Educator Preparation Program

Educator Preparation and Accreditation Program (EPP)

MSU’s Educator Preparation and Accreditation Program (EPP) works intentionally and collaboratively to advance learning, achievement, community, equity, and excellence, by implementing innovative, evidence-based, data-driven practices through a continuous improvement process that allows us to focus and make learning experiences beneficial to our students, faculty, university, partners and extended community.  

The College of Education (CED) in partnership with the College of Arts and Letters, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, College of Music, College of Natural Science, College of Social Science, James Madison College, and Lyman Briggs College prepares future teachers, school psychologists, and building and central office administrators. In total, there are 42 undergraduate and graduate degree programs that prepare future Birth to P-12 Educators and Educational Leaders with over 50+ licensure areas. Spring 2025 enrollment is over 2,000 students, of which 430 students are in their internship year. 

The MSU undergraduate and graduate degree program chart shows at a glance the 8 colleges with teacher, school psychologist, and administrator majors. The CED M.A.T.C. ESL minor is included on the chart, as they have a specific CAEP program leader for this endorsement. A wide array of minors and endorsements are available in each of the colleges that prepare future teachers and are listed in the MSU course catalogue. The bottom right portion of the chart lists 2024-2025 CAEP Accreditations Program Leaders.

This visual highlights all CAEP accreditation initial and advanced programs within our 8 MSU colleges. Learn more about CAEP by visiting the CAEP accreditation page.

Affiliates of our EPP, MSU also has degree programs that prepare future school counselors and athletic trainers (both in the College of Education) as well as school social workers (College of Social Science). 

Education Preparation

In additional to program and course delivery and support, the College of Education serves as the hub for the work of educator preparation and accreditation: leading arduous continuous improvement, serving as the key point of contact for Michigan Department of Education regarding program approval and individual licensure, providing advising education majors in the CED and those with degrees will come from other colleges, placing elementary and secondary education majors in internships and providing a core set of courses for these students, supporting and guiding faculty in program improvement and preparation, securing and strengthening relationship with P-12 partners, ensuring compliance with multiple federal and state reporting requirements, and leading all accreditation work. 

Accreditation

Accreditation is quality assurance through external peer review. MSU EPP degree programs that lead to Michigan Department of Education school endorsements, certifications, and licensures must be professionally accredited. Our accreditor is CAEP, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. Visit the CAEP page to learn more about CAEP accreditation.

At MSU CED, we believe people want to be a part of something great and that we thrive when: 

• Students, staff, faculty, alumni, and our community partners feel they belong, are valued, have choices, are supported and understand that what they are doing gives them and those around them, especially those unserved and in most need, every opportunity for success now and later 
• We dream, learn, and do something that changes the world for the better

Degree Program Leaders work with all faculty and staff, guiding the work

Because people matter – Leadership Matters

• Leaders act with purpose.
• Leaders create & support structures that bring people together in order to further the organization’s mission, vision, and goals.
• Leaders care about and know the people they serve. They are apart of their community and tell our collective story to unify and drive a positive, collaborative, inclusive, equitable, creative culture that adapts, innovates, and prospers.
• Effective leaders have proven results and a stable, long-term trajectory of success. 

Accredited Program Areas at MSU

Michigan State University’s teacher preparation program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

The scope of our accreditation is provided in the list of teacher preparation program areas below. The code in parentheses indicates the associated teacher certification endorsement area available from the state of Michigan. Areas followed by an asterisk (*) are no longer available to new students. Areas followed by a double asterisk (**) are only available through graduate coursework.

• BA English*
• BQ English Language Arts
• BT Reading**
• BC Journalism*
• BX Language Arts*
• RX Social Studies (elementary)*
• RX Social Studies (secondary)
• CA Economics*
• CB Geography*
• CC History*
• CD Political Science*
• CE Psychology
• CF Sociology*
• DI Integrated Science (elementary)*
• DI Integrated Science (secondary)
• DA Biology*
• DC Chemistry*
• DE Physics*
• DH Earth/Space Science*
• DP Physical Science*
• EQ Mathematics
• EX Mathematics (elementary)*
• EX Mathematics (secondary)*
• FA French
• FB German
• FF Spanish
• FK Arabic (Modern Standard)
• FL Japanese
• FR Chinese (Mandarin)
• FD Latin*
• FE Russian*
• HX Agriscience and Natural Resources
• LQ Visual Arts Education
• MB Physical Education*
• NR Computer Science*
• SM Learning Disabilities
• SV Autism Spectrum Disorder**
• SB Communicative Sciences and Disorders*
• NS English as a Second Language
• ZN Early Childhood General and Special Education (B-K)
• ZO Lower Elementary Education (PK-3)
• ZP Upper Elementary Education (3-6)
• ZG Elementary certification (K-5 all subjects, K-8 self-contained)*
• ZS Early Childhood Education*

In addition, MSU offers the following advanced educator endorsements:

• BR Reading Specialist**
• Building Level Administrator
• Central Office Administrator
• School Psychologist (EdS)

Finally, the following programs are not accredited by CAEP but by:

• JX Music Education (accredited by National Association for Schools of Music)
• School Psychologist (PhD, accredited by American Psychological Association)

MSU CED CAEP Educator Preparation & Accreditation Leaders

Initial Programs

CED Teacher Education (TE)

CED Special Ed (CEPSE)

Child Development and Early Childhood Ed (HDFS)

Other Faculty & Advisors

Coordinator Working Group

Advanced Programs