Arizona State University is launching three-year bachelor's degrees in education to help get graduates into classrooms sooner and meet Arizona's growing need for teachers.
Students can now graduate with degrees in elementary education and special education by completing 90 credits as opposed to 120, which is required in traditional programs. ASU officials said the programs are the first of their kind in the nation.
“ASU’s charter compels us to take fundamental responsibility for our communities,” Provost Nancy Gonzales said in a statement. “That means that we must anticipate and respond to the needs of our students, their families and our K–12 schools."
Arizona, like many states across the country, is facing a significant shortage of teachers.
Last fall, close to 1,400 teaching positions across the state went unfilled. More than 4,200 positions, around 7%, were filled by long-term substitutes, student teachers, third-party vendors and existing teachers working through their planning period.
“School districts need innovative solutions that make it easier for talented people in our communities to become teachers,” Jennifer Cruz, superintendent of the Pendergast Elementary School District, said in a statement.
The new bachelor's programs will meet all of Arizona's academic and clinical preparation requirements for educators. ASU officials said the degree is built on more than a decade of work tailoring its curriculum to the needs of modern classrooms.
“Future educators should be able to easily access high-quality programs that work for their needs,” said Carole Basile, dean of the Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation. “These new programs reflect years of redesigning educator preparation so more students can pursue meaningful careers in education through ASU’s high-quality preparation.”
Students can take the courses online or in person, with available options for them to earn money during their studies.
ASU leadership is exploring more three-year bachelor's programs in the coming years, with leaders pointing to areas with high workforce demand as potential prospects. The three-year programs are offered in addition to traditional four-year paths and are not intended to replace them.
The actual completion time of each program depends on the student, as part-time students would likely need more than three years to reach the required credits. Applications are open for each of the programs, with initial start dates of Oct. 14 for online students and Jan. 11 for on-campus students.
ASU is partnering with Gila Community College and Arizona Western College to provide the degree pathway to students living across the state. Gila Community College is based in Globe and Payson, and Arizona Western College is in Yuma.
“By preparing educators right here in Yuma, we're building a stronger pipeline of teachers who understand our students, know our communities and are more likely to stay in our schools, making a lasting difference for our students, families and the communities we serve,” Yuma’s Crane School District Superintendent Dale Ponder said.
Helen Rummel covers state politics and higher education for The Arizona Republic. Reach her at hrummel@azcentral.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @helenrummel.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: ASU launches 3-year education degrees amid state teacher shortage
