To teach elementary students (grades K-6), students major in elementary education. To teach in secondary schools (grades 7-12), students major in the field they would like to teach (English, Spanish, math, etc.) and complete the Teacher Education Program to earn licensure.

Elementary education
Students interested in majoring in elementary education should apply to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and indicate an interest in elementary education.

Secondary education
Students interested in secondary education should apply to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and indicate a major in the field they would like to teach.

Admission requirements for transfer students
Admission to teacher education programs is competitive. Admission requirements may vary by program and are based on demand and faculty availability.

To be considered for admission to a teacher education program, an undergraduate student must have met the following criteria:

• been admitted to The University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences with the appropriate subject area major;
• attained sophomore standing (complete at least 33 semester hours) prior to the semester during which application for admission is made;
• achieved a grade-point average (GPA) of 2.70 or higher on all college course work as well as on course work completed at The University of Iowa (some secondary teaching programs may have higher admission GPA and semester-hour standards);
• completed the "Application to a Teacher Education Program" on the College of Education Web Site, and submitted all required materials;
• completed a 10-hour volunteer experience and submitted the signed verification form before the deadline; and
• completed the PRAXIS I exam provided by the Educational Testing Service (or the GRE if applying to a Graduate program) and have scores subitted before the application deadline.
  • Praxis I cut scores have been set at 522 composite with a minimum score of 170 on any one of the three tests.
  • The minimum GRE cut score is 400 for each individual exam (verbal, quantitative, analytical) or 400 each for verbal and quantitative and 3.0 for analytical writing.

Application process
The process varies depending on whether you are a domestic (U.S. citizen) or international applicant.

U.S. Citizens & Permanent Residents
International Applicants

Application deadlines

• Fall Semester—March 15
• Spring Semester—October 15

Degree Audit
When you are admitted, a Degree Audit will become part of your Admissions Profile in ISIS. The audit:

• tells you whether you have completed the necessary High School Course Requirements, which are the same as for applicants to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences,
• specifies which General Education Program Requirements you still need to fulfill,
• indicates (for pre-business, pre-nursing, and pre-pharmacy students) which prerequisite courses necessary for applying to the respective colleges need to be fulfilled, and
• monitors other degree requirements including semester hours, GPA, residency requirement, and college-specific regulations.

Credit evaluation
The Office of Admissions evaluates transfer courses applicable to High School Course Requirements and General Education Program requirements, as well as a number of courses applicable to the requirements of your major. Your major department makes decisions about how the rest of your transfer courses apply toward the requirements for your major.

Course equivalency guide
Search the Transfer Equivalency Guide for commonly transferred courses offered at other Iowa institutions and our major out-of-state transfer colleges. The system is designed for prospective students who want to know how courses will transfer to Iowa and for UI students who plan to take courses at other institutions in the summer or at other times.

English proficiency requirement
If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident whose first language is not English, you must take an English Proficiency Evaluation during your Orientation program. Exceptions are made in the cases of applicants whose ACT English subscores are 21 or above (SAT Critical Reading score of 540 or higher) and those whose Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores are 600 or higher on the paper-based test or 100 or above on the Internet-based test. Applicants seeking exceptions should contact the Office of Admissions.

For more information

Admission to the Teacher Education Program