Be a Teacher - Current Students

The BA in Education is a degree that offers a broad foundation for studying education: history of education, education reform, philosophy and sociology of education, and specific disciplines within teaching. A Bachelor’s in Education can support your post graduation careers such as community educator, trainer at companies, adult education. 

If you are interested in becoming a licensed classroom teacher, you can still major in the BA in Education. However, at UNH, you will need to complete a Masters in Education to be eligible for a teaching license.

You will need to major in the subject that you want to teach. Secondary refers to teaching, in most subjects, in either middle or high school. At UNH, there are some options to complete a Bachelor’s program and become a secondary teacher (Math). There are also options to complete a Bachelor’s program and teach grades Kindergarten through 12^th grade (Health and Physical Education, Music, Theatre, Dance). UNH also offers the Masters of Secondary Education for individuals interested in teaching specific subjects including (but not limited to) Social Studies, English Language Arts, Visual Arts, and Life Sciences. 

UNH has many approved educator preparation programs. An approved educator preparation program is recognized by the New Hampshire Department of Education as meeting the requirements to be eligible for a teaching license. To be eligible for a teaching license, you will need to apply to and be accepted to an approved educator preparation program. Applying to an approved educator preparation program requires (but is not limited to) passing a Basic Academic Skill Assessment such as the Praxis Core or Pearson Essential Academic Skills Subtest and clearance on a Criminal History Records Check. Programs may also have a minimum GPA requirement, recommendations requirements, or personal statements.

The Dual Major in Educational Studies (DMES) requires that you select a primary major and then apply to add a dual major. The dual major requires 32 credits of education or approved coursework. The DMES is a flexible dual major that prepares graduates with a broad foundation of educational studies. Students who have pursued this dual major have continued to the Masters of Education at UNH; taught internationally; entered careers that combine the expertise of their primary major and training in a specific area.

Yes. There are many licensure areas where you can become a teacher with a Bachelor’s degree. You should see the list of the options to become a teacher with a four year degree on the Be A Teacher website (provide link). 

Programs that lead to a teaching license must be approved through the New Hampshire Department of Education. There are some areas for teaching that UNH is approved to offer at the Bachelor’s level, and there are some areas for teaching that UNH is approved at the Master’s level. 

No. You are not required to have a Master’s degree to become a teacher in New Hampshire. However, UNH only offers some licensure areas at the Master’s level. There are some states (Massachusetts for example) where you will need to pursue a Master’s degree within your first few years of teaching.

Yes. Most states recognize other states’ teacher education programs through a verification process. We recommend that you speak to the UNH Education Department for further information about the process for applying for a teaching license in a state other than New Hampshire. 

Yes. The state of New Hampshire requires that you pass a Basic Academic Skills Assessment at the time you apply to a teacher education program. There are additional licensing exams you will be required to take closer to the time of your graduation. These exams are content or subject specific to your licensure area (e.g. Foundations of Reading, Pearson Visual Arts).

This is a program for UNH students who meet the qualifications to start working on Master’s coursework during their senior year. Typically, students apply in the Spring of their Junior year and can take up to 12 dual credits (that count both for undergraduate and graduate credits) during their senior year. Most students who join the accelerated master’s program can complete their Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in 5 years.

Yes. With a Master’s degree you will receive a bump in salary as compared to a Bachelor’s degree. Also, there are some states that require teachers to have earned a Master’s degree within the first few years of teaching (e.g. Massachusetts).