College of Education, Health and Human Sciences

Brooke Blevins, Dean; Julie Amador, Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development; Taylor Raney, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies; Ann Brown, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies (ehhs@uidaho.edu)

Organized as the College of Education in 1920 and renamed in 2017, the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences contains the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, the Department of Leadership and Counseling, and the Department of Movement Sciences. As represented in the College’s name, several programs serving Idaho and beyond are offered at the undergraduate, master's, specialist, and doctoral levels in teaching and non-teaching fields of study.

Programs leading to degrees in teaching fields are offered in career and technical education, elementary education, physical education, secondary education and special education. Programs leading to non-teaching degrees include athletic training; adult, organizational learning and leadership; dance; exercise, sport, and health sciences; physical education; and recreation, sport, and tourism management. The college also offers programs leading to academic certificates in human resource development and technical workforce training.

Additionally, the college is home to the TRIO pre-college programs and the Center on Disabilities and Human Development (CDHD). The education of professional personnel for the public schools constitutes a critical service to the state and its people and the education profession. The college screens for admission to programs leading to educational service to assure that applicants are qualified by preparation and personal attributes for this important work. Teacher candidates complete a program in which competence in a broad general education, the professional functions of the teacher, and the subjects and/or skills to be taught are demonstrated and applied in P-12 schools. The college provides educational leadership for the people of Idaho, to the state's education system, and to the teaching profession through consultation, participation in organizational activities, and research. Preparation is provided in all of the major areas of professional education.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the University

For a statement of general undergraduate and graduate admission requirements, see admissions portion of this catalog.

Transfer Students

Students who have attended college, whether at another institution or in another division of the University, before matriculation in the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences, must have a grade-point average of 2.00 (C) or better.

Teacher Education Programs

At the University of Idaho, the preparation of teachers is a cooperative enterprise between the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences and other colleges. Coordination is achieved through the Teacher Education Coordinating Committee. The screening of all applicants for admission to teacher education programs is the responsibility of the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences, and the dean of the College, or their designee, is the recommending authority for certification.

Students preparing for a career in secondary teaching have the option of completing their bachelor's degrees in the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences (except for agricultural education, family life education, and music education) or in the department of their subject major.

Secondary education students have an advisor from the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences who is the primary advisor on teacher education requirements. When a student identifies teacher education as their objective (this could be as early as the freshman year), an academic advisor is assigned to assist the student with program enrollment, progress, and completion.

Admission to, Continuation in, and Exit from Teacher Education Programs

Prospective teacher education candidates work closely with academic advisors to assure that they meet the criteria for each step in the admission and continuation process.

Admission to Teacher Education Programs

All students who plan to enter degree-seeking or certification-only teacher education programs must make application for admission to the program. Criteria for admission to teacher education programs include

  1. an initial interview with academic advisor;
  2. a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or better;
  3. completion of, with a grade of C or better, the following courses: ENGL 102, University of Idaho General Education Mathematics Course, COMM 101 and EDCI 201 (including 20 hours of service-learning) or ECDE 210 for ECDE students;
  4. a letter of application;
  5. recommendations;
  6. completion of background check; and
  7. a competitive interview when enrollment projections exceed departmental resources.

Continuation in Teacher Education Programs

Students seeking to continue in teacher education programs shall not have received more than two negative indicators ("red flags") on all education-coursework standards and dispositions evaluations.

Eligibility for Internship Experience

Prospective teachers seeking to enter the internship year must meet the following criteria:

  1. cumulative grade-point average of 2.75 or higher;
  2. completion of background check;
  3. completion of and successfully passing program-area content assessment (i.e., Praxis II);
  4. completion of at least parts I and II of the Idaho Comprehensive Literacy Assessment with passing scores (for elementary education and early childhood development and education students only); and
  5. recommendation of advisor.

The College of Education, Health and Human Sciences does not permit students enrolled in any student teaching or internship course to concurrently function as head coach in any school sponsored sport at any grade level, whether paid or voluntary. Students who desire to function as assistant coaches must have written approval of the department chair and the director of clinical experiences (adopted 1996).

Graduate Practicum and Internship in School Positions

Admission

Admission to practicum and internship courses is conditioned upon acceptance in a graduate program and approval of the student's major professor and/or committee.

The Program

Graduate students are provided clinical experience in the study of teaching and learning and in the performance of other school positions through graduate practica and internships (see courses 597 and 598 in the various subject fields in the college).

Teacher Certification

Students who complete a teacher education program at the University of Idaho are eligible to receive the Idaho standard instructional certificate, the exceptional child certificate, or the career and technical certificate. Students completing a master's degree, education specialist degree, or doctorate in educational administration may qualify for an administrator's certificate. The College of Education, Health and Human Sciences reserves recommendations for initial teacher certification to students who have completed the approved teacher preparation program and hold a bachelor's degree. To initiate the state certification process, contact the certification officer.

Certification-Only for Elementary, Secondary, and Special Education

Elementary Education Certification

Students who are seeking certification as an elementary teacher satisfy the requirements for the Idaho Standard Instructional Certificate, endorsed grades K-8, by meeting the general education requirements outlined by the state, completing the professional education core, and by completing the elementary major and internship year.

Secondary Education Certification

Students who are seeking secondary teacher certification while enrolled in an academic major in a college other than the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences, or those seeking certification after completion of a degree, normally satisfy the requirements for the Idaho Standard Instructional Certificate by including PSYC 101 or PSYC 305, and the professional education core as electives in their program for the baccalaureate degree, and by completing either

  1. one 45-credit teaching major, or
  2. one 30-credit teaching major and one 20-credit teaching minor, as well as the internship experience.

Special Education Certification

Students who are seeking certification as a special education teacher satisfy the requirements for the Idaho Exceptional Child Certificate, endorsed grades K-12, by meeting the general education requirements outlined by the state, completing the professional education core, completing the special education major, and by meeting the requirements for the elementary or secondary education major, and the internship experience.

Certification Checklists

Checklists for the elementary, secondary, and special education certification programs are available through the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and the Department of Movement Sciences. See the Academic Majors list in this section to locate the appropriate department.

Application for Certification

See procedures listed under Teacher Certification in this section.

Centers and Institutes

Centers and institutes affiliated with the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences support the mission of the College and extend services to the state, region, and nation. Programs offered through the College are enriched and extended as a result of these affiliations, and better positioned to be of assistance to local school districts and other educational units. The College is home to a number of centers and institutes. They are listed below; additional information about them can be accessed at the college website:

  • Center for Dance
  • Center for Disabilities and Human Development
  • Center for ETHICS
  • Institute for Mathematics, Instructional Technology, and Science Education
  • TRIO-INSPIRE