Five departments, one goal: Provide high quality preparation programs for teaching, related services and leadership careers in education so that our graduates will be well equipped to enhance the lives of individuals, families, schools and communities.
With an emphasis on collaboration among departments, the College of Education and Human Sciences (CEHS) offers certification and endorsement programs in early childhood, elementary, secondary, special education, school administration and for educational professionals in school psychology and speech-language pathology.
- Programs
- Departments
- Accreditations
- Accreditation Approvals
- Student Teaching & Clinical Experience
- Performance Data
- P-12 Program Impact Plan
- Indicators of Teaching Effectiveness
- Student Loan Default Rates
Five CEHS departments are engaged in preparing our future educators.
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Teaching, Learning and Teacher Education (TLTE) – preparing undergraduate students for teaching careers in elementary and secondary education. Graduate students can earn master’s, Ph.D. and Ed.D. degrees. Additional teacher certification and endorsement programs are also available.
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Special Education and Communication Disorders (SECD) – preparing undergraduate students for careers in special education teaching through certification and endorsement programs. Graduate students earn master’s and Ph.D. degrees in special education. SECD also prepares students to become speech-language pathologists and audiologists with master’s and Au.D programs.
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Child, Youth and Family Studies (CYAF) – preparing undergraduate students to serve children birth to grade 3 with a bachelor’s degree in inclusive early childhood education. CYAF also offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Family and Consumer Sciences.
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Educational Administration (EDAD) – offers master’s and doctoral degrees in P-20 school educational administration.
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Educational Psychology (EDPS) – prepares graduate students to be national certified school psychologists through either an educational specialist degree or Ph.D. A master’s in counseling psychology is also available.
NDE Approval Documents
CAEP Inquiry Brief Review
Every CEHS program that leads to certification is accredited by a national accrediting agency. Accreditation helps separate UNL from other teacher preparation programs. More than 3,000 colleges and universities nationwide offer teacher preparation programs, but only 300 are accredited. It makes a difference.
Why?-
It helps assure quality in educator preparation through external peer review
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Sets standards for what new teachers need to know and for clinical training, which allows teachers to enter the classroom ready to teach effectively
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Promotes ongoing self-assessment of programs
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Connects with national and state accountability systems
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Elevates the profession
Accrediting organizations
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Educator Preparation – Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) and Nebraska Department of Education. CEHS is currently going through a new accreditation process for educator preparation programs through the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). As part of this process, CEHS has completed a self study report (PDF). In addition, CAEP is calling for third party comments about CEHS's educator preparation programs. Visit the news story for more information.
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School Psychology – The Ph.D. in school psychology is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association*, and the Ph.D. and Ed.S. in school psychology are approved by the National Association of School Psychologists.
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Speech Language Pathology – The M.S. in speech-language pathology and the Au.D. in audiology are accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
See our accreditation page for more information.
*Questions related to the program's accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 336-5979
apaaccred@apa.org
www.apa.org/ed/accreditation
The following programs prepare qualified candidates to fill the needs of schools:
Educator Preparation Programs Leading to Initial Teacher Certification
- Inclusive early childhood education – students earn a bachelor of science (B.S.) with a Nebraska teaching certificate endorsement (Birth to Grade 3).
- Elementary education – students earn a B.S. in education with certification to teach in grades K-6.
- Secondary education – students earn a B.S. in education with certification to teach in grades 7-12.
- Special education – students have a choice of dual major in elementary education and special education (K-6) or a special education (7-12) degree. Both are B.S. degrees with certification.
Evidence of Effectiveness
- Teacher Education Candidate Performance – a summary of results on various measures of teacher candidate performance.
Advanced Educator Preparation Programs
- School administration – students can earn a master’s or doctor of education in P-12 school leadership. The M.Ed. provides Nebraska principal endorsement and the Ed.D. provides Nebraska superintendent endorsement.
- School psychology – in a three-year program, students earn an educational specialist degree (Ed.S.) that meets the requirements to become a National Certified School Psychologist (NCSP).
- Speech language pathology – a B.S. degree prepares students to pursue their master’s or doctoral degree. The master’s degree meets requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence and a Nebraska teaching endorsement in speech language pathology.
- Audiology – the Clinical Doctorate in Audiology (Au.D.) meets the requirements for the Nebraska special services standard audiologist certificate.
The experience of student teaching is an essential component in the development of educators. CEHS faculty and staff consider it to be the “capstone” in the preparation process for teacher education. For more information, visit Practicum and Student Teaching. This page includes contact information for Sara Skretta, director of professional experiences.
Preservice teachers with questions about initial teaching certification or teachers interested in renewing a certificate can find details at Teacher Certification and Renewal. Contact information for Sara Skretta, certification officer, can also be found here.
