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Advanced Study Phase

• Course Requirements and Content GPA
• Field Experience Courses
  • Being Removed from Field Experience
  • Repeating a Field Experience
• Pre-Service Teacher Permit/Background Check
• Professional Dispositions for Teacher Candidates
• Modules
• Applying for Student Teaching/COST
• Applying for Graduation
• Barriers and Roadblocks for the Advanced Study Phase
  • Professional Education Warning and Not Permitted to Continue - Student in Advanced Study
  • Failure to Complete Course Requirements
  • Professional Studies and Other University Majors
  • Professional Dispositions for Teacher Candidates

Advanced Study Phase

Admitted to professional courses/field experience phase

Course Requirements and Content GPA

Congratulations! You did it! Welcome to the Advanced Study phase of your program. In this phase, you will enroll in professional courses that include a combination of teaching methods courses, content courses, and field experience coursework. Professional coursework may be within the department itself or may include coursework from other departments or colleges. Please keep in mind, there are minimum grades required for these courses, generally a C or higher. In addition, many programs require a minimum major or content GPA that must be met to progress in the major. Please contact your instructor or advisor immediately if you start to struggle and do not think you will achieve the minimum grades. They can connect you with tutoring and coaching resources. The catalog for each program area outlines grade requirements for specific courses, a minimum major GPA (if applicable), and the courses that count toward that major or content GPA.

Field Experience Courses

We are excited to have you begin working in schools. During the Advanced Study phase, you will engage in a variety of field experiences (i.e., when you are out in schools or other educational settings) throughout your teacher education program. Field experiences may include observations, small group teaching, teaching an entire class and once in student teaching, teaching a full teaching schedule. These experiences also vary in the amount of time you are in the field: a full day, half day, class period or two, etc. The outcome of the Advanced Study phase is to fully prepare you for your own classroom. Your preparation depends upon your successful completion of field experiences. With that in mind, as stated in our attendance policy, all field experience requirements must be fulfilled to pass the course. 

Field experience placements are designed to give you the opportunity to experience different learning environments according to grade level, licensure area, content area, and type of school district. There are selected courses in each teacher education program that require completion of field work in assigned placements within P-12 schools. Selected field experience placements are arranged between the course instructor and KSU Vacca Office of Student Services

Please consider the following important conditions related to the field placement process:

• A pre-service permit (Appendix E) is required prior to your field experience placement.
• The course instructor or an automated email from Vacca Office of Student Services will inform you of your field experience placement once the placement has been confirmed.
• Teacher candidates may not coordinate their own placements.
• Teacher candidates may not change assignment placements with other candidates.
• Teacher candidates may state geographical preferences for field experience placement, but these requests are not guaranteed.
• Field experience placements normally are within a 50-mile radius of 51����.

As guests in schools and other educational settings, we believe it is best for you to practice your growing professional identity. The following will help to guide you in your site visits as teacher candidates and as representatives of 51����: 

1. As soon as you receive your confirmation of a placement, please contact the mentor teacher and plan for the visits. Please be considerate of the mentor teacher's schedule as we recommend that you do not wait to the last minute to fulfill your hours.
2. Teachers rely on your commitment and punctuality. If for some reason you are unable to attend the agreed upon times and days for your field experience, please contact the teacher or school/site office and your KSU course instructor to let them know of your absence. In case of emergency, please contact the school and leave a message the day the emergency occurs.
3. An important component within the teaching profession is networking with other teachers and administrators as they may provide recommendations for future employment. In addition to your ability to teach and connect with students, they will also observe your professional conduct and appearance. So, while we recommend that you follow the standards of professional conduct and appearance as specified by the school's teacher handbook or by the administrator in charge, we also want you to be true to yourself and who you are. If you have questions about how to balance your personal identity and the expectations of your school district, please reach out to your instructor, advisor, or supportive employee in the KSU teacher education community.
4. District handbooks often address length and style of hair, beards and moustaches, piercings, style of dress, tattoos, among other items, which may or may not be inclusive of all identities. We discuss this further in the Professional Attire section; however, if you feel the standards asked of you are unreasonable and you are unable to conform to these standards, please consult with your instructor, university supervisor, or the Assistant Director of Clinical Experience.
5. You are responsible for obtaining your own transportation to/from the schools/sites.
6. Whenever possible, please schedule a few minutes to meet the Building Principal. This offers you the opportunity to learn about the school’s expectations, meet teachers and address your specific goals. When observing, please find an area in the room away from the classroom activities and follow the teacher's lead for interactions and classroom involvement with the students.
7. Teachers and schools expect that KSU guests observe while in their classrooms. This means you will not engage in conversation with others, including other KSU students visiting the classroom with you, to not interfere with the learning environment.
8. When it is time to end the visit, please leave as quietly as possible. If the opportunity is there to thank the teacher for the visit, it is an appreciated and courteous gesture. 
9. If you write an observation report (as a course requirement), write what you saw or heard without recording judgment or criticism. Remember to omit names of teachers, children, other school personnel and the school name and district so as to maintain a professional policy of confidentiality. 
10. In your development as a teacher candidate, your fieldwork must be given first priority over other personal obligations and commitments. In addition, you must conduct yourself in a professional manner, including dress, speech, personal habits and overall courtesy. 
11. Any indication of drug and/or alcohol use will result in removal from the placement site.

