Alternative Placement (Certification) Program

To apply for the alternative certification program (housed in NWOSU's graduate studies department):

1. Apply for Admission or Readmission to NWOSU

• Send in official transcripts
• Complete immunization form
• All official E-transcripts must be submitted by the issuing institution to Sheri Lahr at sklahr@nwosu.edu or Teri Warren at tlwarren@nwosu.edu to be considered official.  Mail official transcripts to NWOSU-Registrar 709 Oklahoma Blvd.  Alva, OK 73717

2. Apply to Graduate Studies Alternative Certification Program of Study.  This application requires two documents to be uploaded.  If you do not have one, simply upload the same one twice or a blank document.

3. Once accepted to the university and graduate studies, meet with Dr. Jen Oswald, program advisor, for individual advisement and plan of study.

NWOSU Plan of Study for Individuals Seeking
Alternative Teaching Certification

Northwestern Oklahoma State University supports individuals seeking alternative certification and strives to prepare individuals for success as educators.  The Division of Education provides classes through the Curriculum and Instruction graduate program, which is designed to meet the needs of those who are alternatively or emergency certified.  (No prior educational knowledge expected.)

Individuals can:

1. Elect to take individual courses at the graduate level from the Curriculum and Instruction plan of study to meet additional coursework required by the Oklahoma State Department of Education.  Completion of graduate-level courses may move an individual across the salary schedule to earn more money.
2. Complete a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction, which provides a deeper understanding of teaching through the study of curriculum and pedagogy.  In addition to being better prepared to teach, the completion of the master’s degree places an individual in a higher earning bracket on the salary schedule. 

Either option will meet the state’s alternative certification requirement through Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE).

NORTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY

Master of Education~ Curriculum and Instruction Option

Required Core Subjects (10 hours):

• EDUC 5010 Graduate Study Seminar (during 1st semester of graduate work)
• Research: EDUC 5933 Classroom Research & Institutional Effectiveness (must be taken within the first 9 hours of coursework) 
• Foundation: EDUC 5203 Educational Practices +
• Psychology: EDUC 5212 Psychology of Teaching +
• Diversity: EDUC 5822 Multicultural Education  +

Concentration Courses (17 hours)

Emphasis in Curriculum Leadership

• EDUC 5093  Curriculum and Instruction for Special Learners +
• EDUC 5222 Advanced Educational Psychology +
• PSYC 5183 Human Growth and Development +
• EDUC 5352 Behavior Intervention Strategies +
• EDUC 5043 Instructional Design & Pedagogy
• EDUC 5244 Spanish for ESL Pedagogy
• Area of Emphasis (Select minimum of 7 credit hours)
• EDUC 5782 Supervision of Teaching +
• EDUC 5772 School and Public Relations +
• EDUC 5231 Advanced Assessment Design +
• EDUC 5221 Advanced Educational Technology +
• EDUC 5403 Advanced Developmental Reading - Primary OR +
• EDUC 5413 Advanced Developmental Reading - Intermediate/Secondary +
• EDUC 5423 Foundations of Literacy +

Total Hours - Minimum 34 hours required

+ These courses meet the Oklahoma State Department of Education's (OSDE's) professional requirements for those who currently have an OSDE alternative teaching certification and are pursuing a standard certificate. Individuals must work directly with OSDE to complete their certification process.