Teacher Education Programs in the Department of Teaching and Learning prepare students to teach in early childhood, elementary and secondary schools.

Teacher Licensure

The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners issues teacher licenses on the recommendation of Iowa colleges and universities whose programs have been approved by the Iowa Department of Education.

Undergraduate students pursuing a major in elementary education or who are seeking secondary school licensure must meet the College of Liberal Arts requirements for either the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree as described in the College of Liberal Arts section of the Catalog.

Graduate students seeking secondary teacher licensure may be admitted to a program as "certification only" candidates in the Graduate College. Eligible graduate students also may complete teacher licensure by pursuing an M.A.T. degree in English education, foreign language education, or science education. Eligible students may also apply to the M.A. degree in social studies education.

Before taking required professional education courses, students must be admitted to the teacher education program (TEP). In order to be considered for admission, undergraduate students must have completed a minimum of 40 semester hours of coursework with a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.70.   All students must submit Praxis I test scores with application to the Teacher Education Program (TEP).  In addition for some subject areas, additional criteria must be met.

Admission to student teaching requires a separate application and review of each student's credentials and progress to ensure that the student is qualified for placement in the profession.

Elementary Education Licensure and Certification

The undergraduate elementary education program is designed to prepare students to teach kindergarten through sixth grade. In addition to required coursework in liberal arts, education foundations, and methods, students must complete coursework in one of the following areas of specialization: art, early childhood, English language arts, history, mathematics, music, reading, science, social science, and special education.

During the student teaching semester, periodic seminars offer discussion and evaluation of progress. In addition to the K-6 Iowa teaching endorsement, students may complete requirements for the Iowa pre-kindergarten/kindergarten endorsement or an Iowa subject area endorsement in one of the specialization areas mentioned above. Students seeking the pre-kindergarten/kindergarten endorsement must complete the elementary major, the early childhood specialization, additional courses on the teaching of young children, and supervised teaching in an early childhood center.

Secondary Education Licensure and Certification

Secondary school teacher preparation programs are provided in the following areas: art, English, ESL, foreign languages (including Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Latin, Chinese, and Japanese), mathematics, music, science (including general science, physical science, biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science), and social science (including anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, and sociology). Coaching, reading and journalism are each available as an additional approval area only. A major in another subject matter area is required for licensure.

An Iowa secondary teaching license qualifies holders to teach in grades 7-12. Students planning to teach art or music, typically complete a program that prepares them for both elementary- and secondary-level licensure. Secondary teacher preparation programs in several other subject areas also offer a program that leads to licensure as a subject matter specialist in grades K-6. This K-6 licensure is available only in the same subject area as the secondary licensure. Completion of the elementary specialist licensure is highly recommended for foreign language and mathematics.

Candidates for secondary school teaching licensure also may receive an added endorsement to teach in additional subject areas by completing an approved program of 24 or more semester hours of course work in those areas or by completing coursework that will satisfy minimum state requirements.

For listing of requirements for programs view the Program Guides web site and click on the area of interest.

Contact Lynn McMorris, Licensure Analyst for more information.