WGU Teachers College: Programs and Requirements for Aspiring Educators

Western Governors University (WGU) Teachers College offers a variety of programs designed to equip aspiring and current educators with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in today's classrooms. With a focus on competency-based education and flexible online learning, WGU provides a unique pathway for individuals seeking to make a difference in the lives of students.

Programs Offered

WGU's Teachers College offers a range of bachelor's and master's degrees tailored to different career goals and experience levels. These programs lead to a teaching license, allow current teachers to add to their licensure, and offer other master's degree programs focused on educational development.

Bachelor's Degrees

A bachelor's degree in education is often the first step toward becoming a licensed teacher. WGU offers various bachelor's programs in education to help students prepare for a career in the classroom. These programs are designed to prepare you for the classroom and ensure you are eligible for obtaining a teaching license in your state.

WGU offers both Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees. B.A. training focuses more on liberal arts, while B.S. training focuses more on sciences.

WGU also offers a Bachelor's in Educational Studies degree program that does NOT lead to a teaching license. Based on your career goals and interests, you can choose an educational studies program in one of 10 content areas that meets your needs while working toward employment in school settings, corporate training, or instructional design.

Read also: ISTE Standards Explained

When pursuing a bachelor's degree with a teaching license, students can choose grade levels and subjects to focus on. Options include elementary education (K-6), secondary education (middle school, junior high, or high school), and early childhood education (preschool or younger students). Elementary education degrees do not require a specific subject specialization, while secondary education degrees typically require a subject specialization such as math, science, or English.

Master's Degrees

For individuals with a bachelor's degree in a non-teaching field, a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) can provide the education licensure needed for classroom credentials. Current teachers can pursue a master's degree to add specialties to their licenses or move into other teaching areas. WGU's online master's programs cater to both currently licensed teachers and those seeking licensure.

WGU's online master’s teaching degree programs can put you in an excellent position to enhance your professional prestige, educational leadership, and earning potential. Earning your master’s degree in education from the Teachers College at Western Governors University helps you secure a better future online, on your schedule, and on your budget.

Special Education Programs

WGU offers special education degree programs designed to prepare teachers to work with students with a range of disabilities and learning needs. These programs include coursework and student teaching opportunities for classroom experience.

If your state offers a single K-12 special education teaching license and you are interested in focusing on teaching students with mild to moderate exceptionalities, consider the B.A. An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring K-12 special education teachers. (Specific grade levels will vary depending on licensure in your state.)

If your state requires-or if you're interested in-dual licensure in both elementary education and K-12 special education, consider the B.A. An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring special education teachers.

Curriculum and Coursework

WGU's Teachers College curriculum is concept- and research-based, grounded in learning science. Coursework is based on cutting-edge research in the field of education, including the Science of Learning, the Science of Reading, online and blended pedagogy, using innovative technologies like AI in education, competency-based education in P-12, and more. The curriculum integrates research-based concepts from the Science of Learning and the Science of Reading.

The elementary education degree programs at WGU will ensure you're ready to impact students, classrooms, and your community.

Students will take professional core courses that will prepare them to handle unique educational situations and become a better teacher. These elementary education courses focus on a variety of important topics including social and emotional learning, and technology and diversity inclusion in the classroom. Plus, you’ll get to use augmented reality experiences for an opportunity to practice your work before entering the classroom.

Featured Courses

WGU offers a wide array of courses designed to equip educators with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the classroom. Here are some examples of courses offered within the Teachers College:

