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The UIU Advantage

Want a career where every day can make a meaningful difference in the life of a child? UIU’s Teacher Education program, with more than 15 endorsements to choose from, prepares you with the knowledge, skill and confidence you need to shape the lives of those you teach and help them succeed. All UIU faculty have extensive teaching experience and are dedicated to instilling that expertise in you.

Why Teacher Education at UIU?

  • UIU students get hands-on learning and great resume experience through 100 hours or more of field work in area schools.
  • Enhance your education with study abroad opportunities.
  • Learn from faculty who have real-world experience and are experts in the fields they teach; enjoy the support of helpful, caring staff who are there for you from start to finish.

Areas of Emphasis

Over 15 majors to choose from and multiple endorsements for each grade level. Master’s degree programs are also available.

  • Elementary Education
  • Birth – Grade 3: Inclusive Settings
  • Family Consumer Science: In partnership with Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC)
  • K-12 American Sign Language (ASL): In partnership with Eastern Iowa Community College
  • K-12 Instructional Strategist – All
  • K-12 Instructional Strategist BD/LD/ID
  • 5-12 All Business
  • 5-12 All Language Arts
  • 5-12 Life Science (Biology)
  • 5-12 Reading
  • 5-12 Social Science: Basic
  • 5-12 All Social Science: Authorizes the holder to teach all social sciences in grades 5-12 in the state of Iowa (Economics, American Government, Psychology, American History, World History, Sociology, and Geography)
  • 5-12 All Science: Authorizes the holder to teach all sciences in grades 5-12 in the state of Iowa. Noyce Scholarships available for All Science majors.
  • 5-12 Industrial Technology: In partnership with Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC), Eastern Iowa Community College (EICC), Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC), Hawkeye Community College (Hawkeye)
  • 5-12 Agriculture Education: In partnership with Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC)

Outcomes

The focus of Upper Iowa University’s Teacher Education program are the children in the PreK-12 schools. With the children as the focus, the program prepares well those who will be their teachers. A UIU’s pre-service educator is ready to hit the ground running when he/she obtains a teaching position.

UIU’s Teacher Education program has partnerships with many community colleges and PreK-12 schools. Many pre-service educators come from community colleges with which UIU’s Teacher Education program has partnerships. A number of additional opportunities exist for pre-service educators in the Program with PreK-12 schools including a student teaching partnership with the Aldine Independent School District on the north side of Houston, Texas.

The standards of the Teacher Education program are based on the work of the Renaissance Partnership for Improving Teacher Quality. They are aligned with the Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC) principles and the Iowa Teaching Standards. Pre-service educators are assessed on their Teacher Work Sample. Seven standards frame the Teacher Education program:

  1. Pre-service educators use information about the learning-teaching context and student individual differences to set learning outcomes and plan instruction and assessment.
  2. Pre-service educators set significant, challenging, varied and appropriate learning outcomes.
  3. Pre-service educators use multiple assessment modes and approaches aligned with learning outcomes to assess student learning before, during, and after instruction.
  4. Pre-service educators design instruction for specific learning outcomes, student characteristics and needs.
  5. Pre-service educators use ongoing analysis of student learning to make instructional decisions.
  6. Pre-service educators use assessment data to profile student learning and communicate information about student progress and achievement.
  7. Pre-service educators analyze the relationship between instruction and student learning in order to improve teaching practice.

Ready For More?

Request more info now.

Explore Your Program

Teacher Education Courses

See course descriptions for the classes you need for your Teacher Education degree, as well as any general education requirements.

Academic Calendar

Keep up with your academic program’s registration deadlines, session dates, holiday breaks and exam schedules.

Careers in Teacher Education

A degree prepares you for many careers, such as classroom teacher, daycare/preschool director, higher education advisor/program coordinator, instructional coach/lead teacher, library children’s services program coordinator, museum education program director, and YMCA youth program director.

Casey Hope, '19

Teacher Education - Birth - Grade 3
Des Moines Center

I feel confident as a teacher. I know entering my own classroom I have the tools and skills to meet the needs of all students.

UIU Locations for Bachelor's Degree in Teacher Education

UIU Student on computer

Convenient, Focused Scheduling

UIU Teacher Education students have the advantage of focusing on fewer classes at once with the Two-at-a-Time schedule.

The Teacher Education bachelor’s degree program is offered through UIU’s Andres Department of Education.

Paraeducator Certificate

Paraeducator Certificate

Paraeducator Certification Courses

Upper Iowa offers three courses to recommend you for your paraeducator certificate.

  • EDU 110 Foundations of American Education  (3 credits)
  • SPED 304 Exceptional Persons  (3 credits)
  • SPED 462 Individual Behavior and Classroom Management (3 credits)

Program Features

  • Flexible Learning Experiences: All courses are delivered online synchronously through Zoom or face-to-face at one our center locations.
  • Easy Credit Transfer: All 9 credits will apply towards a teaching degree should you choose to return to UIU to obtain your initial teaching license.

How to Apply

To get an application on file, please go to https://uiu.edu/apply . Individuals will need to Sign Up for an account to apply to Upper Iowa University. On the application choose:

  •  On the first question, select Non-Degree Undergraduate as the level of degree.
  • Once the first question is answered correctly, the only option available under the second question, student type, will also be Non-degree Undergraduate.
  • Under location, choose Online.
  • Choose the Paraeducator Certification (Non-Degree) option when asked about the program of interest question.

Admissions

When you’re ready to apply for your bachelor’s degree in Teacher Education, we’re ready to help you every step of the way.

Go Further with an MEd

Earned your undergraduate degree in Teacher Education? Consider UIU’s MEd program to advance your career even further.

Billie Cowley

Faculty Spotlight

Billie Cowley, Ed.D.
Dean, Academic & Educational Affairs

Our Teacher Education and Master of Education Programs are practitioner-based. All faculty members have taught or currently teach in prekindergarten – 20 schools and use practical examples to connect with educational theories and methods. Faculty members stay abreast of current initiatives and revise coursework accordingly. We prepare pre-service candidates to “hit the ground running” and provide opportunities for practicing teachers to apply the skills learned in coursework directly in their own classroom or work environment. Teaching and working with pre-service candidates and practicing teachers is very rewarding for me. I have the opportunity to watch individuals grow in their skills to mentor others.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find the answers to students’ most frequently asked questions about UIU’s bachelor’s degree in Teacher Education. If you don’t see the answer you need, contact us for help.

Where can student teaching be completed?

Student teaching can be completed around any of our four Iowa locations: UIU’s Des Moines Center, Waterloo Center, Quad Cities Center, and Fayette Campus. We also have a partnership with Aldine Community Schools located on the north side of Houston, Texas.

Students stand outside on a beautiful day

Accreditation

The Teacher Education program is accredited by the State of Iowa Board of Education.