Teaching Education Degrees in Louisiana

An individual can become a licensed teacher in Louisiana in one of two ways. One way is to complete a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science teaching program with an area of certification, complete 180 hours of teaching experience and an internship. The second way is to complete any type of bachelor degree program and a teacher preparation program or a master degree teaching program.

Regardless of which path an individual wishes to take, Louisiana has various teaching schools from which to choose. Louisiana Students may apply to TOPS (Taylor Opportunity Program for Students), a program that provides scholarships to Louisiana residents enrolled in certain colleges.

• 120 teaching programs in Louisiana accredited by CAEP
• 66 CAEP-accredited Bachelor's degrees
• 39 CAEP-accredited Master's degrees in Louisiana

There are certifications in early childhood education, English language learners and mid-moderate special education at Louisiana Universities. The add-on programs are for licensed teachers that want to add another certification to their teaching credentials.

There are also multiple alternative certification-only programs for people with non-teaching bachelor degrees that want to be certified in a specific area of teaching. The options offered are elementary education 1-5, health and physical education k-12, and secondary education 6-12. LTU offers a Master of Education program that acts as an alternative certification program for individuals who have non-teaching degrees.

Requirements to Teach in Louisiana

Standardized tests and specific undergraduate coursework must be completed to earn Louisiana teaching credentials. There are three teacher certification levels in Louisiana. Level 1 is a Professional Certificate, valid for three years.

Level 2 is a Professional Certificate that is issued to teachers who have three years of experience and pass the LaTAAP (Louisiana Teacher Assistance and Assessment Program) and two years of assessment and mentoring that evaluates classroom management skills and knowledge of the subject matter taught. It is renewable every five years.

Those who complete a Master's degree and all the criteria stated in Level 2 are issued a Level 3 Professional Certificate. There are several routes to obtain a Practitioner License that allows teachers to work in the classroom for as many as three years while completing an approved licensing program. It has an annual renewal.

The Practitioner Teacher Program includes the combination of 24-33 credit hours with full-time teaching. A Master's Degree Alternative Certification Program requires 33-42 credit hours that is combined with teaching. A Certificate-Only Program is completed online or face-to-face. It requires 80 contact hours of training in classroom readiness but no full-time commitment.

Scholarships/Financial Aid Available

Start with the FAFSA. It provides information about federal loans, grants, and assistance programs for which a student qualifies and how much must come from private lending institutions. Scholarships are the best means of supplementing a financial aid package.

Many are based on an intended field of study, community service, and financial need. Federal aid is available through grant programs, student loans programs, and work-study programs. The Stafford Loans offered through federal funding have a lower interest rate than private loans.

One of the scholarships for Louisiana prospective teachers is the NAJA Graduate Scholarly Program. The National Associates of Junior Auxiliaries have a particular emphasis on children. Candidates for the award

• Work or plan to with children directly
• Pursue graduate-level studies in fields that address special needs of children
• U. S. citizens and permanent Louisiana residents
• Plan to attend a U.S. university or college part- or full-time

Requirements to Qualify for In-State Tuition

Louisiana grants in-state tuition status to active-duty military or Veterans seeking attendance at any Louisiana public university or college. For others, the crux at Louisiana universities is the need to prove domicile in Louisiana for other purposes than going to school.

It requires having a full-time job in Louisiana in the domicile year. There is no wiggle room in this absolute requirement. Students can attend part- or full-time as long as they hold a full-time job while doing so. There is a benefit to taking a gap-year that avoids any out-of-state tuition.

There are more nuances, intimacies, and details of the process. Each university has independent interpretations of state law regarding residency. Those unable or unwilling to be a full-time employee during the domicile year are wasting their time applying for in-state tuition from any institution. Louisiana is an Academic Common Market member that has a limited agreement of reciprocity with the select Southern States. It is sometimes possible to obtain favorable college tuition rates from nearby states.

List of the Best CAEP Accredited Teaching Degrees in Louisiana

Grambling State University

Grambling

CAEP

• Bachelors in Early Childhood (PK-3) NAEYC
• Bachelors in Elementary (1-5) ACEI
• Masters in Reading Specialist ILA
• Bachelors in Social Studies (6-12) NCSS
• Bachelors in Special Education CEC
• Masters in Special Education: Mild/Moderate Disabilities (6-12) CEC
• Masters in Special Education: Mild/Moderate Disablities (1-5) CEC

