Transition to Teaching Certificates

With the nation experiencing a teacher shortage, K-12 teachers are in extremely high demand.

About our Transition to Teaching Certificates

Learn how to get an Indiana teaching license in just one year at Valpo. We offer alternative teacher certification in Indiana for elementary education, secondary education, and early childhood education.

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General Information

Overview

Change careers and become an adept educator in as little as 12 months through Valparaiso University’s transition to teaching program.

Our CAEP-accredited transition to teaching licensure program is for those who have a passion for education, already have a bachelor’s degree in a non-educational field, and are interested in becoming a classroom teacher. We offer alternative teacher certification in Indiana for the following areas:

Elementary education (Grades K-6)
Secondary education (Grades 5-12), with content specialization in English, mathematics, science, social studies, and world languages
Early childhood education (Preschool – Grade 3)

Transition to teaching in Indiana with flexible course options

If you’re considering transitioning to teaching, at Valpo you can do so in as little as one year. Our licensure program is offered in a hybrid format—courses offered online and in-person during evening hours. That means you can continue to work while moving forward in a new, rewarding career path.

All of our licensure tracks culminate in a 15-week student teaching experience in a local school, which will help you to transition to teaching in Indiana classrooms.

Program Highlights

Faculty who are experienced educators

Our faculty members, who will help you in the process of transitioning to teaching, have vast K–12 teaching experience, and they’ve also been recognized for their outstanding contributions to elementary education, secondary education, and early childhood education.

Affordable coursework

As you’re considering how to get an Indiana teaching license, know that Valpo’s tuition for transition to teaching program students is $530 per credit and is lower than our normal tuition rate. That means you can more affordably move your career forward and pursue alternative teacher certification in Indiana and beyond. State-funded programs may reduce this cost further. Contact the Graduate Admissions Office to learn more about these opportunities.

Hands-on classroom experiences

At Valpo, our alternative teacher certificate in Indiana program starts with field experience during your very first semester. That’s when you’ll teach lessons as part of your coursework. To complete your transition to teaching program, you’ll student-teach for a total of 15 weeks.

Immediate employment

Many students are eligible to receive an emergency teaching license in Indiana. This means that you can go to work today while you complete the transition to teaching program. You can even maintain your job while you complete student teaching.

What Can You Do with Alternative Teacher Certification in Indiana?

While learning how to get an Indiana teaching license is important, it’s equally important to know where you can work upon completing Valpo’s transition to teaching program. Our elementary, secondary, and early childhood education transition to teaching programs are helping to address the teacher shortage in Indiana and the nation. Upon earning a teaching license in Indiana, it can be transferred to Illinois, Michigan, and beyond, opening up career opportunities across the nation.

Nearly 100% of majors find jobs upon completing alternative teacher certification in Indiana classrooms. Employment in education and related career opportunities are expected to grow 10% through 2030, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Transitioning to teaching professionals earn, on average, $58,500 upon entering the workforce.

Early Childhood Initial Teaching Licensure – Transition to Teaching Certificate

Elementary Education Initial Teaching Licensure – Transition to Teaching Certificate

Summer

Required Courses
ED 518	Curriculum Design and, Differentiation	2 Cr.
ED 520	Educational Psychology	2 Cr.
ED 540	Differentiated Instructional Practices	2 Cr.
		Total: 6 Cr.

Fall

Required Courses
ED 510	Foundations in Early and Emergent Literacy	3 Cr.
ED 527	Methods of Teaching Social Studies in the Elementary School	2 Cr.
		Total: 5 Cr.

Fall 2

Required Courses
ED 529	Literacy in the Elementary School	3 Cr.
ED 573	Elem Math and Science Methods	4 Cr.
		Total: 7 Cr.

Spring

Required Courses
ED 630	Student Teaching	3 Cr.
ED 545	Seminar	1 Cr.
ED 570	Diversity, Equity, and Education	2 Cr.
		Total: 6 Cr.

Secondary Education Initial Teaching Licensure – Transition to Teaching Certificate

Summer

Required Courses
ED 518	Curriculum Design	2 Cr.
ED 520	Educational Psychology	2 Cr.
SPED 540	Differentiated Instruction	2 Cr.
		Total: 6 Cr.

Fall

Required Courses
ED 560	Content Area Literacies	3 Cr.
ED 58X	Content Area Methods (Math, Science, History, English)	3 Cr.
		Total: 6 Cr.

Spring

Required Courses
ED 630	Student Teaching	3 Cr.
ED 545	Seminar	1 Cr.
ED 570	Diversity, Equity, and Education	2 Cr.
		Total: 6 Cr.

Early Childhood Initial Teaching Licensure – Transition to Teaching Certificate

Summer

Required Courses
ED 518	Curriculum Design and, Differentiation	2 Cr.
ED 520	Educational Psychology	2 Cr.
SPED 540	Differentiated Instructional	2 Cr.
		Total: 6 Cr.

Fall

Required Courses
ED 510	Foundations in Early and Emergent Literacy	3 Cr.
ED 551	Early Childhood Methods: Learning Environment	3 Cr.
		Total: 6 Cr.

Fall 2

Required Courses
ED 539	Scientifically-Based Reading Research Components of Early and Emergent Literacy	3 Cr.
ED 552	Early Childhood Methods: Instruction	3 Cr.
		Total: 6 Cr.

Spring

Required Courses
ED 630	Student Teaching	3 Cr.
ED 575	Seminar	1 Cr.
ED 570	Diversity, Equity, and Education	2 Cr.
		Total: 6 Cr.

Master’s of Education (M.Ed.) Add-On

Graduate students who complete Valpo’s transition to teaching initial licensure program have the opportunity to take additional coursework to earn a master’s of education (M.Ed.). Please note that full-graduate tuition will be charged due to the nature of completing a degree.

Master’s of Education (M.Ed.) add-on to Elementary Transition to Teaching Initial Licensure Program

Required Courses
COUN 602	Research Methods	3 Cr.
ED 567	English Language Learning Methods	3 Cr.
ED 610	Research in Education	3 Cr.
ED 612	Decision Making in Curriculum and Instruction	3 Cr.
		Total: 12 Cr.

Master’s of Education (M.Ed.) add-on to Secondary Transition to Teaching Initial Licensure Program

Required Courses
COUN 602	Research Methods	3 Cr.
LS 608	Professional Writing and Research	3 Cr.
ED 610	Research in Education	3 Cr.
ED 611	Teacher Research	3 Cr.
ED 692	Research Project	2-3 Cr.
ED 699	Thesis	3 Cr.
		Total: 18 Cr.

For more information, please contact Professor Benjamin Boche, M.S., Ph.D., transition to teaching program director.

College of Arts and Sciences

Program Rankings & Highlights

Months to Licensure

CAEP Accreditation

Licensure Tracks

Students Per Class

Nationwide

Students serve communities across the country, from urban to rural.

Hear from Transition to Teaching Students

“I can absolutely say that the skills I’m learning in this program, right now, are already helping me in my classroom. I’m building the foundation and structure to keep increasing my proficiency as an educator. I’ve built a great framework to build on, thanks to Valpo.”

— Eleigh Tricker ’22 Transition to Teaching

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Meet Our Faculty

Professors. Mentors. Friends. At Valparaiso University, you will work on real-life problems alongside faculty leaders with decades of experience and a true desire to do what’s best for you.

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