Accreditation Overview

The College of Education at Mississippi State University has enjoyed long-standing accreditation on national, regional, and state levels. On the national level, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) accredited Mississippi State University through 2029. CAEP promotes excellence in educator preparation through content and pedagogy, clinical partnerships and practice, candidate recruitment, progression and support, program impact, and quality assurance and continuous improvement. Mississippi State University meets rigorous national standards for educator preparation set by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.CAEP Accredited Provider logo

The initial and advanced level programs accredited by the CAEP in the 2022 review are listed below:

Initial Level Program Name Degree Campus
Elementary Education Bachelor of Science Starkville, Meridian, Distance
Kinesiology (Physical Education and Coaching) Bachelor of Science Starkville
Secondary Education Bachelor of Science Starkville, Meridian
Special Education Bachelor of Science Starkville, Meridian
Secondary Education Master of Arts in Teaching (Alternate Route) Distance, Meridian
Special Education Master of Arts in Teaching (Alternate Route Distance
Advanced Level Program Name Degree Campus
Educational Leadership-School Administration Master of Science Starkville, Meridian, Distance
Education -School Administration Educational Specialist Starkville, Meridian

Regionally, the College is accredited with Mississippi State University by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC). At the state level, the Educator Preparation Programs are approved by the Mississippi Department of Education.

Some of the departments in the College of Education have program areas that maintain accreditation and approval that are discipline specific. 

The Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Foundations’ School Psychology program is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) and approved by the National Associations of School Psychologists (NASP); the Clinical Mental Health, School, and Rehabilitation Counseling programs are accredited by the Council for Accrediting of Counseling and Related Programs (CACREP). These accreditations are necessary for professional licensure for each discipline. 

The programs in the Department of Music are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).

Summary of the Programs Nationally Recognized or State Approved are listed below:

Licensure Area
(Initial Programs)
Specialized Professional Associations
(SPA)
State Approval by
(Mississippi Department of Education)
Elementary Education No SPA  State Approved through 3/15/2027
English Education National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
Recognized until 2/1/2027
State Approved through 3/15/2027
Kinesiology (Physical Education & Coaching) National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE)
now known as Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE)
Recognized until 2/1/2023 
State Approved through 3/27/2027
Master of Arts in Teaching -Secondary Education  No SPA  State Approved through 3/15/2027
Master of Arts in Teaching -Special Education  No SPA  State Approved through 3/15/2027
Mathematics Education  National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) 
Accredited until 2028
State Approved through 3/15/2027
 
Music Education  National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)
Recognized until 2026
State Approved through 3/15/2027
Science Education (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) National Science Teaching Association (NSTA)
 Recognized until 2/1/2023
State Approved through 3/15/2027
Secondary-Social Studies Education  National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)
Recognized until 2/1/2028
State Approved through 3/15/2027
Special Education Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
Recognized until 2/1/2028
State Approved through 3/15/2027
  (Advanced Programs)  
Educational Leadership-Building, Principal (MS & EDS)  Educational Leadership Constituent Council (ELCC) now known as National Educational Leadership Preparation (NELP)
Recognized until 8/1/2026
State Approved through 3/15/2027