Heralded as a leader in educational reform, the College of Education at Michigan State University offers graduate and undergraduate students outstanding opportunities to prepare for careers in teaching, research, service and policymaking. At the graduate level students are afforded the opportunity to work closely with faculty members whose research achievements are recognized nationally and internationally. Eleven doctoral, three educational specialists, and 12 master's degree programs are offered through the four departments that comprise the College of Education.

Erickson Hall At the undergraduate level, students prepare for careers in teaching elementary and secondary school, including special education. The College of Education's teacher preparation program serves as a model for other programs of professional preparation. For the thirteenth consecutive year, the 2008 U.S. News and World Report ranking of 277 graduate schools of education rated our elementary and secondary education programs as the best in the United States. This ranking is reflective, in part, of the high esteem in which K-12 school employers hold our graduates in teacher education who complete 12 graduate credits and a full year internship after their baccalaureate degree before being recommended for teacher certification.

The Kinesiology Department offers a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in kinesiology. Students who complete this program may choose to enter a teacher certification program, graduate studies or professional programs such as athletic training, coaching, health/wellness promotion, community physical education, fitness leadership and physical therapy.

The Departments of Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education; Educational Administration; Kinesiology; and Teacher Education are home to a vibrant community of research and scholarship. The faculty is nationally renowned and faculty members have received such prestigious awards as the Fulbright Fellowship and the Spencer Foundation National Academy of Education Fellowship, and have held positions such as the presidency of the American Education Research Association and American Rehabilitation Counseling Association, National Association of Sport and Physical Education and prominent roles in the National Council of Teachers of English, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, National Council of Teachers of Social Studies and the American Psychological Association.

The College is research intensive and is home to several research centers. The MSU Education Policy Center conducts policy analyses on issues important to K-12 education and disseminates their research through publications and conferences. Individual faculty members conduct research in a variety of areas with over 50% of the College of Education faculty involved in funded research projects. Outstanding faculty, close relationships with practicing teachers, strong research centers, and innovative teacher education programs make Michigan State University a dynamic place for learning to teach and to contribute to the field of education.

Erickson Hall is home to the College of Education. Located along the banks of the Red Cedar River, the building contains more than a dozen classrooms, numerous conference and meeting rooms and offices for faculty and graduate students in the departments of counseling, educational psychology and special education, educational administration, and teacher education. Erickson Hall also houses a kiva, which is used by the college for special events such as the graduate convocation and the technology conference.

Erickson Hall is enhanced by its technological infrastructure. A hub is the Technology Exploration Center, which is a computer learning center that occupies more than 5,000 square feet on the first floor of Erickson Hall. It is the primary technology teaching facility in the college, and is equipped with multimedia computers, videodiscs, and CD-ROMs, as well as conference rooms for two-way interactive video and collaborative problem-solving. Erickson Hall also houses a computer lab that has 20 computers, an instructor's station that is connected to a ceiling-mounted projector, and laptop connections. In addition, the building contains a state-of-the-art digital editing room that is equipped with nine computer workstations. Other conference rooms and classrooms also have been wired for full Internet capabilities. The Center for Teaching and Technology, which helps faculty and graduate students use computers and software as powerful teaching tools, is located in Erickson Hall.

IM Sports Circle
The Department of Kinesiology faculty and graduate students are housed in the IM Sports Circle building near the library. The IM Sports Circle Building houses the Kinesiology Computer Laboratory, as well as the Human Energy Research Laboratory, and the Biomechanics Research Station where graduate and undergraduate students have many opportunities to become involved with research projects and laboratory classes.