School of Education opens application window for undergraduate students entering professional programs

LAWRENCE — Each year the University of Kansas School of Education faculty and staff invite hundreds of pre-education students to complete the application process for admission to their individual professional programs. Pre-education students who entered as freshmen in fall 2013 have had almost a full academic year to decide which professional education program to pursue, and the online application will open for them Tuesday, July 15.

With the guidance of the advising team and others at the School of Education, students choose from multiple teacher education programs, including elementary education, unified early childhood and various subject area teaching programs (middle level math, middle level science, English, social studies and foreign language). In addition to the teacher education programs, pre-education students also have the opportunity to apply to the exercise science or sport management professional programs during the same application window. 

“The advising team’s goal is to provide our students the best resources and guidance that they need to be successful from the very beginning of their education experience at the University of Kansas,” said Michele Casavant, director of the School of Education Advising Center. 

While the specific requirements for the application process will vary slightly between professional programs, pre-education students applying to the teacher education program(s) will be required to submit responses to four individual essay questions, as well as provide three electronic letters of reference (via the online application system). The essay questions address pertinent topics including specific teacher qualities/experiences; beliefs on individual diversity and learning styles; and responses to current trends in education. The online application for the teacher education, exercise science and sport management programs will close Sept. 16. 

“The application window opens in July so that students can begin the process early, and they still have the opportunity to focus on pre-education coursework in the fall semester of their sophomore year,” said Tiffany Edmonds, undergraduate admissions coordinator at the School of Education. “Our admissions decisions are announced during the late fall semester, and the students are admitted to, and begin coursework in, the professional programs during the spring semester of just their second [sophomore] year. It’s an exciting time for them and us.”

For those students who are applying to the community health, athletic training and health & physical education undergraduate professional programs, the online application window will not open until Dec. 1 and will close Feb. 3, 2015. Admission decisions will be announced during the late spring 2015 semester, and students in these programs will begin professional coursework during the fall 2015 semester. 

The School of Education uses the same online CollegeNet application system that KU uses for incoming freshmen. For additional questions on the application or undergraduate admission process, please contact Tiffany Edmonds at tedmonds@ku.edu

The teacher education programs at the School of Education are offered through the Department of Curriculum & Teaching. The School of Education Department of Health, Sport & Exercise Sciences offers the other undergraduate professional programs: community health, exercise science, sport management, health & physical education and athletic training.  For more program information, please contact the School of Education Advising Center at soeadvising@ku.edu.