THIS OPTION IS FOR CANDIDATES WHO ARE ACTIVELY PURSUING A TEACHING POSITION
UNK offers an online program for secondary education (primarily high school) teacher
certification to Nebraska residents who have earned a baccalaureate (bachelor's) degree or higher. This program is designed to allow participants the
opportunity to pursue and hold a teaching position under a Transitional Certificate while completing the coursework
needed to obtain an initial Nebraska Teaching Certificate.^
The following endorsements are possible through UNK’s Transitional Certification program:
- Art
K-12
- Basic
Business Education 6-12
- Biology
7-12
- BMIT
(Business, Marketing, Information Technology) 6-12
- Chemistry
7-12
- English
7-12
- French
7-12
- Geography
7-12
- German
7-12
- Health
7-12
- Health
& PE K-12
- History
7-12
- Language
Arts 7-12
- Mathematics
7-12
- Music
K-12
- Physical
Ed. 7-12 (PE
K-6 may be earned with PE 7-12)
- Physics
7-12
- Political
Science 7-12
- Psychology 7-12
- Social
Science 7-12
- Sociology
7-12
- Spanish
7-12
- Speech
Communication 7-12
- Theatre
7-12
Additional endorsement areas may be considered upon request of a hiring school district.
The online program
consists of:
- Three 6-credit hour classes, taken in sequence one per semester, for a total of 18 graduate credit hours of online
study
- Two 3-credit hour semesters of student teaching
- Total equals 24 graduate credit hours of professional education coursework*
The online professional education coursework sequence consists of the following:*
- TE831: Professional Knowledge and Skills I - 6 credit hours
- TE832: Professional Knowledge and Skills II - 6 credit hours
- TE833: Context of Education - 6 credit hours
- TE834: Transitional Student Teaching I - 3 credit hours
- TE835: Transitional Student Teaching II - 3 credit hours
*Depending on previous academic work completed, there may
be additional coursework required in the specific endorsement subject area of
choice.
^Because hiring arrangements are
made with participating school districts within the state, UNK’s Transitional Certification Program is available to Nebraska residents only.
Potential candidates for this program must complete the following steps in this order:
STEP ONE:
Contact Program Coordinator Chilene Black, P. 308-865-8056, E. blackc@unk.edu to review your qualifications to proceed.
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, Assistant Director, KASE, (P: 308-865-8266, or E: JanskyJL@unk.edu) for more information.
STEP TWO: Request that your transcripts be evaluated in an Academic Department Review
Submit the ONLINE REQUEST FOR ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT REVIEW
Send official transcripts to:
Chilene Black, Coordinator
Transitional Certification Program
College of Education Building, B186
University of Nebraska – Kearney
1615 W. 24th Street
Kearney, NE 68849
Office Telephone: 308-865-8056
Office Fax: 308-865-8097
Email: blackc@unk.edu
After the academic review has been returned to you (allow several weeks - you will receive a copy in the mail) with a complete listing of content-area deficiencies (if any), contact the program coordinator to verify that you meet the qualifications of the program.
Seventy-five percent of the content coursework required for the selected teaching endorsement area(s) must be completed prior to beginning the professional education coursework sequence, along with a 2.75 minimum GPA in that coursework.
Once you qualify, you would be eligible to enroll in the next available section and you would be eligible to teach in the endorsement area(s) for which you qualify, should a school district wish to hire you under a Transitional Certificate. Do not apply at UNK until you have received the completed Academic Department Review and have spoken with the the program coordinator to confirm the status of your qualification.
STEP THREE: Apply to UNK at www.unk.edu when your qualification has been verified. Select “Admissions” from the menu on the left side of the UNK main webpage. You will apply as a graduate student seeking initial certification. This is a non-degree program, so you do not need to take the GRE, but it is a post-baccalaureate program, so it qualifies as graduate school. Beginning Fall 2013 the hours earned in the TCP may be applied to the requirements for a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction; contact the program director for more information regarding this option.
PRAXIS I REQUIREMENTS:
Passing scores on the Praxis I exam need to be submitted to UNK for full acceptance into Teacher Education. While this exam is not required prior to enrolling in the Transitional Certification Program, it is highly recommended. You must complete the PRAXIS Exam before you can enroll in the third course of the professional education course sequence. Official testing centers are located across the state. More information about the Praxis exam and testing guidelines can be found at: www.ets.org or call the UNK Testing Center at 308-865-8054.
ONLINE REQUEST FOR ACADEMIC REVIEW
If you have any other questions or need more information, please contact:
Chilene Black, Coordinator
Transitional Certification Program
College of Education Building, B186
University of Nebraska – Kearney
Kearney, NE 68849
Office Telephone: 308-865-8056
Office Fax: 308-865-8097
Email: blackc@unk.edu
Dr. Wendy McCarty, Ed.D, Director
Transitional Certification Program
College of Education Building, B159
University of Nebraska – Kearney
Kearney, NE 68849
Office Telephone: 308-865-8074
Office Fax: 308-865-8097
Email: mccartywl@unk.edu