Accreditation
The College of Education at Mississippi State University has enjoyed long-standing accreditation on national, regional, and state levels.
On a national level, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) has accredited Mississippi State University through 2029, demonstrating that the university meets CAEP's rigorous national standards for educator preparation. CAEP promotes excellence in educator preparation through content and pedagogy; clinical partnerships and practice; candidate recruitment, progression and support; program impact; quality assurance; and continuous improvement.
The initial and advanced level programs accredited by CAEP in the 2022 review are listed below.
Initial Level Programs:
Elementary Education
Degree(s):
Bachelor of Science
Campus:
Starkville, Meridian, Online
Kinesiology (Physical Education and Coaching)
Degree(s):
Bachelor of Science
Campus:
Starkville
Secondary Education
Degree(s):
Bachelor of Science
Campus:
Starkville, Meridian
Special Education
Degree(s):
Bachelor of Science
Campus:
Starkville, Meridian
Secondary Education
Degree(s):
Master of Arts in Teaching (Alternate Route)
Campus:
Online, Meridian
Special Education
Degree(s):
Master of Arts in Teaching (Alternate Route)
Campus:
Online
Advanced Level Programs:
Educational Leadership-School Administration
Degree(s):
Master of Science
Campus:
Starkville, Meridian, Online
Education -School Administration
Degree(s):
Educational Specialist
Campus:
Starkville, Meridian
Regionally, Mississippi State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC). At the state level, our educator preparation programs are approved by the Mississippi Department of Education.
Some of the departments in the College of Education have program areas that maintain discipline-specific accreditation and approval.
The Department of Counseling, Higher Education Leadership, Educational Psychology, and Foundations’ School Psychology program is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) and approved by the National Associations of School Psychologists (NASP). The Clinical Mental Health, School, and Rehabilitation Counseling programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). These accreditations are necessary for professional licensure for each discipline.
The programs in the Department of Music are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).
Summary of the programs nationally recognized or state approved are listed below.
Initial Programs
Elementary Education
Specialized Professional Associations (SPA):
No SPA
State Approval by Mississippi Department of Education:
State approved through 3/15/2027
English Education
Specialized Professional Associations (SPA):
National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
Recognized until 2/1/2027
State Approval by Mississippi Department of Education:
State approved through 3/15/2027
Kinesiology (Physical Education & Coaching)
Specialized Professional Associations (SPA):
National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) now known as Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE)
Recognized until 2/1/2023
State Approval by Mississippi Department of Education:
State approved through 3/27/2027
Master of Arts in Teaching -Secondary Education
Specialized Professional Associations (SPA):
No SPA
State Approval by Mississippi Department of Education:
State approved through 3/15/2027
Master of Arts in Teaching - Special Education
Specialized Professional Associations (SPA):
No SPA
State Approval by Mississippi Department of Education:
State approved through 3/15/2027
Mathematics Education
Specialized Professional Associations (SPA):
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)
Accredited until 2028
State Approval by Mississippi Department of Education:
State approved through 3/15/2027
Music Education
Specialized Professional Associations (SPA):
National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)
Recognized until 2026
State Approval by Mississippi Department of Education:
State approved through 3/15/2027
Science Education (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
Specialized Professional Associations (SPA):
National Science Teaching Association (NSTA)
Recognized until 2/1/2023
State Approval by Mississippi Department of Education:
State approved through 3/15/2027
Secondary-Social Studies Education
Specialized Professional Associations (SPA):
National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)
Recognized until 2/1/2028
State Approval by Mississippi Department of Education:
State approved through 3/15/2027
Special Education
Specialized Professional Associations (SPA):
Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
Recognized until 2/1/2028
State Approval by Mississippi Department of Education:
State approved through 3/15/2027
Advanced Programs
Educational Leadership-Building, Principal (MS & EDS)
Specialized Professional Associations (SPA):
Educational Leadership Constituent Council (ELCC) now known as National Educational Leadership Preparation (NELP)
Recognized until 8/1/2026
State Approval by Mississippi Department of Education:
State approved through 3/15/2027