Curriculum in the College of Education is designed to be student-centered and intellectually challenging, while preparing students through field and internship experiences that offer real life education opportunities.
You’ve always been a leader. A bright student. The type of person who’s eager to help. Becoming a teacher is the perfect outlet for using your skills and strength.
In addition to producing outstanding graduates in the field of teaching, the College of Education is home to exciting new programs like sports administration, recreation, exercise science, athletic training, travel and tourism, and more.
The Transitional Certification Program (TCP) at UNK is an alternative teacher certification pathway for individuals with a baccalaureate degree or higher who wish to earn an Initial Teaching Certificate issued by the Nebraska Department of Education. Students who meet the qualifications to start the TCP are also eligible to be hired by a Nebraska public school to start teaching in their endorsement area.
NOTE: UNK’s Transitional Certification Program is available to participants who physically reside in Nebraska or within commuting distance to a Nebraska school district.
The credit hours earned in the TCP may be applied to the requirements for a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction.
See below for the endorsements (endorsements are what you would like to teach) offered in the TCP. Click into each one for detailed program information. Courses that you have already taken may be eligible to be substituted into your education program.
Field Endorsement (F) - two or more subjects which, considered as a single area of study, represent a wider and broader scope than that of a subject
Subject Endorsement (S) - a specific course or narrow range of courses taught and offered in a school
You may enroll in the TCP in one of the endorsements below either with or without an employment offer from a school to teach in the endorsement area:
You may enroll in the TCP in one of the endorsements below ONLY when you are offered employment by a school to teach .5 to 1.0 FTE in one of these areas.
*Transcripts will be reviewed by UNL Agriculture, Leadership, Education and Communication Faculty.
**Transcripts may be reviewed by UNL, Chadron, and/or Wayne State FCS Faculty
Follow the steps below to determine if you qualify.
NOTE: Please be aware that some misdemeanor and felony convictions can prevent applicants from participating in a UNK Teacher Education program and obtaining a Nebraska teaching certificate. If you have a misdemeanor or felony conviction, even if it occurred many years ago or has been set aside, please contact Jenny Jansky, Certification Officer, for more information.
Please read before requesting a transcript review: You may request a transcript review if you meet at least one of the following conditions: 1) an undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above, or 2) a Master's degree, or 3) passing scores on the Praxis Core tests.
If you do not meet one of the first two conditions above you may take the Praxis Core tests, which are required for all teachers in Nebraska. For more information, visit www.unk.edu/certification or www.ets.org/praxis. Request your scores be sent to UNK, recipient code 6467.
All teacher education students must pass the Praxis Core before taking TE 832.
1. Submit Request for Transcript Review form. (The completion of this form does not admit you to the program, nor does it authorize your transcripts to be sent automatically.)
2. Have official transcripts, sent by each institution from which you have received college credit, to:
University of Nebraska Kearney
Kristy Buchmeier, Educator Certification Office
COE Building, C128
1615 W 24th Street
Kearney, NE 68849
Email: buchmeierkl@unk.edu
3. After you receive your Program of Study via email, the TCP Director will notify you with the results of the transcript review. (See Program Admission Requirements below.)
4. If you have been notified that you qualify for the program, contact the TCP Director, Dr. Wendy McCarty, 308-865-8971, for enrollment instructions.
Admission to the program may be delayed if the admission instructions are not followed.
Please know that every education program contains a significant number of field experience hours (time spent observing and/or teaching in PK-12 school settings). Field experience includes:
The program consists of:
Depending on previous academic work completed, there may be additional coursework required in the specific endorsement area of choice. Additional courses required will be indicated on a program of study that will be mailed to you after your transcripts have been reviewed.
**The online professional education coursework consists of the following:
Arrangements will be made for participants to complete their field experience hours in their local or nearby school districts. Program participants who are already employed by a school district will complete their field experience and student teaching in the district in which they are employed. Service-learning hours, which include working with adolescents inside or outside of the classroom, are included in the total number of field experience hours required. Because field experience arrangements are made with participating school districts and communities across the state, UNK’s Transitional Certification Program is available to participants who physically reside in Nebraska or within commuting distance to a Nebraska school district.
Seventy-five percent (75%) of the content coursework required for the selected teaching endorsement area(s) must be completed prior to beginning the professional education coursework sequence, and have a 2.75 minimum GPA in your content coursework. Once you qualify, you would be eligible to enroll in the next available section of TE 831. Remember, we strongly suggest that you pass the Praxis Core tests before taking classes; request your scores be sent to UNK (score recipient code 6467).
Students pursuing initial certification must be formally admitted into our Teacher Education Program. Students in the Transitional Certification Program usually qualify while enrolled in TE 831 or TE 832. Visit the Educator Certification Office website for a list of program admission requirements
Office Associate
Phone: 308-865-8512
Email: fixkj@unk.edu
Dr. Wendy McCarty, Ed.D
Director
Phone: 308-865-8971
Email: mccartywl@unk.edu
College of Education Building
1615 W 24th St
Kearney, NE 68849
Fax 308-865-8097