Louisiana State University and A&M College

Baton Rouge

CAEP

• Bachelors in Biology (6-12) NSTA
• Bachelors in Chemistry (6-12) NSTA
• Bachelors in Early Childhood (PK-3) NAEYC
• Masters in Educational Leadership (School Building Leadership Level) ELCC
• Bachelors in Elementary (1-5) ACEI
• Bachelors in English (6-12) NCTE
• Bachelors in Health & Physical Education (K-12) NASPE
• Bachelors in Mathematics (6-12) NCTM
• Bachelors in Physics (6-12) NSTA
• Bachelors in Social Studies (6-12) NCSS

Louisiana State University at Alexandria

Alexandria

CAEP

• Bachelors in Elementary (1-5) ACEI
• Post Bachelors in Elementary (1-5) (Certification Only) ACEI
• Bachelors in English (6-12) NCTE
• Post Bachelors in English (6-12) (Certification Only) NCTE
• Bachelors in Social Studies (6-12) NCSS
• Post Bachelors in Social Studies (6-12) (Certification Only) NCSS

Louisiana State University in Shreveport

Shreveport

CAEP

• Bachelors in Science Education - Secondary NSTA
• Bachelors in Social Studies (6-12) NCSS
• Post Bachelors in Social Studies (6-12) (Certification Only) NCSS

Louisiana Tech University

Ruston

CAEP

• Masters in Early Childhood (PK-3) NAEYC
• Bachelors in Early Childhood Education (PK-3) NAEYC
• Masters in Educational Leadership (School Building Leadership Level) ELCC
• Masters in Elementary (1-5) ACEI
• Bachelors in Elementary Education (1-5) ACEI
• Bachelors in English (6-12) NCTE
• Masters in English (6-12) NCTE
• Bachelors in Health & Physical Education (K-12) NASPE
• Bachelors in Social Studies (6-12) NCSS
• Masters in Social Studies (6-12) NCSS
• Masters in Special Education: Mild/Moderate Disabilities (1-5) CEC
• Bachelors in Special Education: Mild/Moderate Disablities (1-5) CEC

McNeese State University

Lake Charles

CAEP

• Bachelors in Early Childhood (PK-3) NAEYC
• Post Bachelors in Early Childhood (PK-3) (Certification Only) NAEYC
• Specialist or C.A.S. in Educational Leadership ELCC
• Masters in Educational Leadership (School Building Level Leadership) ELCC
• Masters in Educational Technology Leadership ISTE
• Bachelors in Elementary (1-5) ACEI
• Post Bachelors in Elementary (1-5) (Certification Only) ACEI
• Bachelors in English (6-12) NCTE
• Masters in Master of Art in Teaching - Elementary ACEI
• Bachelors in Mathematics (6-12) NCTM
• Bachelors in Social Studies (6-12) NCSS

Nicholls State University

Thibodaux

CAEP

• Masters in Early Childhood (PK-3) NAEYC
• Masters in Educational Technology Leadership ISTE
• Bachelors in Elementary (1-5) ACEI
• Post Bachelors in Elementary (1-5) (Certification Only) ACEI
• Bachelors in English (6-12) NCTE
• Post Bachelors in English (6-12) (Certification Only) NCTE
• Bachelors in Health and Physical Education (K-12) NASPE
• Specialist or C.A.S. in School Psychologist NASP
• Post Bachelors in Secondary Social Studies post-bacc NCSS
• Bachelors in Social Studies (6-12) NCSS
• Bachelors in Special Education: Early Interventionist (B-5) NAEYC

Northwestern State University of Louisiana

Natchitoches

CAEP

• Masters in Academically Gifted NAGC
• Bachelors in Early Childhood (PK-3) NAEYC
• Masters in Early Childhood (PK-3) NAEYC
• Masters in Educational Leadership (School Building Leadership Level) ELCC
• Masters in Educational Technology Leadership ISTE
• Bachelors in Elementary (1-5) ACEI
• Bachelors in English (6-12) NCTE
• Bachelors in Social Studies Education (Revised) NCSS
• Masters in Special Education: Mild to Moderate Disabilities (4-8) CEC

Southeastern Louisiana University

Hammond

CAEP

• Masters in Academically Gifted CEC
• Bachelors in Dual Certification – General Science NSTA
• Bachelors in Early Childhood (PK-3) NAEYC
• Masters in Educational Leadership: School Building Leadership Level ELCC
• Bachelors in Elementary (1-5) ACEI
• Masters in Elementary Education MAT ACEI
• Bachelors in English (6-12) NCTE
• Bachelors in Foreign Language ACTFL
• Bachelors in Health & Physical Education (K-12) NASPE
• Masters in M.Ed.: Special Education CEC
• Bachelors in Middle School Education AMLE
• Bachelors in Social Studies (6-12) NCSS
• Endorsement only in Special Education: Early Interventionist (B-5) CEC
• Masters in Special Education: Educational Diagnostician CEC
• Bachelors in Special Education: Mild/Moderate Disabilities (1-5) CEC
• Masters in Technology Leadership ISTE

