Louisiana State University in Shreveport (LSUS) offers various alternative certification programs through its College of Education and Human Development. LSUS offers certification for elementary school, secondary school, dual certification in elementary and secondary education, and special education. The elementary and secondary education programs are non-master's certification programs that require students to hold a bachelor's degree and a graduating grade point average of 2.5. One of the aspects of this program that makes it attractive to potential teaching candidates is that students can work while gaining their teaching certificate. The secondary education program offers students the opportunity to pursue concentrations in biology, math, chemistry, English, social studies and physics.
The length of the program varies according to whether teaching candidates work full time while pursuing certification. In general, the program takes one to three years to complete, with three years being the time limit for students to renew their temporary Practitioner Teacher License (issued to students who teach while pursuing certification).
Louisiana State University in Shreveport
One University Place
Shreveport, LA 71115
318-797-5000
www.lsus.edu
Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond offers alternative certification candidates the master's degree and non-master's degree certification option. The master's degree option results in students receiving a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) that certifies them to teach grades 1-5. Non-master's degree certification options include secondary education for grades 6-12, K-12 and early intervention special education. K-12 certification is offered in the fields of music, art, health and physical education and foreign language. Secondary certifications include biology, technology education, speech, social studies, business education, English, computer science, math, and family and consumer science.
The master's program can be completed in 1 1/2 to three years of full-time study; the non-degree program can be completed in the same amount of time. The time varies according to how much teaching experience students have. In some cases, students may need to complete two semesters of student teaching to qualify.
Southeastern Louisiana University
1018 Charles E. Cate Teacher Education Center
1300 North General Pershing, Suite 1018
SLU 10671
Hammond, LA 70402
985-549-2217
www.selu.edu
Nicholls State University in Thibodaux offers various non-master's degree certification programs. Areas of certification include elementary, secondary, middle school and human performance education. Nicholls State students primarily serve the parishes of Jefferson, St. James, Assumption, Terrebonne, St. John, St. Mary and Lafourche. These parishes have extra need of teachers in special education, science and math. Because of this need, teachers in these subjects are provided with extra financial incentive to teach in the parish. Requirements for admission to the program include a bachelor's degree and a minimum grade-point average of 2.5 in all undergraduate work.
Students complete 27 to 30 credit hours in various undergraduate courses (depending upon certification area). This can be completed with one year of full-time study. The length of time to complete the program part time will vary according to the amount of time students can devote to completing coursework.
Nicholls State University
College of Education
Thibodaux, LA 70301
985-446-8111
www.nicholls.edu