B. S. in Education without Certification

Kutztown University Policy ACA-030

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to define the circumstances in which a candidate is permitted to receive a B. S. degree in education but does not receive certification to teach.
Scope

This policy applies only to candidates who meet one of the following criteria:
1. 1. Withdraw from clinical experience after meeting with a counselor.
  2. Choose not to enter clinical experience but do meet all requirements for Stage III of the State Requirement Policy for Admission to Teacher Certification Programs.
  3. Have a 3.0 GPA in education courses required for the major and a 3.0 GPA average overall but will not be permitted to participate in clinical experience because they do not meet the other criteria for Stage III of the State Requirement Policy for Admission to Teacher Certification Programs.
Definition(s):
1. Counselor: A counselor is an individual who has obtained advanced degree training and knowledge in the areas of mental health; psychological or human development principles; application of cognitive, affective, behavioral and/or systemic intervention strategies; and addresses wellness, personal growth, or career development, as well as pathology. A professional counselor can assist the candidate to understand problems and work through the decision-making process. Candidates may schedule a meeting with a professional counselor or mental health practitioner either in the Kutztown University Counseling Center/Department of Counseling and Psychological Services or within the community.
2. Field Experience: Practical experiential learning activities under College of Education sponsorship conducted in major-specific organizations away from the classroom or campus. Field experience hours/classes take place prior to clinical experience (student teaching).
3. Clinical Experience: A college-supervised instructional semester, Clinical Experience is the capstone course in the four-year College of Education program. Students participate in two eight-week placements as teacher candidates in their area(s) of certification; successful completion of this program leads to teacher certification from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Policy & Procedure(s)

For the candidates indicated above, the procedure will be the following:
1. The candidate must submit a written request to the department chair.
2. The chair will submit the candidate’s request with or without the chair’s endorsement to the dean for review. The dean will submit the request to the Council for Teacher and Counselor Education. This request must include verification of successful completion of 120 credits of instruction or plan for completing credits to satisfy degree credits conditions.
3. The Dean of the College of Education will notify the candidate in writing of the Council for Teacher and Counselor Education’s decision and copies of the letter will be sent to the Registrar, candidate’s advisor, Director of Clinical Experience and Outreach and the department chair who endorsed the candidate’s petition.
4. A candidate who has been granted permission to graduate with a B.S. in Education without certification will not be permitted to commence Clinical Experience. If the candidate is granted this status while enrolled in the first eight-week assignment of clinical experience and wants to complete this phase, the candidate may be permitted to complete this phase only earning six (6) semester hours credit.
5. A minimum of 30 semester hours of Education courses approved by the department chair must be completed.
Effective Date:

Fall 1988
Approved By:

Approved, Council for Teacher Education: 03/10/88
Approved by KU President: 03/15/88
Revised/Approved, Council for Teacher Education: 03/20/08 for 2008-09
Revised/Approved, Council for Teacher Education: 09/15/2011
Last Reviewed

August, 2009; August, 2010; September, 2011; August, 2012; August, 2013; August, 2014; August, 2015; August, 2016; August, 2017; August, 2018; August, 2019; August, 2020