Post-Baccalaureate, Non-Degree Teacher Certification

Programs

Art Education
Music Education

Target audience

The Post-Baccalaureate, Non-Degree Teaching Certificate is designed for individuals who hold an undergraduate degree in one of the approved certification fields – such as Art or Music -- and wish to secure initial teacher certification.  Individuals who hold a teaching certificate and wish to change certification fields, thereby requiring initial certification in a new field, also would be interested in this program. 

Academic and test score eligibility

Before applying for admission to the Teaching Certificate program, individuals should determine if they are eligible or can become eligible by examining the following minimum academic and test score requirements:

• Undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution
• GPA of 2.5 overall – OR one of the following:
  • 3.0 for the last 60 hours leading to the bachelor’s degree
  • GRE score of at least 1,000
  • Miller Analogies Test score of 400
• Passing score on GACE Basic Skills Tests – Reading (Test Code 200), Math (Test Code 201) and Writing (Test Code 202) OR one of the following:
  • SAT combined score (Verbal and Math) of at least 1,000
  • ACT combined score (English and Math) of at least 43
  • GRE combined score (Verbal and Quantitative) of at least 1,030 (or 297 for test scores after 8/1/11)
  • Passing score on equivalent test used in other states
• Sufficient academic preparation* in the selected field -- with both of the following:
  • Undergraduate degree in the selected field AND
  • Relevant courses* (as decided by the Armstrong Department of Art, Music and Theatre) in the selected field

*Note:  A transcript analysis will be performed to determine if the academic preparation requirement is satisfied or if additional undergraduate coursework is needed prior to admission to the certificate program.

The above are minimum academic, test score or professional requirements only.  Read the entire application to determine what documents must be included in your submission.

Required courses after admittance

The program of study consists of eight (8) required courses totaling 23 semester hours for art education and 21 semester hours for music education in addition to other relevant content coursework as decided by the Armstrong Department of Art, Music and Theatre.  Coursework consists of professional education classes, specialized courses regarding school environments, specialized content  courses and an internship.

A full-time, semester-long, field-based graduate internship is under the tutelage of a university supervisor.  This internship cannot begin until all other required courses have been completed.
Most courses are offered face-to-face at night and some courses are available online.  Not all courses are offered every semester.  For example, the internship is offered only during the fall and spring semesters and during the day – when schools are in session.  (Please check the Class Schedule Listing on the Armstrong Web site to see course information for the upcoming semester.)