Academic Programs

The Office of Instituional Assessment assists accredited programs at Keene State College. Tk20, as a web-based assessment management system, TK20 not only helps these programs with their information management, service delivery, state, regional, and national accreditation, and program improvement, but also benefits students in multiple ways.

• Digital storage. All the completed projects from various courses, along with college professors’ feedback, can be digitally stored in TK20 across college years, which allows students to track and project the trajectory of their academic growth and personalize improvement plan.


• Easy and efficient communication. TK20 is a web-based assessment system and can be accessed via Internet anywhere anytime. Digital submission and feedback can be easily accomplished through TK20 between students and their college professors. This feature is of great importance to students when they are working off campus in field placements, service learning, and other experiential learning.


• Competence-based assessment. As the PGS programs move toward competence-based preparation of our students, TK20 makes it possible to help individual students to scan their competencies, identify strong and weak areas, diagnose problems, and develop improvement plans accordingly.


• Electronic portfolio. TK20 helps students to develop personalized portfolios of their learning and growth in knowledge, skills, and performance. An e-portfolio can showcase students’ accomplishment on various professional standards of their careers.


• Professional development. TK20 provides students with a 7-year service. TK20 keeps students connected with their PGS programs at Keene State College, informed of career enhancement programs, and updated of new development in their field. In addition, students can use Tk20 as a platform for their own professional development to store information, analyze performance, and design improvement plans.


• Most importantly, TK20 allows the PGS programs to analyze assessment data on various competence areas at both individual and group level. Such information, which will be integrated with feedback from career professionals and aligned with professional standards, helps the PGS programs to improve program delivery and meet individual students’ learning needs.

The following programs are currently using Tk20:

1. Dietetics
2. Education
3. Health and Wellness

Please click on the Program menu above to veiw specific program information.

If at any time you have any questions regarding the teacher education process, check the tutorials, Q&A, and then contact us.

Athletic Training

Keene State College offers a CAATE (Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education) accredited undergraduate athletic training education program designed for those students who wish to pursue certification as an athletic trainer. Students who graduate with a degree in Athletic Training are eligible to take the BOC (Board of Certification) Athletic Training Certification Examination. The program prepares students for athletic training positions in educational, professional sport, military/law enforcement training, performing arts and clinical settings, as well as for graduate programs in Sports Medicine/Athletic Training, Exercise Physiology and Biomechanics or other Medical and Allied Health fields.

The Athletic Training major is a competitive program, with enrollments limited to sixteen per academic year. Because of the professional nature of Athletic Training and its responsibility to the public, the Program has established admissions, progression, and graduation standards for student selection and graduation. As such a formal application is REQUIRED.

COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR ATHLETIC TRAINING

All students majoring in Athletic Training are required to be certified in Standard First Aid and CPR for the Professional Rescuer. Additionally, professional practice of Certified Athletic Trainers specifies the importance of understanding basic concepts in psychology. Athletic Training majors are advised to enroll in one psychology course as part of their Integrative Studies Program.

Dietetics

The Nutrition option is currently granted initial accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606-6995. This option provides the basic academic preparation necessary to become a registered dietitian (RD). Certification as an RD is often mandatory for professional positions and requires completion of an approved postgraduate super-vised practice program.

Typically, a student who successfully completes the ADA-approved curriculum, an ADA-accredited internship or pre-professional practice program, and the registration examination becomes qualified as a health professional responsible for services in areas such as nutrition service-related management, clinical or community dietetics, education, consultation, private practice, and research.

The application process for admission to the Nutrition option occurs during the first semester for freshmen and transfers. Each student should meet with a faculty advisor and take HLSC 101 Health and Wellness. The review of applicants and notification of the results of this review will be made by the end of that semester. If a student is not accepted, he or she should schedule a consultation with one or more members of the Health Science Admissions Committee. During the conference, the student will be notified of any areas of deficiency that need to be addressed. Once admitted, the student must officially declare his or her major through a faculty advisor.

Teacher Education

Keene State College education programs strive to prepare education professionals who:

• Explore the dynamic nature of the teaching and learning process
• Demonstrate professional and ethical behaviors that meet high expectations and standards
• Understand the world from multiple perspectives
• Contribute to a just and equitable world

The faculty of the Keene State College Teacher Education programs, in collaboration with our professional contacts in the field, has generated these four themes which form the KSC Teacher Education Conceptual Framework. These themes weave through the undergraduate and graduate coursework and build on ecological theories of human development, examining multiple worldviews and the contexts in which educational systems exist. Students examine the ways in which developmental theories can be helpful in understanding children and curriculum and develop an understanding of themselves as learners and future teachers. Field experiences are systematically integrated throughout the program to provide authentic theory-to-practice opportunities for exploring effective pedagogy and assessment strategies.

The Education major has four tracks:

• Early Childhood Development
• Elementary Education
• Secondary Education
• Special Education - Elementary

Additionally, students in two specialized programs that lead to K-12 certification - Physical Education Teacher Certification and Music Education Teacher Certification - take courses offered in the program.

Building on the historical legacy of teacher preparation at Keene State College, the Education program mission is to prepare competent, reflective classroom teachers and other professional school personnel who utilize effective teaching practices and who create developmentally appropriate educational environments for diverse learners. We integrate liberal arts knowledge and professional preparation for each program we offer and incorporate state and national standards for each specialty area. Keene State College has been an NCATE-accredited institution since 1954; each Education program option meets state and national standards and prepares teacher candidates who demonstrate appropriate content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge and skills, ability to impact student learning, and professionalism.

Admission to Keene State College does not necessarily guarantee admission to Teacher Education, admission to Student Teaching, or eligibility for certification. Policies and deadlines relating to meeting certification standards are described in the Decision Point document and the Student Teaching Handbook, both of which are available at http://www.keene.edu/teachered. Materials for application to the Teacher Education program are available in the Teacher Education Office in Rhodes Hall S111.

Health and Wellness

The Health Promotion and Wellness option offers two specializations: Community Health and Behavior and Health. Students select one of the specializations and complete option requirements and specialization requirements. Health Promotion and Wellness option graduates work to change policies, environments, attitudes, and behaviors that affect health. The Community Health specialization prepares students for professional careers in community health education, global health, or for graduate programs in public health or health education. The Behavior and Health Specialization prepares students for such graduate programs as Health Psychology, Pain Management, or Behavioral Health.

The application process for admission to the Health Promotion and Wellness option should be initiated during the first semester for students intending to major in Health Science and typically completed by the end of the second semester. Each student should meet with a Health Science faculty advisor and take HLSC 101 Health and Wellness. The review of applications and notification of the results of this review will be made following the second semester. If a student is not accepted, he or she should schedule a consultation with his or her Health Science faculty advisor. During the conference, the student will be notified of any areas of deficiency that need to be addressed. Once admitted, the student must officially declare his or her major through a faculty advisor.