Teaching Education Degrees in Iowa

According to the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners, teachers must have at least a bachelor's degree and must complete a teacher preparation program. In addition, the teacher must meet endorsement requirements and complete a human relations component.

Iowa also has about five different levels of licensure. The National Center for Education Statistics indicates that there are more than 30 accredited colleges or universities that offer education programs to help aspiring teachers reach their goals. View the many available options below.

• 11 teaching programs in Iowa accredited by CAEP
• 11 CAEP-accredited Bachelor's degrees
• Consider an Online M.Ed., as there are 0 CAEP-accredited Master's degrees in Iowa

Iowa requires teachers to have a Bachelor's degree and completion of an approved teacher education program from an accredited institution. Applicants must take the Praxis Subject Assessments in the subject(s) that will be taught.

Requirements to Teach in Iowa

The Praxis Principles of Teaching and Learning is sometimes required. There is a recency requirement that a candidate has taken a minimum of six college credit hours within the five years before applying for the teaching certificate.

Scholarships/Financial Aid Available

Iowa Student Loan is a nonprofit resource for college funds. They offer

• Private student loans
• Refinance loans
• Scholarships

The Partnership Advance Education Loan is provided to Iowa students who need more than savings, financial aid, and other income to fund college. Options include loans with a fixed annual percentage rate and variable annual percentage rate. The applicant has the choice of repaying the loan immediately, on interest-only, or a deferred payment option.

For those family members, parents, and others who want to help students with college costs, a private College Family Loan is offered. It has a fixed annual rate with the same repayment options. Scholarships are also offered. They include:

• Thirty $2000 scholarships for students scoring highest on an assessment
• Ten $1000 scholarships for Iowa students, parents, or guardians, who use an online tool to project college costs over a four-year time frame based on a single-year award package for financial aid
• Five $1000 Come 2 Iowa scholarships for high school seniors expressing a desire to come to Iowa for college from Wisconsin, South Dakota, Nebraska, Missouri, Minnesota, or Illinois

Requirements to Qualify for In-State Tuition

The annual difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition is substantial. Financial aid, including scholarships and grants that require being dependent on someone else for tax purposes or an out-of-state resident, generally disqualifies a student from establishing residency. There are exceptions for accepting specific awards during the domicile period that have to be surrendered when the in-state status is earned.

Iowa State University is less strict than the University of Iowa regarding in-state residency. However, it is not a simple formality. There are obstacles. In-State Angles can help select students plan a strategy. Candidates

• Need to be committed to living in Iowa
• Sever all ties with another state
• Be in Iowa with limited absences, especially during academic breaks
• Willing to attend school at least part-time during a one-year domicile period
• Work in Iowa during free time
• Have a degree of independence that proves the candidate pays over half of his or her way

List of the Best CAEP Accredited Teaching Degrees in Iowa

Ashford University

Clinton

CAEP

• Bachelors in Elementary Education ACEI
• Bachelors in Social Science: Secondary Education NCSS

Graceland University

Lamoni

CAEP

• Bachelors in Elementary Education ACEI
• Bachelors in English Language Arts NCTE
• Bachelors in Mathematics Education NCTM

Luther College

Decorah

CAEP

• Bachelors in Elementary Education ACEI
• Bachelors in English Education (Secondary ED) NCTE
• Bachelors in Health Education AAHE
• Bachelors in Middle School AMLE
• Bachelors in Science Education (Secondary ED) NSTA

Northwestern College

Orange City

CAEP

• Bachelors in Elementary Education ACEI

There are several options for online teaching degrees in Iowa, including some intriguing options.

There are a number of Master’s in teaching programs offered online and multiple universities, including a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership, Master of Arts in Education with the educational leadership emphasis, a Talented and Gifted endorsement, a certificate in online teaching and a certificate in teaching English as a second language.

Bachelor’s in Education Programs in Iowa

Students seeking initial certification and licensure as teachers typically complete a bachelor’s degree program. There are various options in bachelor degree programs at many Iowa schools, including Briar Cliff University, Clark University, Iowa State University, University of Dubuque, and Mount Mercy University. Some of the majors these schools offer are elementary education, secondary education, k-12 programs, early childhood education and special education.

The elementary education major at Briar Cliff includes courses in teaching elementary science, management and instruction, physical science, American history, student teaching in the elementary school and introduction to learning as well as a practicum course and student teaching. This particular program comes with a reading k-8 endorsement. ISO also offers teacher preparation programs for students who have non-teaching degrees. Students in ISU’s secondary education program will earn licenses as grade 5-12 teachers. University of Dubuque offers bachelor degree programs in elementary education, secondary education, health education teaching and physical education teaching (k-12).

Master’s in Education Degrees in Iowa

Clark University offers a Master of Arts in Education that includes theory and practice. This program is for licensed teachers to advance their education without seeking administrative positions. Iowa State University offers several master degree teaching programs for teachers who already hold bachelor degrees but wish to enhance their resume and earning potentials.

Graduate programs at ISU include educational administration, social and cultural studies in education, teaching and learning, and higher education. These programs include coursework and clinical experiences. Saint Ambrose University offers master degree programs in early childhood education, educational administration, speech-language pathology and teaching. The University of Iowa offers master degree programs in educational policy and leadership studies; educational leadership; higher education and student affairs; schools, culture and society; and school curriculum and assessment policy.

The Master of Arts in Education with the educational leadership emphasis at Clark University is offered online or as part of the 4+1 program, which allows students to earn the bachelor’s degree and immediately enter the one-year master degree program. Saint Ambrose University offers an online Master of Education in Teaching program that requires completion of 32-39 credit hours.

Iowa Teacher Certification & Specializations

In addition to the available degrees, Clark University also offers endorsements (certifications) in reading, special education, middle school teaching and coaching. ISU offers endorsements in many areas including coaching interscholastic athletics, English and language arts, English as a second language, Chinese, general science, mathematics and social sciences, among others.

ISU has 13 undergraduate licensure programs as well as graduate certificates in areas like community college teaching, literacy coaching, superintendent and special education. University of Iowa offers endorsement programs in educational leadership licensure for both principals and superintendents. UI also offers a variety of teacher preparation programs at the baccalaureate, master and doctoral degree levels.