David O. McKay School of Education
The David O. McKay School of Education (SOE) at Brigham Young University (BYU) specializes in teaching, administration, communication disorders, and educational inquiry. It is located in three buildings on BYU's campus in Provo, Utah, the David O. McKay Building, the John Taylor Building, and the George Albert Smith Fieldhouse. It was ranked number 78 in the United States for best education schools for 2020. History. The SOE began in 1913 as the Church Teachers College. It has gone through several subsequent name changes: the School of Education (1920), the College of Education (1921 ), prior to receiving its current name (1998). It was named after David O. McKay, an educator and former president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). In 1954, the undergraduate majors outside of elementary education and early childhood education were shifted into the colleges of their specific disciplines. Since then, the SOE has only offered educational methods courses for education majors housed in different colleges. In 2010, the Physical Education Teacher Education major was moved back to the SOE with the dissolution of the Physical Education, Health, and Recreation department. Dean. Since July 1, 2021 , Richard D. Osguthorpe has been the college's dean, following the retirement of Mary Anne Prater. Osguthorpe was previously the dean of the college of education at Boise State University and joined the McKay School faculty in 2019. Educator Preparation Program (EPP). The EPP, one of the largest in the nation, coordinates teacher education courses and training for all education degrees at BYU. It coordinates 26 undergraduate degrees, 21 minors, and 4 graduate degrees. These degrees are housed in their respective colleges, but education training is offered through the SOE. EPP offers secondary education degrees in the areas of world  languages, STEM, arts, social sciences, and physical health. BYU–Public School Partnership. Since 1984, the Public School Partnership has facilitated collaboration between (1) the SOE, (2) five Utah school districts (Alpine, Jordan, Nebo, Provo, and Wasatch), and (3) the arts and sciences colleges and departments at BYU that participate in preparing K–12 educators. This partnership is unique in its size, scope, and longevity. The schools within the partnership are composed of more than 7,000 teachers and approximately 180,000 students. BYU and the SOE graduate approximately 800 certified teachers each year, many of whom receive student teacher training at those schools . Notable alumni. Alumni in education include instructional design researcher Charles Reigeluth, weatherman and middle school teacher Clayton Brough, President of Snow College and BYU–Hawaii J. Elliot Cameron, CEO of ISTE Richard Culatta, President of Western Michigan University John Dunn, and President of what now is Utah Valley University Wilson W. Sorensen. Notable alumni include LDS Church leaders such as Ardeth G. Kapp, a former Young Women General President, Bradley R. Wilcox, a counselor in the Young Men general presidency since 2020, Jay E. Jensen and Rex D. Pinegar, both general authorities who served in the Presidency of the Seventy , Julie B. Beck, a former Relief Society General President, Mary N. Cook, a former counselor in the Young Women general presidency, and Russell T. Osguthorpe, a former Sunday School General President. Alumni in politics include politician Kristen Cox, Senator Marian Bergeson, and Utah Governor Olene Walker. Degrees offered. The information in this table comes from the school's website.