In addition to the ongoing need for K-12 teachers, there is a growing need for trained education, counseling, and human relations professionals.
The field of education provides abundant career opportunities. In addition to the ongoing demand for K-12 teachers, there is a growing need for trained education, counseling, and human relations professionals.
The College of Education offers the following undergraduate programs:
A degree in Elementary Education prepares students for licensure to teach Kindergarten through Grade 6 and includes opportunities to specialize in additional teaching areas (added endorsements) for Kindergarten through Grade 8.
Students who plan to teach at the secondary level must complete requirements for two bachelor degrees: a bachelor of arts from the College of Education and a bachelor degree from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences with a major in the primary subject they want to teach. Majors offered are:
Elementary and secondary options for specialization (added endorsements) include reading, mathematics, physical education, Social Sciences (5-12), and special education, as well as programs for athletic coach (K-12), English as a second language (K-12), middle school (5-8), and talented and gifted (PK-12). Additional education or content area courses and/or field experiences may be required.
Science Studies majors gain substantial knowledge in two or more science subjects: biology, chemistry, physics, or earth science. Courses provide experience in the application of scientific knowledge to education and society, and students learn about cultural, historical, and philosophical perspectives on science. Teacher Education Program admission is not required.
The College of Education's Bachelor of Arts major in Counseling and Behavioral Health Services (CBHS) advances training and introduces students to the world of counseling and the helping professions. The major prepares undergraduate students for entry-level, non-licensure positions in the behavioral health workforce, and provides a strong foundation that can be applied toward counseling/mental health related graduate studies.
This multidisciplinary major prepares students who do not wish to pursue K-12 classroom teaching for a career in education or counseling-related fields. The program provides strong academic preparation, including critical-thinking and interpersonal communication skills, for a wide variety of education-related careers or graduate study.
Course work for elementary education and secondary-level majors includes one semester of student teaching as well as pre-student teaching field experiences in schools.
All Education students must satisfy the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences GE Core general education requirements.
View the minor in educational psychology (Department of Psychological and Quantitative Foundations) and the minor in human relations (Department of Rehabilitation and Counselor Education) in the UI General Catalog to learn more.
With the College of Education's 10:1 student to faculty ratio, Iowa students enjoy a Big Ten university experience with a small-college feel. Faculty are on a first-name basis with students and our program provides an enriched learning environment that celebrates diversity.
The College of Education is ranked as the No. 1 college of education in Iowa and No. 30 in best education schools nationally, according to U.S. News & World Report .
We are Iowa's STEM leader. Our teachers graduate with a degree in their subject area, making them content experts. We offer a 4+1 program that allows students to graduate in five years with both a bachelor degree in mathematics, biology, chemistry, earth and environmental science, geoscience, physics, or other science major, and the Master of Arts in Teaching.
Because Iowa is home to the world-renowned Iowa Testing Programs, the Belin-Blank Center for Gifted Education, and the Iowa Reading Research Center, our students have hands-on experience with and learn to excel in assessment, giftedness, and reading literacy.
The Baker Teacher Leader Center provides professional development in critical areas such as special education, multilingual education, social-emotional-behavioral mental health, advanced academics and talent development, global education, dyslexia intervention, and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts/design, and math).
Our graduates go on to become world-class leaders, scholars, and innovators in many different facets of education and the helping professions, from teaching to design of learning technologies and educational solutions, educational administration, counseling, higher education and student development, and measurement and testing.
Admission RequirementsElementary Education
First-year students are admitted to the Elementary Education major if they meet the admission requirements of the College of Education.
Students who were admitted to Elementary Education as first-year applicants complete Teacher Education Program application requirements as part of their first two semesters of coursework.
Secondary Education
First-year students who would like to teach in secondary schools (grades 5-12 or K-12) apply to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences for a major in the main subject they would like to teach (for example, Biology, or Spanish) and "secondary education interest" as a second major. Students may apply to the Teacher Education Program and education major (for example, Science Education, or World Language Education) when they have earned 30 semester hours of credit and completed prerequisite courses.
Direct Admission to Music Education: First-year students who want to become music teachers apply to "music interest" as their first major, and "secondary education interest" as a second major. They complete a supplemental application and audition for the School of Music. Students who are admitted and who have a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher may be offered early admission to Music Education. Students who are offered early admission apply to the Teacher Education Program -- requiring 10 hours of pre-admission school field experience and an essay -- in their first semester. Students who do not gain early admission may apply to the TEP later, as described under Secondary Education.
Counseling and Behavioral Health Services
Direct Admission is designed for first-year students applying to Iowa for the fall semester. Applicants who present an ACT composite score of 21 or higher (waived for Fall 2024 and Spring 2025) and a final high school GPA of at least 3.0 are eligible for Direct Admission into the Counseling and Behavioral Health Services major.
Regular Admission is available to students who have completed a minimum of 12 s.h. of graded course work at the University of Iowa and who have a UI cumulative GPA of at least 2.50.
Education Studies and Human Relations
First-year students with ACT composite score of 21 or higher (waived for students entering Fall 2024 or Spring 2025) and a final high school GPA of at least 3.00 are eligible for Direct Admission to Education Studies and Human Relations . First-year students who do not meet requirements for admission to the major may declare Education Studies and Human Relations Interest in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and later apply for Regular Admission to the major.
Regular Admission is available to students who have completed a minimum of 12 s.h. of graded course work at the University of Iowa and who have a UI Cumulative GPA of at least 2.50.
