Minimum Criteria for Dual Enrollment Teacher Approvals
Last Updated March 31, 2025
The following represents minimum credentials required of secondary school teachers in order to be evaluated by 51ĀŅĀ× as a dual enrollment instructor. Meeting minimum credentials does not guarantee approval. Secondary teachers interested in instructing an 51ĀŅĀ× course must follow the teacher approval process by submitting the Dual Enrollment Teacher Application and supporting documentation outlined here:
ohio.edu/dualenrollment/collegecreditplus/educators
Some departments maintain additional application requirements beyond whatās normally required. Those requirements are outlined in the āadditional requirementsā sections below. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of all academic departments. For more information, please contact Heather Martin, Assistant Director for Dual Enrollment Programs.
African American Studies
Minimum Credential: Ph.D. (or ABD with Ph.D. dissertation research completed) and an established record of teaching effectiveness.
Additional Requirements: Syllabus for the course(s) the applicant wishes to be considered for teaching approval; recent course evaluations (quantitative and qualitative), if available; name and contact information for 2 additional references.
Anthropology
Minimum Credential: Ph.D. (or ABD with Ph.D. dissertation research completed) and an established record of teaching effectiveness.
Additional Requirements: Syllabus for the course(s) the applicant wishes to be considered for teaching approval; recent course evaluations (quantitative and qualitative) name and contact information for 2 additional references.
Biological Sciences
Minimum Credential: Masterās degree in Biology or closely related content area.
Preferred Credential: Ph.D. in Biology.
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Minimum Credential: Ph.D. in Chemistry. Those wishing to teach specialized courses (e.g. analytical chemistry, organic chemistry) need to have a Ph.D. with specialization in those areas.
Communication Studies
Minimum Credential: 1000-2000 Level Communication Studies Courses.
1. Masterās degree in communication studies or closely related discipline.
2. Previous graduate level training or experience teaching in relevant coursework.
3. Evidence of effective teaching.
Economics
Minimum Credential: Masterās degree in Economics or closely related content area.
Additional Requirements: Previous college-level teaching experience.
English
Minimum Credential: Masterās degree in English or minimally a Masterās degree and a cohesive set of 18 semester credit hours of discipline-relevant graduate course work.
Additional Requirements: Statement on teaching philosophy and experience with teaching of writing preferred.
Note: 51ĀŅĀ×ās Department of English will only approve high school teachers to instruct the following English and Literature courses in the high school setting: ENG 1510, 2100, 2800 and 2900.
Environmental & Plant Biology
Minimum Credential: Masterās degree in the subject area or closely related content area.
Preferred Credential: Ph.D. in Plant Biology or closely related field.
Geography
Minimum Credential: Masterās degree in Geography or closely related content area.
Preferred Credential: Ph.D. in Geography.
Additional Requirements: Consideration will be given to previous student evaluations. Applicant must also present actual syllabus if course has been taught in the past or proposed syllabus if this is a new course for the instructor.
Earth and Environmental Geosciences
Minimum Credential: Masterās degree in Geology or closely related content area.
Additional Criteria: Teaching experience in Geology courses.
History
Minimum Credential: Masterās degree in history or a related Humanities or Social Sciences content area, including at least 18 semester hours of graduate coursework in or related to the subject area to be taught.
Preferred Credential: PhD in History and trained in the fields applicant intends to teach (U.S., European, or world history).
Linguistics
Minimum Credential: Masterās degree in Linguistics (or in the case of a language class, a relevant masterās degree) from a reputable university, and with an established record of teaching effectiveness. Requested course(s) should fall within the applicantsā areas of expertise.
Additional Criteria: Syllabus for the course(s) the applicant wishes to be considered for teaching approval; recent course evaluations (quantitative and qualitative).
Mathematics
Minimum Credential:
1000 - 2500 Level Mathematics Courses: Masterās degree in Mathematics
Above 2500 Level Mathematics Courses: Ph.D. in Mathematics
Modern Languages
Minimum Credential: Masterās degree in Language.
Additional Criteria: The department requires the following In addition to regular application materials:
- Course evaluations for a min. of 3 classes taught in the language.
- Demonstrated success teaching 1000-2000 level undergraduates.
- 1-2 additional letters of recommendation from either professors of the language or people who have observed the teaching in the language.
- Portfolio or video of teaching highly recommended, though not required.
- Interview in the language to check proficiency level ā usually by Skype (We expect all of our instructors to have an Advanced level of the language using the ACTFL scale which we determine during the interview). If candidate can provide proof of having taken the OPI in the last year, we can use that rating.
- If they can come to campus, we ask them to teach a class that we can observe.
Philosophy
Minimum Credential: Masterās degree in Philosophy.
Additional Criteria: Skype or telephone conversation with the department chair.
Physics & Astronomy
Minimum Credential: Masterās degree in Physics or closely related content area for: Physical Science (PSC) courses, Astronomy (ASTR) courses equal to or below 1400 Physics (PHYS) courses equal to or below 2002.
Ph.D. in Physics or closely related content area for: Astronomy (ASTR) courses greater than 1400 Physics (PHYS) courses greater than 2002.
Political Science
Minimum Credentials: 1000-2000 Level Political Science Courses.
Masterās degree in Political Science with 4 graduate courses in a subject area related to the specific course that the applicant seeks approval to teach. Students must have earned a B+ or higher in each of the 4 courses.
MSS degree with 4 graduate courses in a subject area related to the specific course that the applicant seeks approval to teach. Students must have earned a B+ or higher in each of the 4 courses.
Master degree in closely related fields (e.g.; Master of Public of Administration, Juris Doctor) will be considered if related to the subject area for the particular course with a minimum of 4 graduate courses in the subject area related to the specific course that the applicant seeks approval to teach. Students must have earned a B+ or higher in each of the 4 courses.
Preferred Credentials: Masterās degree in Political Science or (in special circumstances, closely related content area or law degree) from a reputable university.
Psychology
1000-Level Psychology Courses:
Minimum Credential: Masterās degree in Psychology or a Masterās degree and a cohesive set of 18 semester credit hours of psychology-relevant graduate course work.
Preferred Credential: Ph.D. in Psychology.
2000-Level and Above Psychology Courses:
Minimum Credential: Ph.D. in Psychology.
Additional Requirements: Syllabus for the course(s) the applicant wishes to teach; evidence of teaching effectiveness, including recent course evaluations (quantitative and qualitative).
Sociology
Minimum Credential:
1000-2000 Level Sociology Courses: Masterās degree in Sociology (or in special circumstances a closely related field with background in Sociology) from a reputable university, and with an established record of teaching effectiveness. Requested course(s) should fall within the applicantsā areas of expertise.
3000-4000 Level Sociology Courses: Ph.D (or ABD as full-time Group IV faculty) in Sociology (or in special circumstances a closely related field with background in Sociology) from a reputable university, and with an established record of teaching effectiveness. Requested course(s) should fall within the applicantsā areas of expertise.
Additional Requirements: Recent course evaluations (quantitative and qualitative) and syllabus for the course(s) the applicant wishes to be considered for teaching approval.
Womenās, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Minimum Credential: Masterās degree with a graduate certificate in Womenās Gender and Sexuality Studies (WGSS).