Absences from Field Experiences

Time in the field is the heartbeat of our teacher education programs, and this policy reflects that importance. Extenuating circumstances are the only reasons accepted as excused absences from field experiences. If such a situation occurs, we respectfully request that you notify the mentor teacher and instructor/university supervisor prior to the absence. In addition, please inform both the mentor teacher and university supervisor/instructor about the date of return to the field when possible. Absences, late arrivals, and/or early departures from field experiences may result in additional time in the field or removal from the field experience. Extensive absences will be addressed on a case-by-case basis and may require a medical note. 

Passing Field Experiences and Courses 

Teacher candidates must meet the field experience requirements to earn a passing grade for the corresponding course. The following actions constitute a failing grade for a field experience: 

• Chronic tardiness or absences from field experiences
• Failure to meet the field experience time and work requirements set forth by the course instructor
• Participation in unprofessional behavior that would result in dismissal of a teacher from employment

Being Removed from Field Experience/Student Teaching

Quite often, prior to student teaching, a field experience component is included as part of a university course. If you are removed from a field experience site whether the school has asked for your removal or due to poor performance/dispositions, you will need to repeat the course the next semester the course is offered. Refer to the Student Teaching Phase section of the handbook for potential options if you are removed from a school site during student teaching. If a removal occurs, 51���� is not required to find another placement in the same semester for a teacher candidate if you were asked to leave a school site. If it is agreed upon that a new placement will be found in the same semester, a new BCI/FBI background check will be needed upon arrival at the new site.

Repeating a Field Experience 

Teacher candidates are permitted to repeat a field experience course once (see major requirements for specific courses). If a teacher candidate is unsuccessful in completing OR fails to earn the required grade in a field experience course the first time, the teacher candidate will receive a warning and will be required to work with a faculty advisor in their academic unit to develop a plan for continuation. The required grade is a C or better in a course that awards a letter grade, or Satisfactory (S) in a course that awards an S/U grade. The plan will include all actions necessary to continue in the current program, the opportunity to declare a different program, a timeline of when actions should occur, and next steps if actions are not followed. If the teacher candidate does not earn the required grade in the field experience course the second time, a hold will be placed on their account, preventing them from registering for classes until they change their major out of the education program.

Pre-Service Teacher Permit/Background Check

Once in advanced study, you will be required to complete a variety of observations, field experiences, and student teaching. As of July 1, 2024, any individual enrolled in a course that is part of an Educator Preparation Program AND who will be in a Pk-12 classroom as part of the course must obtain a Pre-Service Teacher Permit before you are allowed in schools for your field experience or student teaching assignments. The Pre-Service Teacher Permit is either valid for three years with a cost of $75.00 or for 1 year at a cost of $25 (see Appendix E for more information). 

The first step in obtaining a state issued Pre-Service Teacher Permit through the State Board of Education, is to complete both a BCII and FBI background check/fingerprinting evaluation. BCII and FBI background checks require current, state issued identification (driver’s license or a state identification card issued by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles) and must be paid for by check or cash. 

