teacher education
The classroom is your Calling
Think about the teachers who’ve made a lasting impression on you. The ones who made learning fun. Who piqued your curiosity and set you on a quest for knowledge. Who helped you build confidence. Who believed in you. You can be that teacher. And your path to teaching begins at Oregon State.
Great teachers start by being great learners, and you will be one at Oregon State University. We offer a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs to prepare teachers, counselors, community college administrators and other education leaders.
And as an Oregon State graduate, you’ll join an outstanding group of award-winning teachers, principals, superintendents, college faculty and administrators — people who are making a difference in students’ lives and strengthening communities.
Teachers make the future. You can make it brighter.
Curriculum
Your First Year
Internships
Your dream career can start at Oregon State.
Whether you’re entering the classroom to teach or to learn, you should have a plan in mind. If you’re looking to teach, you’ll want to pursue a strong and varied academic program to prepare for your journey as an educator. If you want to teach at the middle or high school level, you will take courses in the subject area you want to teach.
There are many paths to becoming a teacher. We’ll help you find yours.
Elementary Education
Oregon State’s Elementary Education degree will help you acquire the skills and experience you need for a successful career as an elementary school teacher. Our program focuses on research-based and classroom-tested instructional methods and strategies, child development, emerging technologies, the multicultural classroom and mastering elementary education content. After completing the program, you will be qualified to apply for a teaching license in grades K-5. Oregon State’s Elementary Education degree is available in Corvallis, OSU-Cascades in Bend and online via Ecampus. Talk to an advisor to discuss the best pathway for you.
Secondary Education
The Secondary Education degree is offered in Corvallis and will prepare you to teach at the middle school or high school level, and upon graduation, you’ll be eligible to apply for a teaching license in grades 6-12. You can choose any one of the following secondary teaching endorsement areas, and a dual degree in the area you want to teach is encouraged so you can gain in-depth knowledge.
- Advanced Mathematics
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Family and Consumer Sciences
- Foundational Mathematics
- Health
- Integrated Science
- Language Arts (English)
- Physics
- Social Studies
Oregon State also offers graduate-level programs in agriculture, elementary education, language arts, mathematics, music, science and social studies and physical education (various campuses). Through the College of Education, you may elect to pursue English for Speakers of Other Languages or Dual Language Specialization (Spanish) endorsements along with your primary subject area.
Give your career a head start.
Oregon State offers a resource-rich environment that encourages you to take advantage of opportunities like the Honors College and study abroad programs. You’ll find challenging, unique experiences that support your academic, professional and personal growth — and have fun, too. You’ll even have opportunities to work with public school students through multiple classes and volunteer programs.
Multiple scholarships are available. Be sure to apply.
Get some help paying for college with a variety of university-wide and departmental scholarships. Most scholarships are awarded based on information in the Oregon State application, but others require separate applications, such as our OSU ScholarDollars portal.
In addition, the College of Education has an extensive scholarship program. The deadline to apply for university scholarships is Feb. 1. Be sure to check with your college and department on the deadlines for other scholarships.
Good teachers know how to listen, learn, and lead. Some ideas to get started:
- Experience counts. Get a job in an after-school club, volunteer to coach, read to children in a library, work as a youth counselor for an
outdoor school, serve as a tutor or teacher’s aide, or join other activities where you can gain experience working with children and teens. - Diversify your knowledge. Gain insight about other cultures, countries and languages. Study a language so you can communicate
more effectively with students and parents as a teacher. - Develop your leadership skills. Join leadership or student government, start a club, organize a community fundraiser or participate in school-wide activities.
- Stay curious — about everything. Teachers may be called upon to teach reading, math, languages, science and art. Middle and high school teachers usually teach only one or two subjects, but you should participate in activities that build your knowledge about the subjects that interest you most.
- Learn from your favorite teachers. Find out what they like about their job, what challenges they face and what advice they can offer to help you prepare for your career.