Most graduates elect to pursue a career in teaching, but many prefer to continue their studies in one of our graduate programs. Graduates may choose to seek careers in the private sector, in community organizations, in the Peace Corps or in health organizations. A bachelor's degree in Education is a very valuable, versatile tool that provides an excellent foundation for many professions. There are two distinct programs in the undergraduate portion of teacher education. The first program prepares students for a bachelor's degree in Education and certification to teach.
Certification is required to teach in most elementary and secondary schools in the United States.
The second program prepares students for a bachelor's degree in Education, but it does not prepare the student for teaching in the schools. Instead this degree is often used in preparation for other professions that may require teaching or training skills. Two special features of the program that leads to certification are the pre-teaching laboratory and the professional semester. The pre-teaching laboratory course is a response to the need for teacher candidates to observe and participate in the teaching process early in their career. An invaluable aid in the training, it is designed to provide teacher candidates with an observation-oriented field experience early in the preparation program.