Admission Requirements

Admission to teacher preparation programs at UNCW is a two-step process. The first step is admission to the university. Students will take the second step and apply to the Watson College of Education during their sophomore or junior year at UNCW. Transfer students apply during their first semester at Watson.  

To Apply:

1. Complete application submitted to WCE by the deadline (see below)
2. Completion of the following courses with a minimum grade of “C-“Two English composition courses ENG 100 or 101 ENG 200 or 201 or 103 -OR- ENG 103
   • One math course 3 hours of MAT/STT 101 or higher
   • One science course with a laboratory component
   • EDN/L 200 or SEC Block 1 courses
   • For Transfer Students - Must complete 9.0 credit hours at UNCW, in addition to meeting other listed requirements
3. Minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.70
4. Passing scores on Praxis or exemption from exam Learn more about the Praxis, exemption scores, and how to register to take the Praxis.
5. Unless you are exempt, students are encouraged to take and pass the Praxis Core as soon as possible.

• August 1 to take courses in the Fall semester  
  • Praxis Core attempt deadline: June 15th  
• December 1 to take courses in the Spring semester  
  •   Praxis Core attempt deadline: October 15th  
•  May 1 to take courses in the Summer or upcoming Fall semester  
  • Praxis Core attempt deadline: March 15th 

*The Watson College of Education (WCE) is piloting a new admission process for the academic year ’23-’24, as approved by the WCE Admission Task Force and faculty.

The undergraduate online admission application can be found in MySeaport:

• Click on the Academics tab
• Scroll to the bottom of page
• Under the Watson College of Education, select Program Admission Application

Students admitted at the end of the current term will be eligible for upper-level education courses during the immediately following term. For example, students applying during the Fall term will be eligible for upper-level courses in the Spring term. Students will be able to register for courses prior to being admitted.

All admission deadlines and decisions are final and are not subject to change. Students who are not admitted into the WCE will need to reapply for a subsequent semester when all requirements have been met.

Admission decisions are made the day after grades are posted. All admission materials, including Praxis Core scores, must be in our office when your application is evaluated.

Students who apply for admission, but fail to meet one criterion may be eligible to take WCE courses on a provisional one-time contract.

Eligible students will be notified in the WCE Admission Decision Letter and given instructions on how to apply for the One-Time Admission Contract. The application for an admission contract must be received by the date provided in the WCE Admission Decision Letter.

The conditions of the contract must be met by the end of the semester for which it applies. Students who receive a one-time admission contract must re-submit an application to WCE in the following cycle (see Admission Requirements above). The admissions contract will be offered to students who meet the following criteria:

1. An admissions contract has not been previously granted
2. Only one admission requirement was not satisfied:
   • Required coursework not completed, but can be by end of term
   • GPA is below 2.7, but is obtainable by end of term
   • Praxis Core scores
     • were submitted but do not pass
     • scores are passing but were not submitted
     • Praxis exemption not submitted

Note: Students who have no Praxis Core scores at the time of application are not eligible for admission contracts.