Elementary Literacy Curriculum: This comprehensive course deepens an educator's knowledge of language acquisition and literacy development. It explores the science of reading and writing, phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, and comprehension.
Early Literacy Methods: This course focuses on effective literacy teaching strategies for early elementary students, covering phonemic awareness, language acquisition, and emergent reading and writing skills.
Elementary Literacy Methods: This course reviews the fundamental principles of literacy education through science of reading, but takes a more specialized focus on vocabulary development, reading comprehension, and the deeply complex literacy skills developed in grades 4 to 6.
Foundations of Literacy through Literature: This course explores the use of literature to foster growth in reading, writing, speaking, and listening abilities.
Literacy Assessment and Interventions: This course enhances skills in identifying and addressing literacy challenges, including dyslexia, through multi-tiered systems of support.
Elementary Fine Arts Methods: This course examines best practices for integrating fine arts into the elementary classroom, emphasizing developmentally appropriate and culturally responsive activities.
Elementary Disciplinary Literacy: This course focuses on the unique literacy demands of different academic disciplines, exploring how reading, writing, speaking, and listening are used in each domain.
Elementary Mathematics Curriculum: This course provides essential mathematical concepts for young learners, including numbers, operations, geometry, measurement, data, statistics, and probability.
Early Mathematics Methods and Interventions: This course emphasizes research-based teaching methods for developing mathematical understanding in early elementary grades.
Elementary Mathematics Methods and Interventions: This course focuses on practical strategies for teaching essential mathematical concepts, including number operations, geometry, measurement, and data analysis.
Elementary Science Curriculum: This course provides an in-depth look at the development and implementation of an inquiry-based science curriculum.
Elementary Science and Engineering Methods: This course focuses on the foundational methods of teaching science and engineering concepts, emphasizing hands-on learning.
Elementary Social Studies Curriculum: This course offers an in-depth examination of the key concepts and themes essential for teaching social studies effectively at the elementary level.
Elementary Social Studies Methods: This course delves into the best practices for introducing young learners to the complexities of history, geography, civics, economics, and culture.
Elementary Health and Physical Education Methods: This course provides educators with the knowledge and techniques to deliver effective and comprehensive health and physical education experiences.
Survey of Pacific Northwest History for Educators: Washington students, please note that you will be required to complete two additional courses that are not listed below.
Technology and Ethics: A Look at Emerging Trends and Society: This course explores the intersection of ethical thinking and technological innovations.

Special Education Course Examples

Behavioral Intervention Strategies and Applied Behavior Analysis: This course prepares special education teachers to work effectively with students exhibiting challenging behaviors.
Special Education Law, Policies, and Procedures: This course prepares special education teachers to practice within legal and ethical guidelines.
Assessment for Special Education: This course prepares special education teachers to use multiple methods of assessment and data sources in making educational decisions.
Individualized Education Plan (IEP) Collaboration and Communication with Parents and School Staff: This course prepares special education teachers to collaborate effectively with parents, school staff, and other professionals to plan programs and access services for students with exceptionalities.
Considerations for Instructional Planning for Learners: This course introduces special education teachers to evidence-based instructional strategies to advance the learning of students with exceptionalities.
Secondary Literacy and Mathematics Strategies and Assistive Technologies: This course prepares special education teachers to use progress monitoring and evidence-based instructional practices appropriate for use with secondary students with exceptionalities.
Elementary Literacy and Mathematics Strategies and Assistive Technologies: This course prepares special education teachers to use progress monitoring and evidence-based instructional practices appropriate for elementary students with exceptionalities.
Special Education Curriculum: This course reviews the basic principles of special education and their application in realistic situations.
The Professional Educator: This course prepares WGU students to excel in the profession of being an educator.
Personalized Learning for Inclusive Classrooms: This course empowers educators to create more inclusive and effective learning environments.
Multitiered systems of support are addressed to prepare candidates for their future classrooms as they seek to select appropriate instructional practices and interventions to best serve their learners.
Creating Positive Learning Environments: This course delves into the key elements that contribute to creating and maintaining a positive learning atmosphere.
Planning Instructional Strategies for Meaningful Learning: This course provides candidates with the knowledge and skills necessary to create engaging and standards-aligned lessons that meet the needs of all students.
Learners and Learning Science: This course provides WGU students with a deep understanding of the science behind learning processes.
Instructional Technology and Online Pedagogy: This course is designed to equip students with the skills to effectively integrate technology in their teaching practices.
Assessing and Monitoring Student Learning: This course is crafted for candidates who aim to enhance their skills in evaluating student progress and educational outcomes.

Hands-On Experience

WGU’s teacher licensure programs also include Student Teaching. WGU integrates clinical practice opportunities that start with embedded virtual simulations and progress into in-person classroom experiences. While you’ll complete your coursework online, you’ll also get in-classroom experience with a Student Teaching component hosted by an experienced elementary teacher and directed by a clinical supervisor.

These programs require in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching.