Teacher education applicants must complete the Praxis I Core Academic Skills for Educators examination. More information is available at the Praxis webpage.
To review a summary of how CEHS teacher candidates perform academically, visit the teacher education candidate performance data page.
Criminal history background checks are also required of all teacher candidates. Details are available at the criminal history background checks webpage.
Clinical placements are an integral part of the school psychology program and the speech language pathology program. Please see the following links for more information.
Description of Admitted Candidates
2018-19
328 students were admitted to teacher education programs
ACT mean = 24.3
ACT median = 24
35% have ACT greater than or equal to 26
45% have ACT greater than or equal to 25
56% have ACT greater than or equal to 24
GPA average is 3.62
Median High School rank is top 24%
79% female; 21 % male
84% white
2017-18
327 students were admitted to teacher education programs
ACT mean = 23.8
ACT median = 24
32% have ACT greater than or equal to 26
41% have ACT greater than or equal to 25
51% have ACT greater than or equal to 24
GPA average is 3.405
Median High School rank is top 26%
75% female; 25 % male
86% white
2016-17
279 students were admitted to teacher education programs
ACT mean = 24.475
ACT median = 24
35% have ACT greater than or equal to 26
45% have ACT greater than or equal to 25
48% have ACT greater than or equal to 24
GPA average is 3.326
Median High School rank is top 22%
75% female; 25 % male
89% white
96% of students admitted to a teacher education program completed the program and were eligible for Nebraska teacher certification
2015-2016
276 students were admitted to teacher education programs
ACT mean = 25.24
ACT median = 25
41% have ACT greater than or equal to 26
56% have ACT greater than or equal to 25
66% have ACT greater than or equal to 24
Average GPA when admitted is 3.51
Their median high school rank is the top 20%
78% are female; 22% are male
89% are white
97% of students admitted to a teacher education program complete the program and are eligible for Nebraska teacher certification
2014-2015
323 students admitted to teacher education programs
ACT Mean = 24.20
ACT Median = 24
31% have greater than or equal to 26 ACT
41% have greater than or equal to 25 ACT
52% have greater than or equal to 24 ACT
Their median high school rank is the top 22%
76% are female; 24% are male
91% are white
98% of students admitted to a teacher education program completed the program and were eligible for Nebraska teacher certification
SLP Outcome Data
https://cehs.unl.edu/secd/slp-outcome-data/
Average ACT Composite score
Graduates of UNL teacher education programs had the following average ACT Composite Score at the time of their admission to the university:
| Graduation Year | ACT |
|---|---|
| 2018-2019 | 24.04 |
| 2017-2018 | 25.05 |
| 2016-2017 | 24.6 |
| 2015-2016 | 23.5 |
| 2012-2013 | 24.2 |
| 2011-2012 | 24 |
| 2010-2011 | 24 |
High School Rank of Completers
| 2018-2019 |
|---|
| 18% were in the top 10% of their graduating class |
| 38% were in the top 20% of their graduating class |
| 58% were in the top 30% of their graduating class |
| 2017-2018 |
|---|
| 22% were in the top 10% of their graduating class |
| 39% were in the top 20% of their graduating class |
| 42% were in the top 30% of their graduating class |
| 2016-2017 |
|---|
| 27% were in the top 10% of their graduating class |
| 45% were in the top 20% of their graduating class |
| 62% were in the top 30% of their graduating class |
| 2015-2016 |
|---|
| 21% were in the top 10% of their graduating class |
| 42% were in the top 20% of their graduating class |
| 60% were in the top 30% of their graduating class |
Undergraduate Grade Point Average
The cumulative Grade Point Average for graduates of UNL teacher education programs was:
| Graduation Year | GPA |
|---|---|
| 2018-2019 | 3.62 |
| 2017-2018 | 3.63 |
| 2016-2017 | 3.61 |
| 2015-2016 | 3.57 |
| 2014-2015 | 3.59 |
Average Years to the Bachelor’s Degree
The average number of years-to-completion that graduates of UNL teacher education programs required to complete their Bachelor’s Degree was:
| Graduation Year | Years |
|---|---|
| 2018-2019 | 4.25 |
| 2017-2018 | 4.30 |
| 2016-2017 | 4.50 |
| 2015-2016 | 4.30 |
| 2014-2015 | 4.25 |
Performance on the CORE and Praxis II Tests
100% of UNL candidates earned a passing score on the CORE. A passing score is required by Nebraska statute for all teacher candidates for Nebraska certification. Teacher candidate completers are also required to take the Parxis II subject area tests.
