Pathways to Teaching
Undergraduate Programs:
For traditional undergraduates, COED offers initial licensure through five undergraduate majors (Child/Family Development, Elementary Education, Middle Grades, Special Education, and a dual major in Special Ed + Elementary Ed), with the option to complete a minor in TESL (licensure) or Reading Education (licensure). Candidates may prepare for careers in Secondary Education fields by majoring in programs in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (English, Math, the Sciences, and Social Studies) and dcompleting the minor in Secondary Education or Foreign Language Education.
View a list of all our undergraduate programs.
Graduate Certificate in Teaching Program:
Our Graduate Certificate in Teaching Program is a convenient and efficient pathway to teaching for individuals who already have an undergraduate degree outside of education. In addition to being 100% online, this program:
- Allows students to gain licensure in as little as 12 to 18 months
- Admits students in the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters
- Satisfies the EPP enrollment requirement for the NC Residency License
- Comprises the first phase of the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree that leads to advanced licensure
Graduate Programs:
For graduate students, the College of Education offers pathways to initial and advanced licensure, leadership roles, and doctoral study.
The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) provides a two-phase route to initial and advanced licensure in Elementary, Middle and Secondary, Foreign Language, Special Education, TESL, and Early Childhood Education. The Master of Education (M.Ed.) supports career advancement and advanced licensure in areas such as Curriculum & Instruction; Elementary, Middle Grades, and Secondary Education; TESL; Reading; Special Education; Academically Gifted; Child & Family Studies; Learning, Design & Technology; and Urban Education, with non-licensure options in Higher Education and Urban Education.
Students seeking school leadership may pursue the Master of School Administration (M.S.A.). Additional master’s programs include School Counseling, Addiction Counseling, Clinical Mental Health, English Education, and Mathematics Education.
Doctoral options include the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and the Ph.D. in Counselor Education or Curriculum & Instruction, with multiple concentration areas.
Learn more about our Graduate Programs and see a list of the concentration we offer.