Admission into Teacher Education must be achieved before you are allowed to enroll in most 300-level (third year) and 400-level (fourth year) education courses. An application to Teacher Education is completed in TE 100. If you transfer in TE 100, you will receive an email with the application in the fall or spring semester. Ideally, most students should complete the admission requirements by the middle of their sophomore year. Current requirements are listed below.
Complete the following courses with a "C" (2.0 GPA) or better: ENG 102, SPCH 100, TE 100, and TE 204 or TE 206 (both TE 204 and 206 must be completed prior to student teaching). Music Education students will take MUS 208 instead of TE 206.
Establish and maintain a UNK overall GPA of 2.75 or higher.
Undergraduate students must declare an education major. If you need to change majors, a Program Change form is available on the UNK website. If you have questions about this form, contact the Registrar's office at 308-865-8527.
Establish the absence of any criminal conviction that would prevent you from receiving a Nebraska teaching certificate (Rule 20) and provide evidence of sufficient emotional and mental fitness (Rule 21). You will satisfy this requirement in TE 100GS. If you have transferred in TE 100GS, please see the Educator Certification Office.
Important: If your Rule 20 and/or Rule 21 status changes, you must inform the Educator Certification Office immediately and provide court papers when available. Failing to do so may cause your admission to Teacher Education to be delayed or revoked. Furthermore, if you do not inform the Educator Certification Office of a conviction (Rule 20) or an order of determination (Rule 21) before it is discovered on your student teaching background check, student teaching may be delayed or denied.
Transfer students will meet with a representative from the Educator Certification Office on Transfer Day. Students transferring in TE 100 should go to the Educator Certification Office to complete an application to the Teacher Education Program.
"Persons who have felony convictions, or misdemeanor convictions involving abuse, neglect, or sexual misconduct, as defined in Section 005.07A, are automatically rejected by the Department [of Education, Nebraska] for certification, and may only be considered for certification, or participation in pre-student teaching field, laboratory, and classroom experiences or student teaching with the approval of the Commissioner or the Board" (Title 92, Nebraska Administrative Code, Chapter 20). Additionally, "All applicants shall not have an emotional or mental incapacity to practice the profession as evidenced by a legal adjudication or determination thereof by other lawful means" (Title 92, Nebraska Administrative Code, Chapter 21).
