Education Has a New Name at South

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Posted on March 30, 2017

Bob Lowry

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When the University of South Alabama's College of Education was founded 50 years ago, the mission was largely to educate students who would become classroom teachers.  Today, with programs as wide ranging as exercise science, counseling, and hospitality and tourism management, the college's name is changing to better reflect its identity.

As of this summer, 91¶ÌÊÓƵ's College of Education will be known as the College of Education and Professional Studies.

"Earlier this semester, we made the decision to move hospitality and tourism management and interdisciplinary studies to the College," Dr. David Johnson, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, said.  "This move, plus the fact that the College already included a wide variety of academic programs, led us to choose a name that better captures that complexity." 

While the College continues to provide the largest teacher preparation program on the Gulf Coast, with more than 85 percent of educators in the greater Mobile area having at least one degree or teaching credential from the College, alumni also provide leadership in an extensive range of health, fitness, sport, human improvement and leisure studies arenas.  Graduates are enjoying careers as counselors and psychologists, and instructional designers in business, industry, health care and the military.

"Our graduates are well qualified to enter a wide variety of fields, positively impacting our global community," Dr. Andrea Kent, dean of the College of Education and Professional Studies, said.  "For our college, it's exciting to be recognized for the quality and diversified programs we are delivering in and beyond the classroom, and we're extremely excited about our next 50 years."

The College of Education and Professional Studies, with 72 programs leading to bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialist, and doctoral degrees, has more than 17,000 alumni impacting communities throughout the Gulf Coast and around the world. 

The College's teacher education programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation and are approved by the Alabama Department of Education, the counseling programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, and the Ph.D. program in Counseling and Clinical Psychology is accredited by the American Psychological Association.

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