Prerequisite Requirements

Prerequisite Requirements: Initial Teacher Certification Program

Undergraduate Coursework Required for Admission

For students interested in pursuing initial teacher certification through the University at Buffalo's graduate-level program, this page provides information regarding prerequisite requirements for the undergraduate major and content-area distribution as well as the general education core in liberal arts and sciences.

Undergraduate Major and Content-Area Distribution

All applicants must have completed an approved undergraduate major and content-area distribution as described below for their intended area of initial teacher certification.

Early Childhood and/or Childhood

A baccalaureate degree with a major in one of the following areas:

  • 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

English

A baccalaureate degree with a major in English, which includes at least 30 hours of course work in English.

English to Speakers of Other Languages

A baccalaureate degree with a major in English, a language other than English, linguistics, or a speech-related field, which includes at least 30 hours of course work in the major.

Languages Other Than English

A baccalaureate degree with a major in the language of the certification area (French, German, Latin, or Spanish), which includes at least 30 hours of course work in the language.

Mathematics

A baccalaureate degree with a major in mathematics, which includes at least 30 hours of course work in mathematics.

In addition, the following mathematics distribution must be met:

  • 2 courses in linear and/or abstract algebra
  • 2 courses in calculus
  • 1 course in geometry

Music

A baccalaureate degree with a major in music performance, which includes at least 30 hours of course work in music.

In addition, the following music distribution must be met:

  • 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 with a major in the certification area (biology, chemistry, earth science, or physics), which includes at least 30 hours of course work in the content of the certification area.
In addition, for each certification area the following science distribution must be met:

  • 3 credits in biology
  • 3 credits in chemistry
  • 3 credits in earth science
  • 3 credits in physics

Social Studies

Select the link for the worksheet intended as an advising tool to assist prospective students in their planning:
Social Studies Content Prerequisite Distribution for Initial Teacher Certification

A baccalaureate degree with a major 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:

  • 12 credits in U.S.
  • 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:

  • anthropology
  • economics
  • geography
  • political science
  • psychology or philosophy
  • sociology

Note: Philosophy and psychology may be used to fulfill the social science distribution requirements, but are not acceptable as majors for admission to the program leading to social studies initial teacher certification.

General Education Core in Liberal Arts and Sciences

Admission to all certification areas in the initial teacher certification program requires applicants to complete a general education core in liberal arts and sciences (for course examples, refer to the Undergraduate Catalogue), which includes the following:

  • Arts/Artistic Expression (3 credits)
  • Humanities (3 credits)
  • Writing/English Composition (1st year, 2nd semester college course)
  • 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, course work must be in lab-based biology, chemistry, geology, or physics. For language other than English, course work must be a college course at the first year, second semester level.