Teaching Education Degrees in Rhode Island

Teachers in Rhode Island must complete approved training programs and be certified or licensed in the area and/or subject in which they intend to teach. Rhode Island only has a few teaching colleges and universities.

You might consider an online teaching degree program (there are many specializations and availability at all degree levels).

Read on for an overview of some of the schools with teaching degrees in Rhode Island and what they offer in the way of coursework and requirements, as well as specifics on teaching licensure in Rhode Island.

• 47 teaching programs in Rhode Island accredited by CAEP
• 22 CAEP-accredited Bachelor's degrees
• 21 CAEP-accredited Master's degrees in Rhode Island

Rhode Island educators must be certified to be eligible to teach in the public schools. Candidates must have a Bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college and complete a state-approved teacher preparation program.

Requirements to Teach in Rhode Island

The program must include a minimum of 60 hours of experience in the field and student teaching for 12 weeks. The field experience is for every certification area sought. Rhode Island adopted the Praxis series of tests to determine prospective educators who are knowledgeable in content areas and teaching skills.

Candidates take the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching and the Praxis Subject Assessments for areas of endorsement for the subjects they want to teach. There can be no more than a five-year gap between graduation and applying for teaching credentials.

Rhode Island has a tiered licensure system. Qualified first-time teachers receive an Initial Educator Certificate. After completing three years of teaching and earning positive evaluation ratings, they advance to a Professional Educator Certificate. Those with a strong performance record and have a minimum of five years of teaching advance to the highest level, the Advanced Educator Certificate.

Scholarships and Financial Aid Available in Rhode Island for Teachers

Although Rhode Island is among the smaller states, it is just as interested in providing residents educational opportunities as the larger states. There are scholarships and grants developed by the Rhode Island legislature that are designed to help resident students pay for a college education. The Rhode Island Higher Education Assistance Authority administers the state-funded programs. Students fill out and submit the FAFSAbefore applying for state-supported financial aid.

The Rhode Island State Grant Program provides financial support when a student's family does not have the resources to pay for post-secondary education. The Rhode Island Academic Promise Program offers financial assistance for high school seniors with financial need.

Many Rhode Island scholarships are based on where candidates live. An example of non-government funded scholarships is the Patty & Melvin Alperin First Generation Scholarship. High school seniors whose parents are not college graduates. It is a renewable scholarship for those in financial need.

Requirements to Qualify for In-State Tuition

Because Rhode Island is the smallest state in the U.S., it does not have many colleges. The schools that are there differ significantly in their interpretation of state law that governs in-state status. The law states that non-resident students who reach the age of 18 while a student in Rhode Island do not become resident students by that fact alone.

The ownership of personal or real property and payment of municipal and state taxes or marriage to a resident of Rhode Island does not establish residency alone. The parents or guardians of emancipated 18 year-olds must surrender the right to earnings, custody, and care of the students.

They cannot claim the student as a dependent on tax returns for two years. The parents or guardians cannot provide financial assistance. The income of the student from a governmental or private agency that furnishes education assistance such as loans or scholarships does not account for independent financial income. If any of the above occurs, the student is considered un-emancipated.

List of the Best CAEP Accredited Teaching Degrees in Rhode Island

Rhode Island College

Providence

CAEP

• Bachelors in B.S. in Special Education (Mild Moderate Disability Elem./Middle) CEC
• Bachelors in B.S. in Special Education (Mild/Moderate Disability Middle/Secondary CEC
• Bachelors in B.S. in Special Education (Severe/Profound) CEC
• Masters in Early Childhood Advanced NAEYC
• Bachelors in Early Childhood Education (BA) NAEYC
• Bachelors in Elementary Education (BA) ACEI
• Masters in Elementary Education (MAT) ACEI
• Bachelors in English Language Arts (BA) NCTE
• Masters in English Language Arts (MAT) NCTE
• Bachelors in Health Education (BS) AAHE
• Bachelors in History (BA) NCSS
• Masters in History (MAT) NCSS
• Masters in M. Ed. Special Education (Mild Moderate Middle/Secondary Disability) CEC
• Masters in M.Ed. Special Education (Mild Moderate Disability Elementary/Middle) CEC
• Masters in M.Ed. Special Education (Severe/Profound) CEC
• Masters in M.Ed. Urban Multicultural Special Education CEC
• Masters in M.Ed. Urban Multicultural Special Education TESOL
• Bachelors in Mathematics (BA) NCTM
• Masters in Mathematics (MAT) NCTM
• Bachelors in Physical Education (BS) NASPE
• Masters in Reading ILA
• Specialist or C.A.S. in School Psychology NASP
• Specialist or C.A.S. in School Psychology NASP
• Bachelors in Social Studies NCSS
• Masters in Special Education (Early Childhood) CEC
• Masters in Teaching English as a Second Language TESOL
• Bachelors in Technology Education (BS) ITEEA/CTTE

