The Department of Curriculum and Instruction offers programs that are specifically designed for the professional development of teachers and school leaders. These programs encompass the preservice, inservice, and continuing education and serve to develop positive attitudes toward the profession of teaching, skills in specific areas, and skills and techniques necessary for continuous professional growth.

While the Department of Curriculum and Instruction assumes primary responsibility for the professional preparation of teachers, the opportunity to educate teachers for the schools of the Commonwealth and the nation is shared by the university as a whole. Western Kentucky University is a charter member of the Renaissance Group for Teacher Education, which reflects its total campus commitment to quality teacher education programs.

The Department's teacher preparation programs are designed to meet the University's standards for baccalaureate degrees and the Kentucky standards for the designated teaching certificate. All teacher certification programs are accredited by Kentucky's Education and Professional Standards Board and the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education.