If you seek to enroll in a bachelor’s degree program that leads to a BA or BS degree and certification as a teacher:

Step 1
First, you will need to decide WHOM you want to teach, and WHAT you want to teach:

• WHOM: If you want to teach:
  • Very young children (birth to pre-school-aged), with and without disabilities, click here.
  • Children who are about age 5 to 10 years old, click here.
  • Children from pre-school-aged to high school-aged who have physical, cognitive/learning, emotional, and/or behavioral disabilities, click here.
  • Children who are about age 10 to 13 years old, click here.
  • Youths who are about age 13 to 18 years old, click here.
      
• WHAT: If you want to teach a specific subject or subjects to middle school students or high school students, you will need to select the subject or content area(s) you want to teach.
  • To teach English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and/or Social Studies at the middle school level, you must complete the BS in Middle Grades Education, a program that is offered in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Click here for details.
  • To teach one or more content areas at the secondary (high school) level, you must complete a BA or BS degree in the chosen content area. For example, if you want to teach high school biology, you must complete a BS in Biology, along with certain courses in education. You should declare your major in the content area, and then be sure to tell your advisor that you want to earn a teaching certificate. Click here for details.
     
• Content areas for teacher certification.

• AGRICULTURE (Certification is for Grade 5 through Grade 12)
• ART (Certification is for the Primary grades through Grade 12)
• BIOLOGY (Certification is for Grade 8 through Grade 12)
• BUSINESS AND MARKETING (Certification is for Grade 5 through Grade 12)
• CHEMISTRY (Certification is for Grade 8 through Grade 12)
• EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE (Certification is for Grade 8 through Grade 12)
• ENGLISH AND ALLIED LANGUAGE ARTS (Certification is for Grade 8 through Grade 12); however, if you want to teach English and Language Arts in Middle School, you will be a Middle School Education Major (see above)
• FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES (Certification is for Grade 5 through Grade 12)
• FRENCH (Certification is for the Primary grades through Grade 12)
• GERMAN (Certification is for the Primary grades through Grade 12)
• MATHEMATICS (Certification is for Grade 8 through Grade 12); however, if you want to teach Mathematics in Middle School, you will be a Middle School Education Major (see above)
• MUSIC (Certification is for the Primary grades through Grade 12)
• PHYSICAL EDUCATION (Certification is for the Primary grades through Grade 12)
• PHYSICS (Certification is for Grade 8 through Grade 12)
• SOCIAL STUDIES (Certification is for Grade 8 through Grade 12); however, if you want to teach English and Language Arts in Middle School, you will be a Middle School Education Major (see above)
• SPANISH (Certification is for the Primary grades through Grade 12)
• TECHNOLOGY (VOCATIONAL/INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION) (Certification is for Grade 5 through Grade 12)

Step 2
Next, you will need to declare the appropriate major:

• BS in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education
• BS in Elementary Education
• BS in Exceptional Education: Learning and Behavioral Disorders and Moderate and Severe Disabilities
• BS in Middle Grades Education
• BA or BS in a content area (Agriculture, English, Music, Biology, Mathematics, etc.). Be sure to tell your advisor that you want to earn a teaching certificate.

Step 3
Finally, work with your advisor to complete not only the requirements for your major(s) but also the requirements for admission to teacher education and requirements for teacher certification:

In order to be recommended for initial certification as a teacher in Kentucky, a teacher candidate must document the following:

• Completion of an approved teacher preparation program in each desired certification area;
• Passing score(s) on the PRAXIS II specialty exams or other assessments required for each desired teaching area;
• Achievement of at least a 2.5 GPA overall, in each major(s) and minor(s), and in professional education courses; and
• Attainment of at least a “C” in all professional education courses, including EDU 489 and student teaching. (Some majors also require attainment of at least a “C” in required major courses; check with your advisor.)