Teacher Education - Purdue University

Teacher Education Programs

To ensure that our graduates are thoroughly knowledgeable in their content areas, teacher education programs are administered by the appropriate college at Purdue. For example, if you want to become a chemistry teacher, your major is in the College of Science. If you want to teach agriculture, your major is in the College of Agriculture.

Along with your content area courses, you also will take teaching methods courses. In these courses you will focus on the concepts of learning, teaching and multicultural issues.

Structuring teacher education programs in this way ensures that you will have a complete understanding of your content area while also providing you with the teaching principles and methods you will need to succeed.

Purdue University offers programs that prepare students for teaching in Early Childhood, Middle Childhood (Elementary Education), Early Adolescence (junior high/middle school), Adolescence/Young Adulthood (secondary) and Exceptional Needs (Special Education). Program standards, curricula, and licensure are in accord with regulations promulgated by the State of Indiana and authorized by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

Official performance-based program guidelines are available on this website. Students seeking additional clarification should consult with an academic/faculty advisor. A person who already holds a bachelor’s degree may wish to complete a teacher education program as a post-baccalaureate licensing only student or complete a Transition to Teacher or STEM Goes Rural program.

Admission to the Teacher Education Program (TEP) is a distinct and unique admission process, separate from admission to Purdue University. For more information about the TEP admission and retention process, please contact the academic/faculty advisor for the specific program or the Office of Professional Preparation & Licensure.

Teacher Education Programs for Licensure

Please note that the links below do not include degree requirements. If you are pursuing a baccalaureate, master’s or doctoral degree, there are other degree requirements, such as general education courses. Please consult with your advisor for specific information. The quick links on the left side of this page go to the undergraduate program pages.

Individuals who have earned a bachelor's degree or higher and wish to complete a Teacher Education Program must submit a Transcript Evaluation Request Form to the Office of Professional Preparation and Licensure. The resulting evaluation will determine the coursework that must be completed.

The following programs are listed according to State licensure. Programs with an asterisk are only available at the graduate level.

Instructional:

Career / Technical Education

Ø Agriculture

Ø Family and Consumer Sciences

Communication Disorders* (Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences) ASHA accredited

Computer Education* (Educational Technology)

Engineering / Technology Education

English as a New Language* (English Language Learning)

Exceptional Needs (Special Education)

Ø The undergraduate program is a dual major with Elementary Education.

Ø Mild Intervention Graduate Major for Initial Licensure*