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 College has been accredited continuously since 1961, by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) - now the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The initial and advanced level programs accredited by NCATE in the 2015 review are listed below: 

Programs accredited from the 2015 NCATE Review:

Initial Level Program Name
Degree
Campus
Elementary Education
Bachelor of Science
Starkville, Meridian, Distance
Kinesiology (Sport Pedagogy)
Bachelor of Science
Starkville
Music Education
Bachelor of Music Education
Starkville
Secondary Education
Bachelor of Science
Starkville, Meridian
Special Education
Bachelor of Science
Starkville, Meridian
Technology Teacher Education
Bachelor of Science
Starkville
Middle Level Education
Master of Arts in Teaching
(Alternate Route)
Starkville
Secondary Education
Master of Arts in Teaching
(Alternate Route)
Starkville
Advanced Level Program Name
Degree
Campus
Elementary Education
Master of Science
Starkville, Meridian
Kinesiology (Sports Pedagogy)
Master of Science
Starkville
Secondary Education
Master of Science
Starkville, Meridian
Special Education
Master of Science
Starkville
School Administration
Master of Science
Starkville, Meridian
Technology
Master of Science
Starkville
Education (Elementary, Secondary, Special Education, 
Technology, School Administration or School Counseling)
Educational Specialist
Starkville
Curriculum and Instruction
Doctor of Philosophy
Starkville
Elementary/Middle/Secondary
Education Administration
Doctor of Philosophy
Starkville
Advanced Level Program Name for other school professionals
Degree
Campus
Counselor Education
Master of Science
Starkville, Meridian
Educational Psychology
Master of Science
Starkville
Counselor Education/Student
Counseling and Guidance Services
Doctor of Philosophy
Starkville
Educational Psychology
Doctor of Philosophy
Starkville

 

The next accreditation visit is scheduled for Spring 2022 using the CAEP Standards for the following initial and advanced level programs:

Programs for the 2022 CAEP Accreditation Review:

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 2025
State Approved through 3/15/2027
 
Music Education  National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)
Recognized unitl 8/1/2028
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