TEI Prerequisite Requirements
Undergraduate Coursework Required for Admission
For students interested in pursuing initial teacher certification through the University at Buffalo graduate program, the following information will assist in the planning of undergraduate coursework.
For students interested in pursuing initial teacher certification in adolescence education, English to speakers of other languages, or music education, note the following information regarding undergraduate degree and distribution requirements.
English
A baccalaureate degree in English, which includes at least 30 hours of coursework in English.
English to Speakers of other Languages
A baccalaureate degree in English, a language other than English, linguistics, or a speech-related field, which includes at least 30 hours of coursework in the major.
Languages Other Than English
A baccalaureate degree in an approved foreign language, which includes at least 30 hours of coursework in the foreign language.
Mathematics
A baccalaureate degree in mathematics, which includes at least 30 hours of coursework in mathematics.
In addition, the following mathematics distribution must also be:
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2 courses in linear and/or abstract algebra
2 courses in calculus
1 course in geometry
Music
A baccalaureate degree in music performance, which includes at least 30 hours of coursework in music.
In addition, the following academic distribution is required:
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Academics/Performance:
4 courses in music theory
2 courses in music history
2 courses in conducting
4 courses in a primary instrument (including voice)
Public Recital
Keyboard Proficiency Exam
Secondary Instrument Proficiency:
woodwinds
brasses
percussion
strings
Science
A baccalaureate degree, which includes at least 30 hours of coursework in the intended certificate area (biology, chemistry, Earth science, or physics).
In addition, the following science distribution must be met for each certificate area.
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3 credits in biology
3 credits in chemistry
3 credits in Earth science
3 credits in physics
Social Studies
A baccalaureate degree in history or one of the social sciences (anthropology, economics, geography, political science, or sociology), which includes at least 21 credits in history or geography and one economics and one political science course.
In addition, the following history/civilization distribution must be met:
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6 credits in U.S. history
6 credits in U.S. civilization
6 credits in Western civilization
12 credits in world civilization
In addition, the following social science distribution must be met – two courses in each of three social science areas:
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anthropology
economics
geography
political science
psychology or philosophy
sociology
(There may be up to 12 credits overlapping between the above distribution groupings.)
Note: Philosophy and psychology may be used to fulfill the social science distribution requirements, but are not acceptable as majors leading to social studies initial teacher certification.
For students interested in pursuing initial teacher certification in early childhood and/or childhood education, note the following information regarding undergraduate degree requirements.
University at Buffalo’s Approved Undergraduate Majors for Teacher Certification:
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Anthropology
Art
Art History
Biochemistry
Biological Sciences
Chemistry
Classics
Dance
Economics
English
French
Geography
Geological Sciences
German
History
Italian
Mathematics
Music
Physics
Political Science
Social Sciences Interdisciplinary (Health & Human Services: Early Childhood Concentration only)
Spanish
Theater
Admission to all graduate initial teacher certification program curricular options requires applicants to complete a general education core in liberal arts and sciences (for course examples, refer to the Undergraduate Catalogue at http://undergrad-catalog.buffalo.edu/index.shtml), which includes the following:
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Arts/Artistic Expression (3 credits)
Humanities (3 credits)
Writing/English Composition (3-6 credits)
World Civilization (6 credits)
Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 credits)
American Pluralism or equivalent (3 credits)
Natural Sciences: lab-based biology, chemistry, geology, or physics (6 credits)
Mathematical Processes (3 credits)
Depth Requirement (3 credits)
Language other than English (1st year, 2nd semester college course)
Library Skills/Information Retrieval (online workbook)
Note: Currently, the requirements for the general education core in liberal arts and sciences will have been met as part of successful completion of a baccalaureate degree from the University at Buffalo, with the possible exception of the requirements for natural sciences and language other than English. For natural sciences, coursework must be in lab-based biology, chemistry, geology, or physics. For language other than English, coursework must be a college course at the first year, second semester level.