Student Teaching is a critical component of teaching degree programs. Student Teaching (ST) at WGU covers the competencies required for in-classroom proficiency. ST is a full-time, supervised, in-classroom experience of a minimum of 12-20 weeks. During Student Teaching, you will be hosted by an experienced teacher. As you approach your Student Teaching, a WGU Placement Specialist will work with you to set up your placement. The process of scheduling your ST placement may take up to six months. You may be required to assist in the process of setting up your placement. In some cases, you may be required to commute up to two hours (or in rare cases longer than this). Note that students are not permitted to work during their Student Teaching experience. Student Teaching may not be waived and prior experience may not be used to satisfy this requirement as you must demonstrate competency in the classroom in order to complete teaching programs at WGU.

Admission and Enrollment

WGU shares your passion for education, and is dedicated to helping students become the educators in their own classrooms. Below is the standard process for earning your initial teaching license through the WGU Teachers College.

The first step toward change can be the hardest-we get it. Your "welcoming committee" at WGU is made up of Enrollment Counselors, Admissions Specialists, and faculty members.

Students who are seeking initial teacher licensure in a bachelor’s, post-baccalaureate, or master’s program must also pass a state-specific basic skills test for the state in which they live as a prerequisite to Student Teaching.

Students in the teacher licensure programs at WGU have a set amount of in-classroom experience time they must have to graduate. Clinical experiences and student teaching ensure that WGU students have been observed in a classroom environment and are able to earn their teaching license.

You may apply for admission at any time once you’re ready.
Transcripts of your prior college experience are required if you are seeking transfer credit, confirmation of sufficient background (for master’s licensure programs), or if you are looking to enroll into a graduate program. WGU offers a free transcript gathering service to help you get transcripts from participating institutions. Official copies of your transcripts must arrive by the 5th of the month prior to your intended start date for evaluation.
If you intend to use federal financial aid to cover your tuition expenses, you will need to complete WGU’s financial aid application process and be certified as eligible to receive aid no later than the 22nd of the month prior to your intended start date.
Once your official transcripts have been received, an admission decision will be made. At this point you will complete a self-guided, web-based experience or speak with a WGU Enrollment Counselor to submit your Commit to Start documents. This process will finalize your enrollment and officially set your program start date.
No need to wait for spring or fall semester. It's back-to-school time now.

Additional Requirements

WGU requires all candidates for a teacher certification program to provide the university with verification of a cleared background check prior to entering schools for clinical experiences and Student Teaching. Previously completed background checks may not satisfy WGU background check requirements. In some states, more than one background check may be required. In addition, most states require that applicants for teacher certification complete a background check for the Department of Education prior to submitting all application paperwork.

Each state has specific testing requirements that must be met or completed in addition to completing your teaching degree at WGU.

Some states have additional requirements for teaching certification, such as coursework not included in WGU programs, CPR Certification, or Workshops.

Flexibility and Affordability

WGU offers a flexible approach to higher education. At WGU, you are in charge of setting the pace. You’ll get a solid, career-focused education that fits your life.

Tuition charged per term-rather than per credit-helps you control the ultimate cost of earning your degree online. By charging per six-month term rather than per credit-and empowering students to accelerate through material they know well or learn quickly-WGU helps students control the ultimate cost of their degrees.

Competency-based education means you can use your knowledge to your advantage, accelerating your program and graduating faster. WGU lets you move more quickly through material you already know and advance as soon as you're ready.

WGU average annual bachelor’s tuition rates are 53% lower than the national average, compared to national rates reported by the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data Systems in 2022.

Many scholarship opportunities are available. If you apply now, you can take advantage of the Master Your Future scholarship. This scholarship awards recipients $2,500 ($625 per six-month term for up to four terms).

Support System

WGU has Program Mentors who work with you from the day you start, all the way through graduation. They help you chart your courses, answer your questions, and ensure you can go through your program.

Career Prospects

Graduates of WGU's special education teacher degree program work in a variety of school settings, including inclusionary K-12 classrooms, self-contained classrooms, or resource rooms. You may also serve as a teacher of record (K-8) and teach all basic subjects in an elementary school classroom. No matter what you choose to do with this degree program, you're sure to make an impact on education.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates employment of special education teachers in the United States to grow by more than 14,000 from 2019 to 2029. Once you have completed your special education program, you'll be ready to fill this needed role in your school district.

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