Elementary Certification Teaching Options:

Michigan Elementary Certification is valid for teaching all subjects in grades K-5 and in subject areas (majors/minors) in grades 6-8.

Select one of the following: An Integrated Teaching Major, a single Disciplinary Major, or two Disciplinary Minors:

1. One Integrated Teaching Major.  Three integrated Teaching Majors (Language Arts, Social Studies [with the option of Concentrations in History and Geography] and Integrated Science) are available for prospective elementary school teachers.  These majors, which are housed in the College of Education, provide prospective elementary teachers with the opportunity to focus academic studies in a set of closely allied subject areas that are central to the core curriculum in elementary and middle schools.  To enroll in one of these three teaching majors, students must be admitted to the College of Education's Elementary Teacher Certification Program

NOTE:  For the requirements for the three integrated Teaching Majors, See the section to follow.

1. A single approved Disciplinary Major² as an alternative to an Integrated Teaching major or two teaching minors for elementary teacher certification. Students who choose this option will earn their degree in the disciplinary major instead of in Education. Students who select one of the Disciplinary Majors approved for elementary teacher certification, which are listed below, should refer to the respective departments for the requirements of these majors. Note that these majors in the elementary program must still fulfill the required teacher education courses and Planned Program for Elementary Education and all other certification requirements.

1. College of Arts and Letters

• English
• East Asian Languages and Cultures (Japanese)
• French
• German
• Spanish

2. James Madison College:

• International Relations
• Political Economy
• Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy
• Social Relations and Policy

3. College of Natural Science

• Mathematics (BA) (BS)

4. College of Social Science

• Interdisciplinary Social Science
• History

3. Two approved Disciplinary Teaching Minors for elementary teacher certification.  Disciplinary teaching minors are available for prospective elementary school teachers.  Students electing to complete the requirements for two Disciplinary Teaching Minors should make their choices from the list.

The following endorsement areas are also available to students seeking elementary certification: Special Education (See Special Education Advisor and Department of Counseling Educational Psychology in the MSU Academic Programs Book).  Majors available:

• Learning Disabilities³
• Deaf Education³

NOTE:  A given course may not be counted toward the requirements for both a Disciplinary Major and a Disciplinary Teaching Minor (including the Planned Program for Elementary Education), nor towards the requirements for two or more Disciplinary Teaching minors (including the Planned Program for Elementary Education).

1. Group Subject Area (Minimum 36 credits required).
2. Choosing one of these majors means that students must meet all degree requirements from the college of this major as well as the College of Education's Planned Program and Teacher Education courses.
3. Students generally choose Language Arts integrated teaching major (other integrative teaching majors, or disciplinary majors or two minor option from the elementary education program may be allowed with departmental approval.)