Dean: Marcy P. Driscoll; Associate Dean for Academic Affairs: Pamela S. Carroll; Associate Dean for Faculty Development: James P. Sampson
The primary mission of the College of Education is to prepare administrators, teachers, educational researchers, educational policymakers, human services specialists, and other professional personnel for a wide range of educational careers in both public and private settings. In support of this purpose, the faculty of the college is committed to conducting research that contributes to the science of education; to the ongoing assessment and improvement of educational practice; and to the development of theory, policy, and execution of educational practice, both domestic and foreign. In order to accomplish this purpose the college offers master's, educational specialist, and doctoral degrees.
The Florida State University's College of Education's conceptual framework is based on a model that engages faculty, professional partners and candidates in a continuing process of preparing educational leaders for a global and diverse society. The University prepares educational leaders to uphold high professional and academic standards, and employs scientific inquiry and assessment as a basis for the continual improvement of student learning. These qualities are developed as candidates study and work within a community of professional partners. The needs and abilities of diverse students are addressed through the use of appropriate instructional strategies and technologies.
The College of Education maintains a wide variety of graduate degree programs in each of its four constituent departments.
Research & Evaluation Methods
Program Evaluation
Higher Education
Educational Leadership and Policy
Educational Leadership/Administration
Educational Policy, Planning and Analysis
Foundations of Education
Sociocultural and International Development Education Studies (SIDES)
Social, Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Education
Certificate in College Teaching
Certificate in Educational Policy
Certificate in Institutional Research
Certificate in Program Evaluation
Educational Psychology
Learning & Cognition
Sports Psychology
Instructional Systems
Instructional Systems
Open and Distance Learning
Performance Improvement and Human Resource Development
Measurement & Statistics
Counseling & Human Systems
Career Counseling
Mental Health Counseling
School Psychology
Counseling Psychology & Human Systems
Combined Program in Counseling Psychology & School Psychology
Certificate in Human Performance Technology
Certificate in Online Instructional Development
Special Education
Special Education
Exceptional Student Education (Teacher Preparation Program)
Visual Disabilities
Rehabilitation Counseling
Early Childhood Education
Elementary Education
Reading Education/Language Arts
English Education
Mathematics Education
Science Education
Social Science Education
Certificate in Early Childhood Special Education
Infant/Toddler Developmental Specialist Certificate (Offered through the Florida Department of Health with the College of Human Sciences)
Physical Education
Physical Education
Sports Administration
Recreation and Leisure Services Administration
The College of Education offers graduate degree programs in numerous fields of study. The programs prepare students for positions in a variety of professional settings and enterprises: elementary and secondary schools, junior colleges, and universities; vocational centers; counseling service organizations; career development centers; personnel services; adult education; leisure services; athletic training; testing; evaluation and measurement; institutional research; policy studies; organizational design and development; needs assessment for systems planning; and instructional design, development, and evaluation. Each field of study allows the student to develop an individualized program of study around a core curriculum in a chosen degree program.
Most master's level and specialist degree programs require students to take a required core of courses, complete course work in an area of specialization, and complete a comprehensive examination and/or thesis. Most full-time students require one or two years to complete a master's degree program. The doctoral degree programs are designed to provide educational experiences that enable students to acquire a thorough understanding of theoretical and methodological foundations of the discipline and related areas of specialization. Upon the completion of core requirements, students take preliminary examinations to certify their mastery of the knowledge base undergirding the practice of the discipline. Students seeking the doctoral degree must demonstrate their capacity to do original, independent, and integrative scholarly research by completing a dissertation.
The College of Education houses two college-wide centers and five departmental research and service centers that provide facilities and support for research undertaken by faculty members and students. College-wide centers include the Center for Policy Studies in Education and the Center for the Study of Teaching and Learning. Departmental research and service centers are the Center for Educational Research and Evaluation Services, Center for the Study of Technology in Counseling and Career Development, the Hardee Center for Women in Higher Education, The Florida State University School, and the Institute for the Study of Higher Education. In addition to these, a University-wide center, the Learning Systems Institute, represents an interdisciplinary group of researchers in educational and experimental psychology, communications, policy studies, and management and is the nation's leading producer of instructional systems design technology for use in a variety of educational settings throughout the world. All of these research arms frequently hire graduate students from the College of Education to assist with state, federal, and international grants and to provide invaluable resources and opportunities for applied educational research.
Students considered for admission to the college must present either a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) for their junior/senior years as an undergraduate or a score of 1000 on the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE). All applicants to the college must submit a GRE score as part of the admission process. Individual departments may have additional requirements for admission. Students should consult appropriate department chapter of this Graduate Bulletin for details. The College of Education is committed to increasing the proportion of teacher candidates who have historically been underrepresented among Florida's public school teachers, and applicants representing such groups will be considered for exceptions to the general and departmental admissions criteria. Applicants that cannot produce a score of 1000 in the combined verbal and quantitative aptitude portions of the GRE must score a minimum of 400 on each section individually, per College of Education policy. Any applicant with GRE scores below 400 on either aptitude portion of the exam (and below 1000 combined) will be treated as an exception to College of Education Graduate Admissions Guidelines, and as such, will require final approval of the Academic Dean for full admission to a graduate degree program.
