Become a Teacher

*This estimate includes online tuition and College of Education fees and is for illustrative purposes only. Your hours and costs will differ depending on your transfer hours, course choices and your academic progress. See more about tuition and financial aid. The above fees refer to the costs for the bachelor’s rate up to the master’s rate.

Quality programs available wherever you live

Earn a high-quality degree wherever you live. The programs are taught by the same highly qualified instructors who teach our on-campus courses. Regardless of which program you choose, you’ll have the opportunity to use innovative technology that enables frequent interaction between you and your instructor during clinical experiences.

Online Early Childhood Education Bachelor's Degree

This program prepares you for Kansas teacher licensure in early childhood unified (birth through kindergarten). Learn the latest techniques in caring for and teaching young children from birth through kindergarten, including those with special needs, learning disabilities or developmental delays in the online early childhood education bachelor’s degree. Complete clinical field experiences at your local level in accredited school districts. This program consists of 120 credit hours with K-State offering online tools that allow you to see how previous coursework taken at another accredited institution will transfer to K-State.

Online Elementary Education Bachelor's Degree

If your goal is to teach elementary-aged children, our elementary education bachelor’s degree provides a foundation of knowledge and skills for future K-6 teachers. This program prepares you for teaching K-6 licensure in Kansas. The Kansas State Department of Education requires passing scores in the Praxis pedagogy and content tests. Kansas has reciprocal licensing agreements with all other states. Detailed licensing assistance information is available.

The 120-credit hour program combines online coursework with a field experience in an accredited elementary school near you. K-State offers transfer equivalency course options. To obtain an official evaluation, apply to K-State and send transcripts from all your institutions to K-State. Once admitted to K-State, you are assigned a College of Education advisor who will work with you throughout your time in the program. You will complete field experiences (student teaching) in accredited schools near you, using technologies that enable real-time and video classroom observations and evaluation. The teaching internship is in K-6 schools and is a half-day, year-long professional apprenticeship where teacher candidates are immersed in the teaching profession while completing Block C course modules over both the fall and spring semesters.

Online Master of Arts in Teaching

The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) is a 12-month program for individuals who have a bachelor’s degree outside the field of education and want to become teachers. The elementary education option focuses on grades K-6. The secondary education option focuses on grades 7-12. There are specializations in agricultural education, English, mathematics, social studies or modern language, regardless of what you studied as an undergraduate student. The program is designed as a cohort model — you will complete the scope and sequence of the curriculum as a group. MAT courses are only offered during the designated semesters.

The MAT offers two tracks to choose from:

• Practitioner tracks: For admitted students who pursue the MAT while teaching full-time. Elementary practitioners are required to complete EDCI 702, EDCI 716 and be enrolled in EDCI 886 before applying for their Limited Apprentice License. Secondary practitioners must successfully pass the appropriate content PRAXIS and be enrolled in EDCI 886 before applying for the Secondary Restricted License.
• License-seeking track: For students who pursue the MAT while continuing their current employment. Available for elementary and all secondary specializations.

Financial assistance for current and future teachers

If you are interested in entering the teaching profession, you have access to unique financial opportunities and incentives. Special grants, scholarships or loan deferment programs are available in these high-need degree programs. Contact the K-State Office of Financial Assistance, your local district or the Kansas Department of Education for additional information.