Teaching Education Degrees in Hawaii

To work as a teacher in Hawaii, you must complete undergraduate coursework, an approved teaching certification program and standardized testing.

Hawaii has three levels of certification for teaching: provisional license, standard license and advanced licensed. The 3-year provisional license is for Hawaii teachers that have completed approved teaching programs.

• 17 teaching programs in Hawaii accredited by CAEP
• 9 CAEP-accredited Bachelor's degrees
• 5 CAEP-accredited Master's degrees in Hawaii

The standard license is for teachers from other states or who have work experience in other states. The advanced license is for teachers that have completed graduate teaching programs or have obtained the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certificate.

Below are online and further down Hawaii colleges and universities and some of the programs they offer.

Requirements to Teach in Hawaii

As with all states, teachers in Hawaii must have a Bachelor's degree and participate in a state-approved program for teacher preparation. The Hawaii Teacher Standards Board oversees the credentialing procedures. There is no specific list of courses and credit hours demanded by the state. Each university or college has requirements for its teacher preparation program.

Along with the completion of the appropriate undergraduate coursework, standardized tests and an accredited certification program are required. Standardized tests are Praxis Subject Exams for the appropriate grade level and subject the students wish to teach.

There are three types of licenses issued in Hawaii. Graduates of a Hawaii State Approved Teacher Education Program are issued a nonrenewable 3-year Provisional License. A Standard License is available to applicants who are approved that have degrees or teaching licenses from another state or who taught outside Hawaii three out of the previous five years. Those who received National Board for Professional Teaching Standards or completed a graduate degree qualify for the Advanced License.

Scholarships/Financial Aid Available

Can you imagine any place better to get a college education than in Hawaii? Students want to look into scholarships to cut down on student loan debt after graduation. Those who are from Hawaii may seek scholarships from local colleges as an option. Other options include:

• Hawaii Community Foundation Scholarships have over 170 different funds. Each award has specific eligibility criteria. Most require applicants to be Hawaii state residents, plan to attend a two- or four-year approved university or college, undergraduate or graduate full-time student status, and a minimum GPA of 2.7
• Hawaii Education Association Student Teacher Scholarship- The Helen MacKay family and HEA established a Student Teacher Scholarship that minimizes the need to be employed during the semester in which students do their student teaching. Two $3000 scholarships are awarded to students who intend to teach for the Hawaii State Department of Education. Applicants must be full-time students in a State Approved Teacher Education Program.

Requirements to Qualify for In-State Tuition

Earning in-state residency is within reach for many students. It requires dedication, desire, and proof. Proving financial independence is medium to hard in difficulty. Due to the economy and geography of Hawaii, establishing domicile is complicated.

To qualify, bona fide residency for at least a calendar year before the semester of desired in-state tuition is required. The parents of those under 18-years-old must be bona fide residents during the calendar year requirement. The biggest obstacle is demonstrating the primary purpose of living in Hawaii is not education. Students must be willing to take a "productive" gap-year to qualify.

Hawaii is a member of the Western Undergraduate Exchange that has a limited agreement of reciprocity among select Western States. Hawaii universities differ in their interpretation of state laws. Check qualifications on an institution by institution basis to avoid thinking qualification for in-state status has been met, only to find out a year was spent in vain.

List of the Best CAEP Accredited Teaching Degrees in Hawaii

University of Hawai'i at Manoa

Honolulu

CAEP

• Bachelors in Early Childhood BEd NAEYC
• Bachelors in Elementary and Special Education CEC
• Bachelors in Elementary BEd ACEI
• Masters in MEdT Elementary Education ACEI
• Post Bachelors in MEdT IL/PB (Secondary English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies) IL/PB
• Bachelors in Physical Education, BEd NASPE
• Bachelors in Secondary English, BEd NCTE
• Masters in Secondary English, PBCSE NCTE
• Bachelors in Secondary Mathematics, BEd NCTM
• Masters in Secondary Mathematics, PBCSE NCTM
• Bachelors in Secondary Science BEd NSTA
• Masters in Secondary Science, PBCSE NSTA
• Post Bachelors in Special Education, Severe/Autism, PBSPED CEC
• Bachelors in World Languages BEd ACTFL
• Post Bachelors in World Languages PCERT ACTFL

University of Hawaii - West O'ahu

Kapolei

CAEP

• Bachelors in Elementary Teacher Education ACEI

University of Phoenix - Hawaii

Honolulu

CAEP

• Masters in Master of Arts in Education/Special Education (MAED/SPE) CEC

Bachelor’s in Education Programs in Hawaii

Brigham Young University in Hawaii specializes in baccalaureate programs aimed at students needing initial certification or wanting to focus on a specific subject matter. BYU offers bachelor degrees in education, elementary education, mathematics, secondary education, biology, music and teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL). Many of these programs also offer concentrations is specific areas such as physical education, social science, art education, biology education, chemistry education and mathematics education.

Hawaii Pacific University has a Bachelor of Education in Elementary Education program that includes 140 hours of fieldwork experience and 450 hours of student teacher. This 4-year program prepares students to teach grades K-6. A bachelor degree in teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) is also available at Hawaii Pacific University. Chaminade University offers a Bachelor of Science in elementary education as well as several online programs.

Master’s in Education Programs in Hawaii

Argosy University is a college that specializes in graduate teaching programs. Their offerings include Master of Arts programs in School Counseling and Educational Psychology as well as Master of Arts in Education with specializations in educational administration; teaching & learning: integrated concentration; and curriculum & instruction.

Hawaii Pacific University has Master of Education programs in both elementary education and secondary education. HPU also offers a master degree in TESOL. Chaminade University has a Master of Arts in Teaching with concentrations in elementary education, secondary education, special education and early childhood education. Each of these programs includes licensure, but students must have passing scores on the Praxis tests. CU’s Master of Education programs has concentrations in instructional leadership, child development, educational leadership and Montessori emphasis.

Hawaii Teaching Certification & Specializations

Argosy University offers several educational doctoral degree programs in areas like curriculum & instruction; higher and postsecondary education; and teaching and learning. They also offer a school psychology certification program. Chaminade University has an associate degree program in early childhood education that’s good for students who want to get general education courses out of the way prior to enrolling in a bachelor’s degree program. The University of Hawaii at Manoa has post-baccalaureate and graduate certificates offered both on campus and online.