Jamie Goodwin

The 6 Best Colleges for Teaching Degrees

best colleges for teaching degrees

On your road to becoming a teacher, you want the best education possible. You want great professors who teach courses that prepare you for the challenges ahead. Not every college provides the same level of preparation. Check out some of these best colleges for teaching degrees.

Columbia University

Columbia University is well-known for their education program. Also, it was the first graduate school in the United States. It remains the largest one in the country still. Teacher candidates partner with distinguished faculty to research new ideas for education.

Professors focus on inquiry-based instruction. This better prepares teachers for school leadership. They also aim to educate teachers on how to help students from different backgrounds. The school partners with public schools in the area, so teacher candidates get to develop their teaching skills.

Harvard University

The Bok Center at Harvard University ranked

The Bok Center is also at the top of the charts for research and innovation. It provides extensive teaching experience and numerous resources to promote research for teacher candidates.

Stanford University

Stanford is the home of the Stanford Teacher Education Program (STEP). STEP educates teachers on creative and innovative ways to reach students. The school also promotes research fellowships and partnerships around the world.

One study found that more than 80% of Stanford University graduates were still in the profession after 5 years. This is much greater than the national average. Also, the American Enterprise Institute chose Stanford as the university with the most influential faculty for policy.

University of California- Los Angeles

The University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) focuses on education reform and social justice. UCLA’s teaching program is designed for teachers employed in low-income and/or low-performing schools. Teacher candidates learn how to create culturally-responsive learning communities.

Also, many of the teacher candidates participate in the IMPACT or 2-year program. This allows them to achieve their master’s degree within 2 years.

University of Washington

The U.S. News and World Report ranked University of Washington in the top 10 teacher education programs for 2017. Similar to UCLA, the school aims at preparing teacher candidates in poverty-impacted and culturally-diverse schools. Faculty members focus on teaching research-based practices to engage students of all backgrounds.

Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt University is the home of the Peabody College of Education and Human Development. The U.S. News and World Report ranked the school:

  • #1 for Administration
  • #2 for Special Education
  • #5 for Elementary Education

Vanderbilt offers more classroom experience, hands-on work in the community, and research opportunities with faculty than other universities. Also, teacher candidates must complete a second major unrelated to education. This helps graduates find employment if they can’t land a job in the education field.

These schools have been recognized for their stellar programs. However, there are lots of great colleges and universities that can prepare you to become a teacher. Do your research to learn about your options, and choose one that is best suited to you and your goals.

Author

  • Jamie Goodwin

    Jamie graduated from Brigham Young University- Idaho with a degree in English Education. She spent several years teaching and tutoring students at the elementary, high school, and college level. She currently works as a contract writer and curriculum developer for online education courses. In her free time, she enjoys running and spending time with her boys!

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