Undergraduate Programs
The Interdisciplary Early Childhood Education Program focuses on the educational and developmental needs of infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergartners. This program combines best practices in early childhood education and special education for typically developing children and special needs children, from birth through primary.
The Elementary Education Program at NKU is a four-year program leading to a degree of Bachelor of Arts. It focuses on the educational and developmental needs of children in the early childhood years (P-5) and is the first step toward attaining teacher certification in the state of Kentucky.
The Middle Grades Education Program is part of a four-year program leading to a Bachelor's degree. Students choose two areas of content focus from the following: language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, or special education. A four-semester progression of course work includes a strong foundation in middle school philosophy, structure, and instruction with extensive field experiences in a variety of middle school settings.
The Secondary Grades Education Program prepares students for certification in one of the following certification areas: Biological Science (Grades 8-12), English (Grades 8-12), Mathematics (Grades 8-12), Earth/space science (Grades 8-12), Chemistry (Grades 8-12), Physics (Grades 8-12) and Social Studies (Grades 8-12). Students also enter the Secondary Education Program if they are seeking certification in one of the following areas: Art (Grades P-12), Business and Marketing (Grades 5-12), French (Grades P-12), Music (Grades P-12), or Spanish (Grades P-12).
Students interested in teaching at the secondary level (high school) will be an Arts and Science major, with education serving as the student's unofficial "minor". Secondary education students will have two advisors- an Arts and Science advisor and an education advisor. Students should visit both advisors each semester.
The Special Education Program prepares students interested in teaching children with mild disabilities. The special education program prepares teachers for children with learning disabilities, mild mental retardation, emotional and behavioral disorders, and orthopedic impairments. Students interested in becoming certified in special education should select either elementary, middle grades, or secondary education and then choose the special education certification option. Graduates of the special education program are in high demand across Kentucky and the U.S.
