- Students must comply with the admissions requirements established by the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences and the Fischler School of Education & Human Services. On admission, students declare themselves as intended education majors.
- Students must earn a grade of C or better in COMP 1500, COMP 2000, MATH 1040 and MATH 1050. Las Vegas students must earn a C or better in COMP 1500, COMP 2000, MATH 1030, and MATH 1040.
- Students must earn a cumulative GPA of 2.5 prior to matriculation into an education major.
- Students must submit documentation that the testing requirement (CLAST, General Knowledge, or equivalent sections of PRAXIS) have been passed before registration for any Benchmark II education course.
- Students must undergo a criminal history/background check (fingerprinting) for security clearance before beginning field experiences, and submit evidence of security clearance to the Office of Placement Services.
Each semester, the Undergraduate Teacher Education Program reviews the academic transcripts of all students identified as intended education majors. Upon meeting the conditions of matriculation into the Undergraduate Teacher Education Program, students will become declared education majors and will receive a letter of notification once they register for their first education course indicating their matriculation status. It is the student's responsibility to work with their academic advisor to meet the matriculation requirements before registering for any Benchmark II courses.
The Dean of Undergraduate Teacher Education or Director of Enrollment and Recruitment will hear all matriculation appeals. No appeals of the testing requirement will be considered. To file an appeal, please complete a Matriculation Petition located at the above link and submit it to the program office through your academic advisor
An individual seeking initial certification issued by the state of Florida may do so by means of either the Florida Department of Education Program Approval Process or through alternative programs offered by local school districts.
The program approval process means that a student has met all of Nova Southeastern University's state-approved program competencies and the state of Florida's requirements for initial certification. Certification through the program approval process is only available to degree-seeking students and will be annotated as such on the student's transcript. In Florida, students graduating from the state-approved program and who have passed all portions of the Florida Teacher Certification Exam (FTCE) are eligible for an initial professional certificate. Actual teacher certification is awarded by the Florida Department of Education, not NSU.
Other states' certification requirements vary. Some states do not grant initial certification unless transcripts are annotated as having met that state's approved program. Applicants may not be certified until they complete that state's approved program and specific course requirements.
The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) reserves the right to change requirements leading to certification at any time. Consequently, the NSU Undergraduate Teacher Education Program reserves the right to change requirements in the Florida state-approved program to reflect changes mandated by the FDOE.
For information regarding certification through an alternative certification program, contact the certification officer of any school district in the state of Florida.
Certification only Program
Some courses are offered for students who already hold a bachelor's degree in fields other than education and who desire to obtain certification in Prekindergarten/Primary Education (Age Three Through Grade Three), Elementary Education (K-6), Exceptional Student Education (K-12), or complete the ESOL add-on endorsement.
Individuals seeking courses that may lead to certification must be admitted to NSU as non-degree seeking students before registering for courses. In order to be admitted as a non-degree seeking student, certification-only candidates must provide a Status of Eligibility Letter (issued by the Florida Department of Education) as part of their application. Certification-only students assume full risk in interpreting the letter of eligibility needs. NSU recommends that certification-only students discuss anticipated course offerings with the Florida Department of Education, or the local school district certification officer before registering for any courses.