Teacher Education Program Information

Admission to Teacher Education

UNK students who are pursuing a program/degree that leads to initial teacher certification will begin the application process for admission to the Teacher Education Program during the semester that they complete Teacher Education 100 (TE 100). Transfer students who have taken the equivalent of TE 100 elsewhere will apply during Transfer Day or their first semester at UNK. The Application for Admission Form is processed through the Educator Certification Office. The form is available here.

Students must:

  1. Complete all of the following courses with a grade of "C" (2.0 GPA) or better:
    ENG 102Special Topics in Academic Writing and Research3
    SPCH 100Fundamentals of Speech Communication3
    TE 100Teaching in a Democratic Society 13
    One of the following: 2
    TE 204Growth & Development/Introduction to Exceptionalities 14
    TE 206Instructional Technology and the Preservice Teacher (Music Education students will take MUS 201 in place of TE 206)3
  2. Establish and maintain an overall UNK grade point average of 2.75 or higher.
  3. Declare a teaching program(s) at the Academic and Career Services Office.
  4. Provide evidence of the absence of any criminal conviction (misdemeanor or felony) that would prevent a student from qualifying for a teaching certificate.
  5. Provide evidence of the absence of emotional and mental incapacity that would prevent a student from qualifying for a teaching certificate.

Application Procedures

The student shall be responsible for securing the application form and initiating the procedure for processing this form.

The Director of the Educator Certification Office will determine the procedure and action to be taken on each application and will either:

  1. approve the applicant for the Teacher Education Program;
  2. disapprove the applicant.

Decisions of the Director may be appealed in writing and by the student to the Director of the Educator Certification Office, who will make the recommendation to the Dean of the College of Education who will make the final decision regarding approval of the application.

Students will not be allowed to enroll in "blocked" 300-400 level education courses until they have been admitted to the Teacher Education program (enrollment in a limited number of "unblocked" 300-400 level courses will be permitted in the Early Childhood Unified, Elementary Education, Middle Level, Special Education Mild/Moderate K-6, and Special Education Mild/Moderate 7-12 programs).

Student Teaching

Arrangements are made for students who qualify to complete their student teaching requirement in schools located in Nebraska and other states. Most pre-student teaching and student teaching field experiences take place in schools that are members of UNK Network of Partner Schools. UNK teacher candidates will complete a minimum of 16 weeks (12 credit hours) of all-day student teaching. Some teacher candidates who pursue more than one endorsement will be required to complete 20 weeks of student teaching (17 credit hours) or more, depending on the endorsements.

Teacher candidates planning to student teach in the fall semester should apply for student teaching by the first Tuesday in February. Teacher candidates planning to student teach in the spring semester should apply by the first Tuesday in September. 

All UNK student teachers under this program are obligated and pledge themselves to observe local rules and regulations. Any student teacher may be removed at any time upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools or his designated representative.

Student teachers in Nebraska will be required to return to campus for the Student Teaching Seminar during their student teaching semester. Student teaching is graded credit/no credit. Students must follow the rules and regulations outlined in the College of Education's Student Teaching Handbook.

Teacher candidates must meet all of the following requirements for admission to student teaching:

  1. Admittance to teacher education.
  2. An overall UNK grade point average of 2.75 or higher.
  3. A grade of C (2.0 GPA) or higher in TE 204 and TE 206, or TE 204 and MUS 201 for Music Education students.
  4. Satisfactory performance on the Lesson Plan Common Assessment and a C or better/Credit in the course delivering the Common Assessment (TE 319, TE 344L, TE 354, TE 472 and TESE 464). Students whose performance is unsatisfactory will receive an incomplete in the course that delivers the assessment. The course instructor will provide a remediation plan.
  5. Satisfactory performance on the Unit Plan Common Assessment and a C or better/Credit in the course delivering the Common Assessment (TE 319, TE 344L, TE 354, TE 472 and TESE 464). Students whose performance is unsatisfactory will receive an Incomplete in the course that delivers the assessment. The course instructor will provide a remediation plan.
  6. Satisfactory performance on the Educator Disposition Assessment Common Assessment and a C or better/Credit in the course delivering the Common Assessment (TE 317, TE 319, TE 472 and TESE 464). Students whose performance is unsatisfactory will meet with the department chair for a formal interview with results of that conversation documented in the applicant's file. Based on the interview the chair will: 1) deny admission, 2) admit with waiver where the candidate must seek intervention and remediation, or 3) full admit the applicant with no conditions.
  7. Satisfactory performance in all required pre-student teaching field experiences. All education majors will complete a minimum of 100 clock hours of pre-student teaching field experiences.
  8. Advisor approval.
  9. A background check performed just prior to student teaching.

In addition to the criteria noted above, teacher candidates should work closely with their academic advisor(s) to identify and meet any program-specific requirements for admission to student teaching. Students are expected to have completed all coursework in their program(s) prior to student teaching.

Application and Approval Procedures

Questions about any facet of student teaching should be directed to the Director for Field Experiences. The Director's office is located in the Educator Certification Office in the College of Education Building C-128 and the phone number is (308) 865-8937.

The Director for Educator Certification Office will determine whether a student is approved or denied admission to student teaching. Decisions of the Director may be appealed in writing and by the student to the Director of the Educator Certification Office, who will make the recommendation to the Dean of the College of Education who will make the final decision regarding the approval of the application.

Advising of Students in Teacher Education

UNK provides academic advising as an integral part of the educational process. Establishing a friendly and honest relationship with an advisor will be an advantage to the student both personally and educationally.

All students are assigned an advisor in their major.

The Educator Certification Office provides advisory services to students concerning the Praxis tests, admission to Teacher Education, admission to student teaching, and post-baccalaureate programs of study.

Although faculty advisors are important for providing information regarding degree requirements, class selections, and career direction, it is necessary for students to realize that the ultimate responsibility is their own. The UNK catalog is the official source of information on these matters.

Endorsements

The following endorsement programs have been established at UNK:

Teaching Subject Endorsements

Teaching Field Endorsements

Supplemental Endorsements

(Must be paired with a field or subject endorsement.)

  • English as a Second Language PK-12
  • High Ability Education/Gifted K-12
  • Information Technology PK-12
  • Instructional Technology Leadership PK-12
  • Interscholastic Coaching, 7-12
  • Special Education - Behavior Intervention Specialist
  • Special Education - Early Intervention Specialist B-PK
  • Special Education - Functional Academic Skills and Independent Living Specialist B-12
  • SPED - Inclusion and Collaboration Specialist PK-12
  • Theatre
  • Work-based Learning 9-12

Graduate Endorsements

(see Graduate Catalog)

(Does not qualify for initial certification, except Speech/Language Pathology)

Administration Endorsements

Teaching and Administration Certificates

Applications for all teaching and administrative certificates are filed through the Educator Certification Office. The institutional recommendation for certification and/or endorsement is based on admission to and successful completion of the respective programs.

1

Must meet the minimum requirement for the Educator Dispositions Assessment Common Assessment as presented in the class.

2

For admission purposes, students need to complete either TE 204 or TE 206. However, in order to complete the program, students will need to complete both courses with a grade of "C" or better.