University of Rhode Island

Kingston

CAEP

• Bachelors in Early Childhood Education NAEYC
• Endorsement only in Early Childhood Education TCP NAEYC
• Bachelors in Elementary Education ACEI
• Masters in Elementary Education TCP ACEI
• Bachelors in Health Education AAHE
• Bachelors in Physical Education NASPE
• Masters in Reading ILA
• Masters in School Library Media ALA
• Specialist or C.A.S. in School Psychology NASP
• Bachelors in Secondary Education Foreign Language ACTFL
• Masters in Secondary Education Foreign Language TCP ACTFL
• Bachelors in Secondary Education Math NCTM
• Masters in Secondary Education Mathematics TCP NCTM
• Bachelors in Secondary Education Science NSTA
• Masters in Secondary Education Science TCP NSTA
• Bachelors in Secondary Education Social Studies NCSS
• Masters in Secondary Education Social Studies TCP NCSS
• Bachelors in Secondary English Education NCTE
• Bachelors in Secondary English Education TCP NCTE
• Masters in Special Education Elementary CEC

Online Teacher Degrees in Rhode Island

Online teaching degree programs in Rhode Island are very rare. University of Rhode Island offers online courses but doesn’t currently offer online degree programs in teaching. Consider reviewing all online teaching degrees.

Teacher Certification & Specializations

Johnson & Wales has a doctoral degree program in educational leadership. Students learn how to perform research and complete projects using skills developed through practical experiences. This program has weekend classes and requires students to complete a research-based dissertation. The University of Rhode Island has certification programs in elementary special education (grades 1-6) and secondary special education (grades 7-12) with additional certifications in specific subjects (English, math, social studies, etc.).

URI has a M.A. teacher certification program for bachelor degree holders interested in obtaining teaching certification and a master’s degree. URI also offers certification extensions in middle school teaching and English as a second language. These certifications can be obtained by choosing specific majors (mathematics, biology, English, etc.) while in the undergraduate programs.

Bachelor’s in Education Degrees

Brown University has a 5-year M.A.T. program for teaching undergraduates interested in earning a master degree in teaching. Students can choose to enroll in the elementary programs or the secondary education (7-12) option, which allows students to choose from English, science or history/social studies.

The University of Rhode Island offers a few different options for students pursuing undergraduate studies. URI’s programs focus around elementary, secondary, early childhood, music and physical education. The early childhood program leads to a bachelor degree in human development and family studies and a pre-grade 2 certification. The elementary education results in a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with an arts and science certification.

The secondary education program offers a Bachelor of Arts degree with concentrations in English, science, history, biology, mathematics and physics, among others. Graduates of the physical education and music major can teach those subjects to grades K-12. The bachelor degree teaching programs at Roger Williams University offer students the chance to not only be certified in that specific field but also in additional areas.

For instance, a student in the elementary education program may earn an endorsement in middle school teaching or a secondary education student may also earn certification in dance education. Students must complete practicum courses, internships and student teaching to be eligible for certification. RWU offers baccalaureate studies in elementary education, educational studies and secondary education. Salve Regina University also offers teaching baccalaureate programs.

Master’s in Education Degrees

Brown University offers three options in graduate studies. They offer masters in elementary education, secondary education or urban education policy. These programs can be completed in one year. The secondary education program offers concentrations in history/social studies, English or science. The literacy program at Roger Williams University is the only master degree teaching program at that school.

Johnson & Wales University has a Master of Education in Teaching and Learning program that consists of six courses and a capstone course. Classes for this program are offered in the evenings. Courses include assessment for learning; monitoring and managing student learning; exploration of teaching and learning; and standards, curriculum and instructional design.

URI offers Master of Arts degrees in education, reading, and special education. Students in the education program can choose elementary, secondary, reading or adult education as their area of focus.