Southern University and A&M College

Baton Rouge

CAEP

• Bachelors in English (6-12) NCTE

University of Holy Cross

New Orleans

CAEP

• Bachelors in Elementary Education ACEI

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Lafayette

CAEP

• Masters in Academically Gifted NAGC
• Bachelors in Early Childhood (PK-3) NAEYC
• Masters in Educational Leadership (School Building Leadership Level) ELCC
• Bachelors in Elementary (1-5) ACEI
• Bachelors in English (6-12) NCTE
• Bachelors in Health & Physical Education (K-12) NASPE
• Bachelors in Mathematics (6-12) NCTM
• Bachelors in Middle School AMLE
• Bachelors in Secondary Science NSTA
• Bachelors in Social Studies (6-12) NCSS
• Masters in Special Education: Mild to Moderate Disabilities (1-5) CEC
• Masters in Special Education: Mild to Moderate Disabilities (6-12) CEC

University of Louisiana at Monroe

Monroe

CAEP

• Masters in Educational Leadership (School Building Leadership Level) ELCC
• Bachelors in Elementary (1-5) ACEI
• Masters in Elementary (1-5) ACEI
• Bachelors in English (6-12) NCTE
• Bachelors in Social Studies (6-12) NCSS
• Masters in Special Education: Educational Diagnostician CEC

University of New Orleans

New Orleans

CAEP

• Bachelors in Biology (6-12) NSTA
• Masters in Educational Leadership (School Building Leadership Level) ELCC
• Bachelors in Elementary (1-5) ACEI
• Masters in Elementary (1-5) ACEI
• Bachelors in English (6-12) NCTE
• Masters in English (6-12) NCTE
• Bachelors in Mathematics (6-12) NCTM
• Post Bachelors in Middle School-Science: Alternate Cert Practitioner/Fast Track Program NSTA
• Post Bachelors in Secondary Education, Science: (Biology,Chemistry,Earth Science): Alternate Cert Non Master's Program NSTA
• Post Bachelors in Secondary Education, Science: (Biology,Chemistry,Earth Science): Alternate Cert Practitioner Fast Track Program NSTA
• Bachelors in Social Studies (6-12) NCSS
• Masters in Special Education: Early Interventionist (B-5) CEC
• Bachelors in Special Education: Mild to Moderate Disabilities (1-5) CEC
• Masters in Special Education: Mild to Moderate Disabilities (1-5) CEC
• Masters in Special Education: Mild to Moderate Disabilities (6-12) CEC

Online Teacher Degrees in Louisiana

Although LSU-Alexandria doesn’t have any online teaching programs, they do offers online courses, which can help students complete their general education. Louisiana Tech University has an online add-on adult education certificate as well as Master of Arts programs in both art and history. Northwestern State University of Louisiana offers an online post baccalaureate certification program in practitioner teacher program for elementary grades 1-5, middle school grades 4-8 and secondary grades 6-12.

NSUL also offers a wide variety of online master degree programs. The offerings include master degree programs for early childhood education, elementary education, middle school education, secondary education, special education, and curriculum and instruction. Several Master of Education programs are also offered online at NSUL.

Undegraduate Teaching Programs

Louisiana State University – Alexandria has a bachelor degree program in elementary education. After completing all required coursework, internships and assessment tests, the teacher is prepared to teach grades 1-5. LSU-Alexandria also offers a bachelor degree program in general studies with a focus on kinesiology. Several bachelor degree teaching programs are offered at Louisiana Tech University, including a Bachelor of Science in early childhood education (grades PK-3, elementary education (grades 1-5), and general special education: mild/moderate (grades 1-5).

LTU also has a bachelor degree in secondary education (6-12) that offers concentrations in math and science, biology, business education, English, chemistry, mathematics, social studies, physical education, earth science and business education.

Graduate Teaching Degrees in Louisiana

Louisiana Tech University has three master degree programs including a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction; a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership. The ME in Curriculum and Instruction offers 15 areas of concentration. These include adult education, early childhood education, special education, biology, chemistry, history, English and mathematics, among others. The ME id Educational Leadership offers three areas of concentration.

Master degree programs in kinesiology; and counseling and guidance are also offered at LTU. A variety of master degree programs can be found at Northwestern State University of Louisiana, including master degrees in adult education, counseling, educational leadership, curriculum and instruction, educational technology leadership, educational leadership and instruction, early childhood education and special education.