If you seek to enroll in a bachelor’s degree program that leads to a BA or BS degree and certification as a teacher: |
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You have decided that you would like to become a teacher – so what do you do next?
 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.)
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