Department
Teacher Education
The Department of Teacher Education equips students to become effective educators through rigorous preparation, immersive partnerships and real-world classroom experience.
12 : 1
Student to Faculty Ratio
100%
May 2025 Graduates Employed or Pursuing Graduate Studies Within 3 Months of Graduation
Excellence and Distinction in Teacher Education
Pursuing teacher education at Samford means stepping into distinguished programs designed to equip future educators—mind, heart, and hands—to “hit the ground running” as classroom-ready professionals. Every licensure pathway is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), and the university’s commitment to excellence has earned recent honors from:
Association of Teacher Educators (ATE)
Billy G. Dixon Distinguished Program in Teacher Education (2025)
National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ)
Top marks for clinical internships and hands‑on teacher preparation (2024) and for exemplary reading‑instruction training (2023).
International Multi‑Sensory Structured Language Education Council (IMSLEC)
Formal affiliation (2023)
International Literacy Association (ILA)
National recognition for preparing literacy professionals (2025)
“We are helping shape the future of our students, and Samford does a really good job of crafting those leadership skills by providing many opportunities to be in schools, observing and student teaching well before graduation.”
—Kamryn Ashby, senior
Undergraduate Programs
Early Childhood, Special Education, Elementary, Elementary Collaborative (ESEC)
This nationally recognized program is designed to meet the needs of candidates interested in teaching children birth through sixth grade. Candidates pursuing this degree earn Alabama teaching certificates in four areas.
Elementary Education with a Concentration in Christian Education and Missions
This program is designed for candidates who desire the flexibility and opportunity to integrate faith and teaching in an educational mission setting.
Secondary Education
The secondary education program is for candidates who wish to teach at the middle or high school level (6th-12th grade). By pairing Samford's renowned and rigorous content classes with solid pedagogy and teaching strategies, we aim to equip graduates to be highly skilled and innovative educators.
Graduate Programs
The Alternative A Master’s Programs are designed for those who have earned a bachelor's degree in a field other than education from a regionally accredited institution who desire to become a certified teacher.
Scholarships
Scholarships are available to support students pursuing their calling in education.
