If you already have a bachelor’s degree but not in education, and you want to enroll in a post-baccalaureate certification-only program: |
 |
You initially chose another career path, but now you have decided to become a teacher – what do you do next?
 Step 1
First, you’ll need to decide WHOM you want to teach and WHAT you want to teach. For descriptions of the certification areas available at WKU, please see the following:
Step 2
Consult a program advisor to review your transcripts and provide you with a list of the additional courses that you must complete in order to be recommended for initial certification. You may be required to take additional courses in the major as well as teacher certification requirements.
- For IECE, contact Dr. Vicki Stayton, vicki.stayton@wku.edu, (270) 745-3450, or Dr. Sylvia Dietrich, sylvia.dietrich@wku.edu, (270) 745-2317. Although we do not offer a post-baccalaureate certification program in IECE, Dr. Stayton or Dr. Dietrich can tell you how to seek initial certification at the graduate level.
- For Elementary Education, contact Ms. Denise Garner, denise.garner@wku.edu, (270)745-3928, or Ms. Deborah Sloss, deborah.sloss@wku.edu, (270) 745-6572
- For Exceptional Education, contact Dr. Janice Ferguson, janice.ferguson@wku.edu, (270) 745-6123
- For Middle Grades Education, contact Ms. Denise Garner, denise.garner@wku.edu, (270) 745-3928, or Ms. Deborah Sloss, deborah.sloss@wku.edu, (270) 745-6572
- For secondary education, contact the content advisor in the subject you wish to teach. The content advisors may be found here. Scroll down the list to where the advisors for programs outside of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences are shown.
Step 3
Finally, work with your advisor to complete all required courses for your major(s) (if any) and 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.)
Also, please see the policy regarding GPA requirements for certification-only students.
Additional information about post-baccalaureate certification:
Depending on exactly what courses and how many hours you must complete to be eligible for post-baccalaureate certification, one alternative may be to seek a second baccalaureate degree rather than complete a certification-only program. WKU’s requirements for a second baccalaureate degree are as follows (2007-08 Undergraduate Catalog, p. 31):
- An acceptable baccalaureate degree from a fully-accredited college or university.
- An approved program including a minimum of thirty (30) semester hours earned after completion of the first degree.
- Twenty-four (24) semester hours contained in the approved program must be earned at WKU.
- Fifteen (15) semester hours must be earned in completion of a new major.
- One-half of the new semester hours presented in completion of each major and minor must be earned at the upper division level.
- A 2.00 grade average must be earned for all coursework presented in completion of the program; in all coursework completed at WKU; and in all coursework in each major and minor.*
(*Note: other GPA requirements must be met by those seeking a recommendation for certification as a teacher. Please consult your advisor.)
|