Praxis Summary Pass Rates
| Group | Number taking tests | Number Passing | Pass rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All program completers, 2018-19 | 344 | 336 | 98 |
| All program completers, 2017-18 | 327 | 318 | 97 |
| All program completers, 2016-17 | 313 | 309 | 99 |
| All program completers, 2015-16 | 326 | 320 | 98 |
| All program completers, 2014-15 | 316 | 316 | 100 |
Employer and Completer Ratings
Principals of first year teachers who graduated from the UNL teacher education programs complete surveys to describe the quality of the teachers’ preparation. An overwhelming majority of the principals agreed or strongly agreed that the program graduates were well-prepared to teach in their content area:
| Graduation Year | % of Principals who agreed or strongly agreed |
|---|---|
| 2018-2019 | 93% |
| 2017-2018 | 90% |
| 2016-2017 | 95% |
| 2015-2016 | 96% |
| 2014-2015 | 95% |
| Graduation Year | % of Teachers who agreed or strongly agreed |
|---|---|
| 2018-2019 | 92% |
| 2017-2018 | 91% |
| 2016-2017 | 96% |
| 2015-2016 | 91% |
EPP Impact on P-12 Learning
The EPP uses multiple measures to assess the instructional effectiveness of our program completers after the completion of their first year of employment as professional teachers. Two of these measures, the First Year Teacher and First Year Teacher Administrator Surveys, were constructed and are administered by the Nebraska Department of Education. Results from these two surveys (which provide EPP evidence to address CAEP standard 4.2), are reported back to each teacher preparation program accredited by the State of Nebraska.
In addition, the EPP will phase in a research plan to address CAEP standards 4.1 and 4.2. Research will be conducted by the EPP of 6-8 program completers representing a cross-section of our programs (e.g., 1-2 elementary, 1-2 secondary, 1-2 special, and 1-2 early childhood educators). Data sources planned are: (a) direct observation of completers’ classroom performance (measured by the Nebraska Clinical Practice Assessment); (b) interviews with 3-5 students identified by our completers from among their students; and (c) case study (self-assessment) action research conducted by completers. All EPP impact data sources will be reviewed by the EPP faculty (yearly – fall semester) and the CEHS Professional Education Committee (yearly - spring semester).
Case Study of Education Program Completers
Program completers one year past graduation (during their second year of professional practice) will generate a creative or scholarly product (i.e., a completer-conducted action research project) that demonstrates their impact on P-12 student learning. This project will require program completers to integrate the knowledge of content and pedagogy acquired throughout the program in their classroom, develop assessment plans, collect and analyze student data, and synthesize, interpret, and reflect on students’ learning to further make improvements on their teaching practices. Program completers will be asked to select one of three themes from the Nebraska Clinical Practice Evaluation Rubric (NCPER), specifically chosen because the rubric clearly delineates student learning as a direct outcome:
Assessment – Assesses for learning (NCPER Standard 6)1
Learner Development – Uses knowledge of students to meet needs (NCPER Standard 1)2
Learner Differences – Differentiates instruction to meet student needs (NCPER Standard 2)3
Program completers will collect relevant evidence from their own work in the classroom over time (e.g., mid-year and end of year during their 2nd year of teaching) and use the evidence to interpret and synthesize what their students are learning and how they are making progress as a result of the completer’s instruction. Program completers will be asked to create an online portfolio that includes the following components.
Part I: Program completers will be asked to provide an introductory statement regarding content and pedagogical knowledge that includes the theme selected. Guiding questions are listed below. The statement, “What knowledge, skills and strategies should a teacher use to reach all learners?” serves as an anchor question to permit comparison across program completers regardless of which theme they select for their action research project.
| Themes | Example Questions to Consider |
|---|---|
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Assessment |
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| Learner Development |
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| Learner Differences |
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Part II: Program completers will be asked to provide at least three student work samples that represent student learning over time and write a reflective narrative that illustrates how their pedagogical knowledge, skills, and strategies influenced their teaching practices and enhanced student learning.
Part III: Program completers will be asked to provide a summary statement concerning their impact on student learning and what steps they might undertake to enhance student learning in the future.
A sub-committee of our CAEP leadership committee will serve as the lead in refining and enacting this plan. Analyses of data herein will be shared with members of the Professional Education Committee (PEC). The PEC is comprised by representative EPP faculty and relevant stakeholders (as defined in our Quality Assurance System).
1Target rating of “Proficient” states “Uses student performance data and knowledge of students to identify interventions that support and/or advance students to positively impact learning.
2Target rating of “Proficient” states “Uses data about students and their development to adjust teaching” (resulting in student learning.
3Target rating of “Proficient” states “Identifies students’ needs for differentiation and responds with individualized instruction, flexible grouping, and varied learning experiences.
Student loan default data for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln can be retrieved online at https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/about/data-center/student/default.