To earn PK-12 Teacher Certification, all GVSU students must complete the Education major through the College of Education and Community Innovation, and subject area majors/minors through the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Courses in this program meet Michigan Department of Education requirements for PK-12 Education.

In the subject area majors and minors, students learn content and pedagogy in the specific subject areas they wish to teach. Faculty engage students in discipline-specific teaching and learning, research and scholarly activities, experiences in area classrooms and the community, and study abroad programs.

Education Major (PK-12 emphasis)

The Education major is designed for students seeking certification at the PK-12 level. Students in the Education program can earn certification to teach a specific subject in grades PK-12th. In the Education major, novice teachers are prepared to address the needs of the whole child; use relevant, research-based criteria to establish a supportive, engaging environment that fosters learning; and use practices that meet individual learners' needs. Students complete structured field experiences embedded throughout the program.