Licensure commission approves Delta State program deletions and a new consolidated secondary education degree

At its Nov. 1 meeting the Commission on Teacher and Administrator Education, Certification, Licensure and Development approved two Delta State University requests: one to delete several discontinued traditional teacher education licensure tracks and a second to establish a consolidated Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education.

Corey Murphy told the commission that Delta State is reorganizing programs and provided teach‑out plans and timelines to ensure current candidates can complete their programs. The department recommended approval of the deletions and the new program to preserve licensure pathways and to help address teacher shortages.

The commission approved the deletion of the following traditional licensure track programs as listed in the request: English (grades 7–12); mathematics (grades 7–12); music education K–12 (instrumental and vocal); physical education K–12; and social studies (grades 7–12). The department said the deletions follow Delta State’s institutional restructuring and that the institution had secured approvals from the Mississippi Institution of Higher Learning to proceed.

The commission then considered and approved Delta State’s proposal to establish a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education that consolidates secondary education majors into one degree with a pathway to licensure in two areas. Corey Murphy said the program would require a passing score on the appropriate subject‑area assessment for initial licensure; a second area of emphasis may be added by completion of a State Board of Education‑approved program or by 18 semester hours of acceptable coursework. The department stated that no additional licensure tests would be required for the second emphasis.

Motions to approve both items passed by voice vote; Delta State’s teach‑out and candidate completion guidance were recorded in the department recommendation. The commission did not set additional conditions beyond those in the department recommendation.