Elementary Education

The following are requirements of all students seeking admission to professional education:

1. File an application for admission to professional education.

2. File a statement indicating no convictions or pending charges on a felony or a sexual misconduct misdemeanor.

3. Submit documentation of a completed physical exam, TB test and a thumbprint, Kentucky State Police criminal background check for working with minors, all dated within one year prior to admission to teacher education.

4. Submit an appropriate photograph for the teacher admission file.

5. File a statement indicating a commitment to uphold the Professional Code of Ethics for Kentucky School Personnel.

6. Complete teacher admission standardized testing requirement for demonstration of basic skills by satisfying the indicated cut-off score(s) for one of the following (GRE test option is for graduate students only):

• • The Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (CASE) with minimums of 156 in Reading, 162 in Writing, 150 in Math. 

  • The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) with a minimum Verbal score of 150 and a minimum Quantitative score of 143 along with an Analytical Writing score of at least 4.0.

*Official documentation of test scores must be on file in the Office of Teacher Admissions to verify satisfactory completion of this requirement. Test scores not available on Top Net should be brought to a WKU Owensboro advisor. Praxis test scores must be sent to Western Kentucky University and to Educational Professional Standards Board.

KCTCS Transfer Plan: AA

More information on course requirements can be found on the departmental webpage.

120 college-level undergraduate semester hours including the following:

• 39 semester hours of General Education, or General Education Certified/Associate of Arts/Science degree from KCTCS

• 42 semester hours of upper-division credit (300-400 level courses)

• 30 hours must be earned in residence (at WKU), at least 16 of which must be completed after the semester in which the student earned a cumulative total of at least 90 hours

Required of undergraduate students (in addition to the requirements for all students):

1. Attend a Teacher Education Admissions Orientation session.

2. Achieve the required minimum GPA of 2.75 overall.

3. Demonstrate proficiency in oral communication by attaining a minimum grade of "C" in COMM 145 or 161 (or approved equivalent course).

4. Demonstrate proficiency in written communication by attaining a GPA of at least 2.5 in ENG 100 and ENG 300 (or approved equivalent courses), with neither grade lower than a "C" (English credit earned with an Advanced Placement score of 3 or higher, ACT English score of 29, SAT Verbal score of 620, or CLEP proficiency will be accepted as equivalent to a "B").

5. Obtain three favorable faculty recommendations from instructors of designated courses.

6. If not on iCAP, submit a copy of an approved written degree program for a program leading to initial certification.

For requirements of applicants seeking a second baccalaureate degree or certification-only for initial certification, please click this link.