculty chair. Only credits are transferred, not grades. Transfer course grades are not included in the 3.0 grade point average required for program completion. Transcripts must indicate that the student was enrolled in a graduate-level course in an appropriately accredited institution. Grades below a B (3.0 on a scale of 4.0) are not acceptable for transfer into graduate programs. Normally, courses taken more than seven years before the date of matriculation may not be transferred into a graduate program.
Time Limitations
The statute of limitations (total time period in which to complete a graduate program) is six calendar years from the date of official admission for programs that require 30 credits or more to complete, or four calendar years for those programs that require 29 or fewer credits.
Graduate Course Policy
A graduate student may elect to apply up to, but no more than, six credits of 300-and 400-level courses in their graduate program. Students taking 300-and 400-level courses for use in a graduate program must receive approval, prior to enrolling in such a course, from the graduate advisor and the director of the TEGS Office. Forms are available in the TEGS Office.
Course Load
A matriculated graduate student is considered to be full-time when he or she registers for nine or more credits in a given term. Registration for 4.5 credits but less than 9 credits results in half-time status. Course load is a significant determining factor regarding eligibility for financial aid. Contact the Student Financial Services Office for additional information.
Academic Dismissal
Graduate students who fail to maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) are subject to academic dismissal. Students may also be dismissed for lack of professionalism, attitude toward and aptitude for professed occupational goals, and other criteria established by the degree program.
Earning a Second Graduate Degree
Those presently holding a master’s degree may earn an additional master’s degree in a different area by completing all requirements for the second degree. Candidates for a second graduate degree should apply through the regular admissions process. Existing policies regarding transfer of credit apply.
Assistantships/Financial Aid
A limited amount of grant and loan money is available for financial aid for graduate students. Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1. Then contact the Keene State Office of Student Financial Services. A limited number of graduate assistantships are available to matriculated graduate students. Benefits include a $3,000 annual stipend, plus waiver of tuition and fees (at the in-state rate) for up to eight approved courses (normally 24 credit hours) for the academic year. Twenty hours of work per week are expected of recipients during each semester. Applications are available from the TEGS Office.
Leave of Absence
Each semester students must either register for a course or request a leave of absence. Failure to do either may lead to administrative withdrawal from the college. To request a leave of absence, contact the Associate VP for Student Affairs office. Students must specify an intended date of return. No readmission procedure will be required when the College has granted an official leave.
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