Graduate Licensure Program (GLP)

GLP Licensure Subjects and Grade Levels Available

Foreign Language PK-12

• Spanish
• French
• German
• Japanese
• Chinese
• Latin
• Russian

Note: Non-Native English speakers should download the following document: Licensure of Non-Native English Speakers in their Native Language (pdf) and visit with the Licensure Officer if they have questions.

Mathematics

• Mathematics 5-8
• Mathematics 6-12

Science

• Science 5-8
• Biology 6-12
• Chemistry 6-12
• Physics 6-12
• Earth & Space Science 6-12

Program Locations and Enrollment

Courses for the GLP are offered in Lawrence and on the Edwards Campus, 12600 Quivira, in Overland Park. These facilities are equipped with outstanding technologies and resources that support instruction and research. Courses are offered on a rotational basis so students are advised to stay in close contact with advisors to remain informed. Timetables (class schedules) are available online at www.timetable.ku.edu and, after admission, students will enroll online via the Enroll and Pay system at the main KU web site, www.ku.edu.

Master’s Degree Options

Most students in the GLP will decide to complete a master’s degree at KU, either before they start teaching or within 1-2 years of their initial employment. There are four options available for the master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Please discuss these choices with your faculty advisor and review the Graduate Catalog for degree requirements and policies.

Admission

Unlike our five-year undergraduate program, admission to the GLP is allowed throughout the year, so you may apply for admission to begin courses in the Summer, Fall or Spring semester. As a graduate student, you will need to be admitted to the KU Graduate School and the Curriculum and Teaching Department. Jan Kazar is the C&T staff person at Joseph R. Pearson Hall in Lawrence who coordinates graduate admissions; if you have questions about the admissions process, contact her at jkazar@ku.edu or call 785-864-4437. Kim Huggett is the School of Education representative at the Edwards Campus and can help answer questions regarding enrollment or classes there; her email address is khuggett@ku.edu and phone is 913-897-8421. Application deadlines are February 1st  for summer or fall, July 1st for fall, or October 15th for spring.

The following items are required before admission is complete and you are able to enroll in Education courses:

1. Cover letter of application indicating that you are seeking licensure and the subject and level that you wish to pursue.
2. A graduate application must be filed with the KU Graduate School. You can apply online at http://www.graduate.ku.edu/apply, or download an application at the same site.
3. TWO official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate credit should be sent directly to the Graduate Admissions, Department of Curriculum & Teaching, 1122 West Campus Road, Rm. 321, Lawrence, KS 66045-3101. The minimum cumulative grade point average required is 3.0; students with 2.75-2.99 may be considered for probationary admission if approved by faculty advisor. Additional required documents should be sent to the department.
4. Strong academic background in the appropriate subject area, with at least 2.5 gpa in subject area courses.
   1. Foreign Language - undergraduate degree in the specific language earned within the past five years, or equivalent (such as native speaker).
   2. Mathematics - undergraduate major in mathematics or related field such as engineering or computer science, or prior completion of more than half of the courses listed on the mathematics major list.
   3. Science - undergraduate major in one of the science areas, or prior completion of more than half of the courses listed on one of the science major lists.
5. Specific undergraduate liberal arts courses are required by all Kansas Regents Institutions for admission to teacher education programs and must be completed prior to admission with no grade less than a “C”:
   

   Two courses in English (ENGL 101 and 102 or higher)
   Speech (COMS 130 or 150, or approved exemption based on 2 semesters of speech, forensics or debate class in high school with grades of “A” or “B”)
   College Algebra (MATH 101)
   Plus a second level Mathematics course (MATH 105, 106, 111, 115 or higher) for which College Algebra is a pre-requisite.

6. Passing PPST scores (Praxis I series, Pre-Professional Skills Test in Reading, Writing and Mathematics measuring 10th grade proficiency). Minimum accepted scores are 173 in Reading, 172 in Writing, and 172 in Mathematics. Students may take either the computerized or pencil-to-paper tests, but should allow about a month for registration and six weeks to get final scores. Contact KU Testing Service (2150 Watkins Health Center, 785-864-2768) for registration, or go online to Educational Testing Service at www.ets.org/praxis. The three PPST exams taken together will cost approximately $110.
7. Three letters of recommendation from employers and/or college instructors.
8. Personal interview with the major area advisor. (This may be done by telephone if the applicant lives more than 50 miles from Lawrence.) Contact the appropriate advisor to make an appointment for the interview.

   Foreign Language - Dr. Manuela Gonzalez-Bueno, mgbueno@ku.edu, 785-864-9674, 342 JRP Mathematics - Dr. Susan Gay, sgay@ku.edu, 785-864-9676, 341 JRP Science - Dr. James Ellis, jdellis@ku.edu, 785-864-9847, 346 JRP

After admission, but before enrollment, we strongly encourage students to meet with their faculty advisor to plan an academic program for licensure. On-going communication with your advisor will ensure that you make steady progress towards licensure and, if you wish, the master’s degree. Additionally, all admitted students should request a “transcript evaluation” from the Licensure Officer to establish a file in her office during their first or second semesters at KU.

Licensure Testing Requirements

The PPST is an admission requirement at all Regents Institutions in Kansas. The Kansas State Board of Education, which issues all teaching licenses in Kansas, requires two additional standardized tests: the PLT (Principles of Learning and Teaching, which covers teacher education knowledge) and the Praxis II series Subject Exam for each content area. Usually, GLP students should expect to take PLT and the Subject Exam(s) just before the student teaching semester begins. Each exam will cost approximately $80-110.

Many general questions about licensure may be answered on the School of Education web site at www.soe.ku.edu under Licensure.

Fingerprinting

Kansas requires a criminal background check for all new teachers. The cost in Kansas is $44 and the process takes about four weeks to clear the KBI and FBI. GLP students should plan to be fingerprinted during the student teaching semester. If you have additional questions about the criminal background check, contact the Licensure Officer.

Change of Requirements

The Kansas State Department of Education determines licensure requirements in Kansas, and these are subject to change. Current information about Kansas licensure, as well as licensure in other states, is available at our web site or from the Licensure Officer by appointment.

Accreditation

The GLP is an NCATE-accredited program, which indicates a nationally-recognized level of quality in teacher preparation. KU graduates work all over the U.S. and have no difficulty becoming licensed in other states, although different applications and standardized tests may be required elsewhere.