We quantize a flat FRW cosmology in the context of the $f(R)$ gravity by Noether symmetry approach. We explicitly calculate the form of $f(R)$ for which such symmetries exist. It is shown that the existence of a Noether symmetry yields a general solution of the Wheeler-DeWitt equation where can be expressed as a superposition of states of the form $e^{ iS}$. In terms of Hartle criterion, this type of wave function exhibits classical correlations, i.e. the emergent of classical universe is expected due to the oscillating behavior of the solutions of Wheeler-DeWitt equation. According to this interpretation we also provide the Noether symmetric classical solutions of our $f(R)$ cosmological model.
Categories: gr-qc astro-ph hep-th