Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements for the Graduate School

Please refer to admission information in the Admission to the Graduate School  section of this Catalog.

Admission Requirements for all Graduate Certificates in Teaching Programs

• An undergraduate degree from a college or university accredited by an accepted accrediting body
• A cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.7  (For alternative ways to demonstrate academic competence, contact the Office of Teacher Education Advising and Licensure (TEAL))
• Three recommendations from persons knowledgeable of the candidate’s interaction with children or youth
• Statement of purpose
• Clear criminal background check
• Apply online at gradadmissions.uncc.edu

Admission Requirements for Foreign Language Education

Candidates with an undergraduate degree from a college or university accredited by an accepted accrediting body and a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.7 have 3 options to gain admission to the Graduate Certificate in Foreign Language Education program:

• Option 1:  Candidates who have a bachelor’s degree with a major in the intended language of instruction
• Option 2:  Demonstrate native or near-native speaker proficiency in the intended language of instruction via a passing score on the Praxis Subject Assessment or a minimum score of Advanced Low on the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Inteview (OPI) AND Writing Proficiency test (WPT) in the intended language of instruction
• Option 3:  Candidates who have the equivalent of a major in the intended language of instruction via completion of a minimum of 24 credit hours of post-secondary coursework in the intended language of instruction.  At least two of these courses must be at the 4000 (advanced) level and all must be conducted in the foreign language in which they are seeking licensure.  Candidates choosing to pursue this admission route must contact the Office of Teacher Education Advising and Licensure (TEAL) for advising.  

Candidates pursuing a license in one of the following languages are eligible for admission to the Graduate Certificate in Foreign Language Education.  Due to limited availability of internship sites, candidates seeking licensure in the less commonly taught languages (indicated with an asterisk * below) must be residency teachers and complete the internship in their own classroom.

Prior to admission into the final semester of student teaching, candidates must demonstrate proficiency in the foreign language via reaching a benchmark score on the Oral Proficiency Interview.

Early Entry Program

Exceptional undergraduate students at UNC Charlotte may apply for the Early Entry Program and begin work toward the graduate degree before completion of the baccalaureate degree.  See the Undergraduate Catalog for details and requirements.  Also see the Degree Requirements and Academic Policies  section of the Graduate Catalog for more information about Early Entry Programs.

Certificate Requirements

Certificate Total = 16-17 Credit Hours

Advising

All students are assigned an advisor upon formal admission to the program. Students should consult with their advisors at least once each semester.

Clinical Field Experiences

Most courses require students to develop their knowledge, skills, and dispositions in public school settings. These experiences broaden their ability to help all students learn, including children with exceptionalities and students from diverse ethnic/racial, linguistic, gender, and socioeconomic groups. During clinical experiences, students apply theories and understandings gained in coursework, analyze P-12 student learning, and develop the ability to positively impact all learners. All students are expected to complete clinical experiences in at least two significantly different settings. Residency teacher candidates are permitted to complete clinical hours in their own school sites.

Alternative settings must be approved by the instructor and may include schools on different schedules, after-school and summer programs, Saturday programs, private, and charter schools. 

Licensure

Upon successful completion of the Phase I/Graduate Certificate, students will be recommended for the North Carolina initial Standard Professional I teaching license. For this license, students are required to complete an electronic licensure portfolio that is created during coursework and student teaching.