The mission of the Department of Leadership and Teacher Education is to prepare highly qualified teachers, administrators, supervisors and other professionals for jobs in many academic settings. Undergraduate students at the University of South Alabama can earn the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Education that leads to Alabama Class B certification in Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, Secondary Education and Special Education. Students can also major in Early Childhood Studies.
The department offers the Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree that leads to Alabama Class A Certification in Art Education, Instructional Leadership, Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, English for Speakers of Other Languages, Secondary Education and Special Education. Students can also earn an M.Ed. in Educational Administration with an emphasis in higher education leadership. The department also offers the Educational Specialist degree (Ed.S.) that leads to Alabama Class AA Certification in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Instructional Leadership, Reading Specialist, Secondary Education, Special Education and Teacher Leader. The department also offers the Doctor of Education degree (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership.
Launching Fall 2026, the department will offer the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Teacher Education. Designed for current and aspiring instructional coaches and educational leaders, this 60-credit-hour program focuses on teacher workforce development and evidence-based coaching. Students can choose from specialized paths in Elementary Literacy, Elementary Numeracy, or Secondary Teacher Education, blending online and video-based instruction with limited on-campus experiential learning sessions.
