Alternative Certification

Taking the required  coursework for an Oklahoma Teacher Certification while working full time or raising a family has never been more possible. Here’s why adult students are thriving and reaching their goals at SNU:

• Classes take place 100% online 
  
• Instructors are current administrators- in an area school district
  
• Each three credit hour course is six weeks long
• Students focus on one class at a time before moving on to the next
  
• Students study alongside other educators in similar stages of their careers
  
• Textbook Butler option allows textbooks to be delivered to your door at the beginning of each class
  
• These masters level courses can be applied to future graduate studies (MAEL program only)
• You can qualify for financial aid when taking two courses in one semester
• A supportive community of faculty, staff and classmates are here to help you on your journey toward certification

SNU's Teacher Alternative Certification Plan provides the coursework for alternatively certified teachers to move from provisional to standard certification.

Earning your Teaching Alternative Certification at SNU prepares you for a rewarding career in education, allowing you to transition into teaching without a traditional education background. SNU’s program emphasizes practical classroom management skills, instructional design, and student-centered learning strategies, ensuring you are ready to meet the needs of diverse learners. The program’s flexibility allows working professionals to balance their education with personal commitments, and the focus on ethical teaching practices aligns with SNU’s values of integrity and service in education.

Oklahoma school districts hire certified teachers. Standard-certified teachers are in high demand and very marketable.

A Teaching Alternative Certification from SNU prepares you for various roles in education. It equips you to become a certified teacher in K-12 settings, including elementary, middle, and high school positions. You may also qualify for specialized teaching roles, such as subject-specific teaching in math, science, or English, depending on your background. Additionally, this certification can lead to opportunities in educational administration, instructional support, or working with special education students.

The average salary for educators varies depending on the region and level of teaching. In Oklahoma, entry-level teachers can expect to earn around $40,000 annually, with experienced teachers earning upwards of $55,000 or more, particularly in specialized roles or areas with a high demand for educators.

SNU's Teacher Alternative Certification Plan is unique because our sequence of courses has multiple start dates, and our knowledgeable staff will help you with every step of the process.

Each class is online, accelerated, lasts 6 weeks, and meets the requirements for OSDE standard teaching certification.

Tuition is $525 per credit hour.

SNU has an active network of over 600 educators across Oklahoma, Texas, and the United States! Networking opportunities exist online, and while job placement is not currently offered, there are multiple opportunities for in-person networking at SNU career fairs, the annual Women in Leadership Symposium, and SNU's monthly Business and Leadership Network.

SNU is a partner university with the OSDE and our courses meet the requirements for standard certification. We offer personalized service to assist you throughout the certification process.

Financial aid is available for the Teaching Alternative Certification if you take 2 courses in a semester time period.

SNU offers coursework that meets OSDE requirements for standard teaching certification. Certification is given by the state of Oklahoma.

SNU has an easy enrollment process and personalized service! Complete the FREE online application, then submit your official bachelor's degree transcript and OSDE letter.

Credit hours: 3
This course provides an examination of the characteristics of teaching and learning with technology. Students will become proficient in using a variety of computer application tools and in integrating those tools across the curriculum. Students will explore questions related to the sociological, psychological, developmental, and ethical implications of technology use and the appropriate use of advanced computer applications in classrooms. The goal of the course is to not only create a comfort level with the use of instructional technology but also to simply expose students to different possibilities as they expand their knowledge and form their own processes of utilizing technology in their teaching practice. 

Credit hours: 3
This course will cover the intermediate application of educational psychology theories and integrated understandings that can be used to develop more effective instruction.  Students will practice using student interviews and existing information to develop a comprehensive understanding of a student from a wide variety of perspectives (i.e., multicultural, motivational, behavioral, etc.)

Credit hours: 3
This online course focuses on three approaches to classroom management: proactive, responsive, and supportive. The candidate will complete and submit the assignments online through Performance Learning systems (PLS). 

Required for Elementary Certification

Credit hours: 3

The focus of this course is on the necessity of using assessment as part of the teaching/learning process. Emphasis is placed on authentic classroom assessment as well as on standardized assessment and the relationship of assessment to standards and learning. Students will develop four types of authentic assessment.

Required for Middle and Secondary Certification

Credit hours: 3
This course will provide teachers with information and experiences that will help them develop and deliver effective instructional programs across four curricular areas in secondary grades (6-12). Major areas of content focus are the nature of the teaching/learning process, including research-based models of instruction, planning, classroom management, learning environments, motivation, and student engagement. Teachers will become familiar with and demonstrate evidence of the knowledge, skills, and dispositions for effective teaching.