If you are a student on the Kent campus, background checks and fingerprinting can be completed in the Instructional Resource Center (IRC), Room 221 White Hall, during operating hours and by appointment. Contact the IRC to verify dates and hours of operation at 330-672-2353. 

Cost for the BCII is approximately $30.00, but is subject to change, and can be paid with cash or online credit card payments (a 3% fee will be applied to all card purchases.) Checks are NOT accepted.

Cost for the FBI fingerprinting is approximately $30.00 and can be paid with by cash or online credit card payments (a 3% fee will be applied to all card purchases.) 

If you are a student at a regional campus, you may contact your local Educational Service Center. 

You are required to bring current state issued identification (driver’s license or identification card). You are responsible for the payment of this fee at the time of service.

• Please request that both background checks are sent to the State Board of Education and mailed directly to you. Do not send the results of background checks to 51���� or the student teaching site. Both background checks are required when applying for initial licensure as well. Student teachers may need to update their background checks when applying for licensure.

Neither the Vacca Office of Student Services nor your faculty views these results. For any questions, you can review the Standards for Licensure and Employment of Individuals with Criminal Conviction concerning the results of background checks. This document can be viewed on the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce website at education.ohio.gov. Locate “Teachers” in the topic menus bar at the top of the homepage, from there go to “Professional Conduct,” (located in a box to the right under State Board of Education). For additional help, contact the Office of Professional Conduct directly at 855-983-4868. For further questions regarding the directions or if you have any questions or concerns as to what may be or is found on your background check, please contact the Clinical Experience Office in the Vacca Office of Student Services at 330-672-2870 or email the Assistant Director of Clinical Experiences at rbrow156@kent.edu.

Professional Dispositions for Teacher Candidates

During advanced study, you will continue to be assessed using the Professional Disposition Assessment for Teacher Candidates at 51����. If at any time there is an issue with professional dispositions, an instructor may complete a disposition assessment when a situation calls for it. In most cases where there are issues with professional dispositions, a professional development plan (PDP) must be created and completed before you continue through the program. A candidate may not progress through the teacher education program unless evidence shows that progress toward meeting the professional dispositions is underway. By the completion of student teaching, all disposition assessments must be rated as acceptable. A copy of the disposition assessment can be found in Appendix B.

Modules

As you progress through your teacher education program, you will be required to successfully complete a variety of learning modules that have been designated by the state of Ohio. These modules must be completed for you to be cleared for licensure. 

Modules are in the Sign in and click on the link for Teacher Education Modules. The modules that will be completed prior to graduation are:

1. Computer Science
2. Dyslexia*
3. Ohio Resident Educator
4. Ohio School Operating Standards
5. Ohio Standards for Professional Development
6. Opioid Use Prevention
7. Value-added

*If you are in the MCED or SPED programs, you will NOT complete the Dyslexia module.

Depending on your program, these topics/concepts will be expanded on in different ways. You can take these at any time; however, you will find that some programs will have you complete the module for homework and then have discussions or activities in class. All modules must be successfully completed before you apply for licensure.

Apply for Student Teaching/COST

Preparing for student teaching is a very exciting time. A year may seem far away; however, the year before you plan to student teach is when you will apply. Applications for the student teaching experience must be submitted to the Office of Clinical Experiences via the EHHS student portal.

• To find the application, go to the and log in. From the menu, choose “Clinical Experience”, then choose “Student Teaching Application” and follow the prompts. If you have concerns or questions about a portion of the application, contact Renee Brown, the Assistant Director of Clinical Experience at 330-672-0541 or rbrow156@kent.edu.

If a student is interested in student teaching overseas/COST

51���� students can student teach in overseas English-language schools through COST—The Consortium for Overseas Student Teaching. COST offers a world class cross-cultural and international professional educational experience while still meeting Ohio’s teacher education standards. Placements are available in such sites as Australia, Bahamas, Belize, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, The Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa and Spain. For more information, visit the Gerald H. Read Center for International and Intercultural Education's website about COST. If interested, you need to attend a COST information meeting and work with Dr. Elizabeth Kenyon (ekenyon@kent.edu /330-673-2580).

Dates to submit application to Dr. Elizabeth Kenyon:

• Fall 2026 Applications due February 15, 2026
• Spring 2027 Applications due August 15, 2026

Applying for Graduation

Congratulations! You are nearing the end and ready to apply for graduation. The application for graduation is located online through FlashLine and must be completed by published deadlines. The online graduation application is used for all degree and certificate programs.

To access the online graduation application:

1. Log into FlashLine, then click on Student / Resources / Graduation.
2. Review and acknowledge the Important Information Concerning Your Graduation Application page.
3. Select and submit your curriculum.
4. Select and submit your graduation term.
5. Review your information for accuracy and submit your request.
6. Print the Graduation Application Acknowledgment page for your records.
7. View submitted graduation applications by clicking on the link at the bottom of your acknowledgment page or from the link on the Student Category/Resources Page/Graduation Section.
8. Once the information has been submitted, it will be reviewed and acted on appropriately by your college or Regional Campus office.
9. Any questions about applying for graduation should be referred to your advisor/advising office.

Barriers and Roadblocks for the Advanced Study Phase

Professional Education Warning and Not Permitted to Continue - Student in Advanced Study 

While GPA is just one facet of understanding your preparedness of the classroom, it is one that provides some insight into your acquisition of both the content and pedagogical knowledge that is necessary to successfully conduct a classroom. As a student in a teacher licensure program, you are required to have a minimum 2.75 GPA to progress in your program and ultimately graduate. If your cumulative GPA drops below a 2.75, for the first time you will be placed on Professional Education Warning (PEW). You will have 2 semesters to bring your cumulative GPA up to a 2.75 and must receive a term GPA of a 2.75 for every semester after being placed on Professional Education Warning. Unfortunately, if you fail to meet this requirement, you will be Not Permitted to Continue (NPC) in your major and will be required to change your major. You may opt to declare EHSG until you are able to raise your cumulative GPA up to a 2.75 or may choose to declare another major in EHHS or in another college.

If you are NPC in your major, you will be deregistered from any Advanced Study courses that you are enrolled in for the next term. You will be unable to take any Advanced Study courses until your GPA is back up to a 2.75 and you declare your teacher education major.

Failure to Complete Course Requirements

If you unfortunately do not successfully complete your professional coursework you likely will not be able to progress to the next set of courses in your major, depending on established prerequisites listed in the catalog. You will need to obtain approval from your advisor before you can take a course for the 4th time. Additional limits apply for courses that include a field experience (See Field Experience Courses for more information). 

In some cases, courses are required to be taken together in a set block of courses. If you pass some courses in the block but not all courses in the block, you will be required to repeat only the courses that did not earn the minimum grade before you can move on to the next block. 

If you have repeated courses several times and have not successfully passed, you may be encouraged to explore other majors, including Professional Studies or majors in Arts and Sciences or EHHS (i.e., an Integrated Social Studies major may want to look into the History major). 

To be permitted to student teach, you will need to complete all required courses for your program with the minimum required grades except for Student Teaching and Inquiry Seminar.

Professional Studies and Other University Majors

If you do not maintain the required GPA, or do not otherwise meet minimum requirements in your teacher education program, you are encouraged to explore the Professional Studies major. This degree completion program is a good option that allows you to maximize the use of credits you have already earned while allowing you to stay on track to graduate as planned. It is important to note that the Professional Studies major is a non-licensure program and does not qualify candidates to apply for a teaching license at graduation. In this program, you are able to create a self-guided major with your remaining coursework and are encouraged to add minors or certificates to help prepare you for career or graduate school goals. A 2.00 is required to declare and graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Professional Studies.

You may also want to explore parallel majors in the College of Arts and Sciences (i.e., History for Integrated Social Studies, English for Integrated Language Arts majors). Note that additional requirements will need to be determined by an advisor for that program area.

Professional Dispositions for Teacher Candidates

At this point in your program, you must have satisfactory disposition assessments on file to qualify for student teaching. If you have been required to complete a Professional Development Plan (PDP), you must have this resolved and signed before you are cleared for student teaching.

Last updated July 23, 2025