Secondary Teaching Certificate holders are qualified to either teach grades 6-12 (prior to 2024 catalog year) or 5-9 and/or 9-12 (starting 2024-2025 catalog year) in major and/or minor subject areas. For initial certification, most teachable majors require students to also have a teachable minor.  Click here to see the teachable majors and minors that are offered at GVSU.  Click here for general guides for Art Education, English Education, French Education, German Education, Health and Physical Education, Latin Education, Math Education, Music Education, Science Education, and Social Studies Education.

Students must complete a large majority of both majors (content area and education/educational studies major) before they can apply to the Office of Certification and Accreditation.  Normally, students complete the majority of their degree, both majors, minor (when applicable), and pre-requisite courses before they apply to the Office of Certification and Accreditation. Once admitted into the Office of Certification and Accreditation, students complete one semester of student assisting apprenticeship and one semester of student teaching internship. Most students wait until they complete their final semester of student teaching internship before they graduate with their Bachelor's degree.  Click here for specifics on prerequisites and apply to the apprenticeship/internship semesters.

Students who plan to receive a Michigan teaching certificate must take the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) in their major, minor, and endorsement(s), if applicable.

The advisors in the CLAS Academic Advising Center can help you understand the requirements for the teachable majors and minors offered in CLAS and admission to the Office of Certification and Accreditation, as well as assist you in building an academic plan. Please call us at (616) 331-8585 or stop by our office in C-1-140 Mackinac (MAK) Hall to schedule an appointment.

For information about the admission criteria for the undergraduate certification program, see the Office of Certification and Accreditation's website at www.gvsu.edu/education.