Our professional academic support staff in the Center for Student Success and Professional Services will help you evaluate your strengths and interests, choose classes each semester, discover opportunities for involvement, and work to find solutions to issues that arise. We will act as your guide, from applying for admission to the professional program, graduation, initial teacher licensure, and beyond. We work with you to navigate the challenges and successes you face as a student at K-State and in the College of Education to make your trip as smooth as possible.
Meeting your goals begins with developing a relationship with your academic advisor and creating an individualized graduation plan. Do you want to see the world? Want to add a major or minor? Your advisor can help you map out your collegiate career.
Make an Appointment
If you are a student in the College of Education, you can make an appointment with your advisor online using SSC Campus. If you are interested in the College of Education, please contact the office in 013 Bluemont Hall at 785-532-5524.
Advising Syllabus and Student Handbook
The information in this syllabus is designed to help you get the most out of your advising relationship. It is an important document to guide you on your path to success.
Complete the following with grades of C or better:
ENGL 100 & 200 – Expository Writing 1 & 2, COMM 105/106 – Public Speaking
Math 100 – College Algebra, STAT 325 – Statistics or MATH 160 – Math for Elementary Teachers
Maintain a 2.75 GPA in all attempted courses that meet degree program requirements; in addition, a 2.75 is required in all attempted secondary teaching field courses. This includes all graded transfer courses.
Complete the basic skills tests for reading, writing and math if your ACT is below 22 or 1010 SAT. The tests are provided for you free of charge through Kansas State Library System – Learning Express Library.
Upon completion of the pre-professional requirements listed above, submit an online application for Admission to Teacher Education/Professional Program. This application is due the semester prior to Block 1/A. Priority deadline is October 1 or February 15 or as soon as all the requirements are completed.
Before starting EDCI 230 – Early Field Experience, complete and submit TB form, watch Blood Borne Pathogens video, complete and submit Background Check, and buy a COE polo – see EdCats Central.
Students in Professional Teacher Education(Blocks 1/A, 2/B, C and Teaching Internship):
Complete First Aid and CPR certification and update TB (tuberculosis) test. Upload proof of certification to Canvas – EdCats Central.
Complete 40 Professionalism Hours. Documentation forms and suggested opportunities available on the website. The hours are due November or April 1, the semester prior to student teaching. Upload proof of certification to Canvas – EdCats Central.
Complete all Teacher Ed courses and practica with a minimum 3.0 GPA with C or better.
To be eligible for student teaching, a minimum 2.75 or higher GPA is required in all attempted courses that meet degree requirements, including all graded transfer credits.
Complete the Student Teacher Assignment Request (STAR) form: Elementary or Secondary. It is due February 1 or September 1, the semester prior to student teaching.
Complete an Application for Graduation. The application is located on KSIS - Student Center. In order for the application to be processed, transcripts from other institutions must be sent to K-State, Office of Admissions in Anderson Hall.
Check DARS – degree audit report on KSIS Student Center to ensure all requirements are met or in progress.
Required for Licensure:
Check the Praxis Teaching and Leading in Kansas website for more information about fees, study guides, practice tests, passing scores, and test dates. To search for test dates, create a user id and password.
Take Principles of Learning and Teaching Test (PLT) K-6 or 7-12 after Block A/1.
Take the Praxis Elementary Ed CKT content test or Secondary content/teaching field test.
Consult with your advisor about tests to add subjects or levels to your license including ESL or middle school (5-8) tests.
Get fingerprinted and submit for a background check.
Graduation Plan
A graduation plan is a comprehensive list of courses to be taken by semester. The plan should include the requirements needed to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary or Secondary Education and obtain your teaching license.
Remember – this is your plan and it is your responsibility to update it. Course offerings are subject to change every semester. Therefore, the graduation plan is only meant to be a guide and doesn’t replace regular meetings with an academic advisor.
The following is a guide to assist you with creating a personal plan:
Estimate the number of semesters YOU need to complete the program. Students may complete the program in 4 years BUT most students need to plan 4-½ -5 years or 9-10 semesters. A four-year plan requires excellent planning and in most cases summer courses.
Identify the semester you plan to graduate. This is the semester you will complete your student teaching. You cannot plan for any concurrent courses during this semester.
Graph or chart the number of semesters estimated from item 1. Create the plan using an easy to revise format. As course offerings change, so should your plan.
Start by working backwards and inserting professional/block classes for the last 3-4 semesters. Blocks A, B, C and Student teaching OR Blocks I, II and Student teaching.
Continue inserting classes for each semester until all are accounted for on the curriculum guide. You may find the need to adjust the plan by adding summers or full semesters.
Include all the College of Education requirements and deadlines on your plan.
Looking to get a head start on your success at K-State? We encourage you to complete this checklist before classes start. Familiarize yourself with campus resources, services, and important dates to kick off the semester right!
Login to KSIS and explore your Student Center
Review your class schedule and financial aid
Take a look at items on your “To-Do List” that you may need to complete
Explore intrapersonal factors related to academic and career goals.
Clarify your personal values, especially as they relate to academic and career choices.
Explore connections between your interests, values, and strengths and potential careers.
Arrange for experiences that will help you clarify your goals.
Use multiple resources to maximize your undergraduate experience (advisors, study groups, student organizations, volunteering, electives, student services).
Knowledge: Demonstrate a working knowledge of degree requirements, career options, campus resources, and enrichment activities.
Critical thinking: Demonstrate the ability to identify goals, construct short-term and long-term plans, respond and adapt to changing situations, interpret degree requirements, make complex decisions, solve problems, and evaluate actions.
Communication: Demonstrate the ability to communicate clearly and effectively.
Diversity: Demonstrate awareness and understanding of the skills necessary in order to live and work in a diverse world.
Academic and Professional Integrity: Demonstrate awareness and understanding of the ethical and professional standards of the university, academic discipline, and profession.
Work with an advisor to develop and implement short-term and long-term academic, personal and career goals.
Discuss the following: goal setting, campus involvement opportunities, changing majors, time management, study tips, adding minor/certificate/secondary major, and career planning/life after graduation.
Utilize your advisor when academic or personal challenges arise.
Familiarize yourself with requirements for your major by utilizing the information given to you by your advisor and the Degree Audit Report System (DARS) in KSIS. Remain informed of progress in meeting academic requirements.
Schedule and keep appointments with your advisor. Attend appointments prepared by bringing appropriate materials, identifying course choices from requirements of the preferred program or major, and identifying questions to address.
Know academic policies and procedures, academic calendar deadline, and degree or program requirements.
Tell your advisor if you have any special needs or require any learning accommodations. Understand the enrollment requirements needed for your financial aid, scholarship, or international status.
Check your email on a regular basis. You will be responsible for reading any messages sent to your K-State email account which will be used to disseminate information from your advisor.
Help students set both short-term and long-term educational and career goals.
Prepare students for graduation by discussing the degree requirements of their department, help with strategic course selections to minimize the number of semesters required for graduation, and inform students of opportunities in their field of study.
Maintain reasonable hours and methods of availability for students. Students should be able to set up appointments for an adequate amount of time to discuss goals and career choices, make curricular selections, and answer other questions.
Refer students to appropriate campus resources.
Inform students how to change college and/or departments and provide information to explain the process students follow to enroll in their curriculum and to drop or add courses during the semester.
If you are a student in the College of Education, you can make an appointment with your advisor online using SSC Campus. If you are interested in the College of Education, please contact the office in 013 Bluemont Hall at 785-532-5524.