The College of Education offers the Master of Arts, Master of Science, Specialist in Education, Doctor of Education, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees.
Graduate program curricula in the College of Education are governed by University-wide graduate studies regulations. These serve as minimum requirements, but College of Education and/or department requirements may exceed them. The supervisory committee is responsible for evaluating the recency and validity of all prior course work. Graduate students in Education should become familiar with University, college, and department requirements soon after admission.
The progress of students through degree programs is the personal responsibility of the individual student with appropriate guidance from the major professor and supervisory committee. The Office of Academic Services, 236 Stone Building, monitors students' degree progress and checks each student's record for graduation clearance. It is the responsibility of the student to become fully aware of the regulations set forth in this Graduate Bulletin in addition to the policies and procedures of the College of Education as administered by the Office of Academic Services.
The Specialist in Education degree is essentially an advanced master's degree. It is traditionally reserved for students with a prior graduate degree in a specific field of education. Requirements vary widely by department or program specialization.
Director: Neil Franks
The Office of Academic Services provides a wide array of professional and administrative services to students and faculty in the college and throughout the University. Under the direction of the Associate Dean, Academic Services has been tasked with (1) processing applications for admission and readmission to the College of Education; (2) maintaining the Dean's academic records for all students pursuing degrees in Education; (3) monitoring students' progress toward degree; (4) screening and approving students for admission to Teacher Education; (5) conducting required graduation clearances and approving students for teacher certification; and, (6) providing consultative and administrative services for the students and faculty of the College.
The Florida State University teacher education programs have been designed to address the importance of democratic values and institutions, the contributions of various ethnic groups to society and to stress character development, which encourages appreciation of diversity in a pluralistic society. Students planning to complete a teacher education program at The Florida State University must meet all the conditions listed below to be eligible for degree conferral.
The following College of Education graduate programs have been approved by the Florida Department of Education (DOE) as Advanced Initial Certification Teacher Preparation Programs:
The following out-of-unit graduate programs (by College) have been approved by the DOE as Advanced Initial Certification Teacher Preparation Programs:
The following Florida State University graduate programs (by College) have been approved by the DOE as Other School Personnel Preparation Programs, leading to initial certification at the cited degree level:
The educator preparation admissions standard for state-approved programs is subject to revision based on changes in Section 1004.04, Florida Statutes, Public Accountability and State Approval for Educator Preparation Programs, and State Board of Education Rule 6A-5.066, Approval of Educator Preparation Programs.
Note: Students should consult with a program adviser for specific course requirements.
Students must meet the following requirements to continue and graduate from a teacher education program:
Upon completion of an approved teacher education program and conferral of the degree from The Florida State University, students are eligible to receive a recommendation for a standard teaching certificate.
Placement Supervisor: Patrick Malone
The Office of Intern Support is responsible for the assignment of students to student teaching experiences. The office works with teacher education programs in the University and the public schools of Florida in the organization of student teaching centers and the selection of professional educators for intern supervision. Faculty members work with these supervising teachers and student teachers in planning and carrying out the final-term internship. The Office of Intern Support, 236 Stone Building (combined with the Office of Academic Services), is responsible for the final identification and screening of all students who make application for student teaching.
Students are assigned for the student teaching experience in those counties listed below as space, contract obligations, and the availability of a suitable supervising teacher dictate. Academic programs may, at their discretion, establish a minimum group size of two or greater and restrict placement to particular counties among those identified. Exceptions to this policy will be made only through successful appeal on the part of a student to the University Student Teaching Appeals Committee. Student teachers representing initial certification programs in Communication, Information, Visual Arts, Music, Arts & Sciences, and Human Sciences will also be concentrated in those counties listed but may be placed in additional locations should program certification requirements so dictate.
Area I—Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Madison, Taylor, and Wakulla counties;
Area II—Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Jackson, Liberty, Okaloosa, Walton, and Washington counties;
Area III—Brevard, Orange, Seminole, and Volusia counties;
Area IV—Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota counties; and
Area V—Broward, Dade, and Palm Beach counties.
Other areas as determined by the University Director of Teacher Education.
Academic programs are expected to inform their students of departmental placement policies well in advance of the semester of student teaching so that students may have the opportunity to plan appropriately. Also note that final term placement is conditional on fulfillment of all relevant program requirements, including passage of all required sections of the Florida Teacher Certification Exam (FTCE). Candidates should plan to sit for the Subject Area and Professional Educator portions of the FTCE no later than 30 days prior to making application for student teaching to allow time for receipt of score reports from the test administrator.
Applications for Student Teaching must be submitted to the Office of Intern Support (236 Stone) on the following timetable:
Applicants are specifically not guaranteed assignment to their home county nor to the immediate and general vicinity of the campus. Submission of an application by a candidate constitutes an agreement to accept assignment in the school and county where it is determined that the candidate's academic program objectives for student teaching can best be achieved.
A candidate is expected to meet professional standards as expressed in the pertinent school laws of the state of Florida. Candidates are also informed that, consistent with applicable law, information pertaining to all matters of public record, such as arrest and/or convictions in a court of law, may be routinely furnished to public schools as well as prospective employers.
The following criteria must be fulfilled prior to placement for student teaching: