Teacher Education Programs In America

Credential

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Bachelor of Science (BS)

Bachelor of Music (BMus)

Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT)

Associate of Applied Science (AAS)

Associate of Arts (AA)

Associate in Science (AS)

Teaching certificate

Other certificates

Program Length

4+ years for bachelor's degrees including certification

2 years for associate's degree

Entry

Bachelor's degrees: direct-entry; entry after 1-2 years of post-secondary study

Associate's degree - direct entry

Areas of Study

General studies, arts, sciences, education, community services

Specialization areas include elementary education, secondary education, English as a second language (ESL), educational psychology, special education, art, music, math, science, social science, literacy, speech communications, theatre, second languages, talented and gifted student education, physical education, early childhood education.

Special Features

Internship/ in-school placement

Specialized courses in educational technology and pedagogy

Teachers play an essential, foundational role in building societies around the world. Therefore, the variety of undergraduate teacher education programs in the USA prepares international students for all kinds of career options.

At 4-year colleges, students begin by applying to the university or college in a baccalaureate degree such as Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Science (BS) or Bachelor of Music (BMus) and then those who plan to complete certification requirements for teaching make special application for admission to the university's Teacher Education Program. Teacher education programs can usually be found in an institution's College or School of Education. This approach ensures that students get a solid general education as well as a focused professional education. Teacher education programs often take longer than 4 years because of the required student teaching component, which usually lasts between 12-16 weeks.

The main choice in teacher education programs is between elementary or secondary education. Within each of these streams there are a number of possible majors and concentrations. For example, those studying elementary education can major in talented and gifted student education, physical education, ESL, art, language arts, math, music, science, reading, social science, theatre, and speech communication. Within secondary education you can major in many of the same areas, like art, math, music, English, science, second languages, speech communication and theatre. Some colleges divide their courses according to subjects rather than age group: for instance you might be able to take your degree with a specialization in art or music education from pre-K to grade 12. Other subjects for specialization are early childhood education, ESL, special education, educational psychology, and higher education administration. A number of minors in education are also available for those who want to study education but don't want to go on to student teaching and certification. Colleges or Schools of Education also offer teacher licensure/certification programs for elementary and secondary education. Note that different states may have different requirements for teacher certification. For those who want to continue their studies, teacher education programs can also lead to graduate study in education.

Many community colleges in the US offer university transfer programs for those wanting to pursue teacher education programs. In fact, the National Association of Community College Teacher Education Programs (NACCTEP) is an organization that works to develop new programs. In addition to offering the first two years of requirements for a baccalaureate degree, community colleges provide coordinated programs for transfer, certificates and 2-year associate's degree programs, such as the Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT), Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in early childhood education and Associate of Arts (AA) in elementary education. Some colleges also offer specialized degrees such as the Associate in Science (AS) in educational interpreting for hearing-impaired students. Certificates, such as the Child Development Associate Certificate or Alternative Certification Program, may be designed to prepare students for national credentials and to provide the necessary skills to obtain entry level employment. Many community colleges have agreements with 4-year colleges and universities to facilitate the transfer into a bachelor's program, so be sure to check out a college's agreements.