University of Central Florida Education Degree and Certificate Programs
The University of Central Florida appears in our ranking of the Top 20 Online Master’s in Instructional Design.
Through UCF’s College of Community Innovation and Education, students may choose from a variety of baccalaureate and master’s degrees as well as certificate programs. Students may choose from on-campus and online options.
In the Bachelor of Science Early Child Development and Education on-campus program, students select specializations in Early Childhood Development or Education: Pre-Kindergarten – Primary. The Early Childhood Development track introduces students to the earliest stages of life while the other track educates students for a career as a teacher at the pre-k through the third-grade level.
Students may also choose the Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. One track for certification is available. In the other track, certification is not included. The first track is appropriate for those wanting to teach in traditional schools at the K-6 level. Students planning to work in non-traditional learning environments may choose the other track.
Another on-campus option is the Bachelor of Science in Exceptional Student Education. This program embeds the student within the community with the goal of educating students with disabilities. Completion results in a K-12 certification.
The on-campus Bachelor of Science Secondary Education program provides students with several specialization choices. Some of the options are Social Science Ed, Science Ed, Mathematics Ed, and English Language Arts Ed. Many of these programs are further divided into certification or non-certification tracks, depending upon the student’s career goal.
Also offered is a Bachelor of Science in Teacher Education. Options include World Languages Education, Physical Ed, and Art Ed. Once again, most of these feature two tracks for certification or non-certification.
Students further have the option of earning the Bachelor of Science in Technical Education and Industry Training. In this program, students learn the skills needed to work in secondary education and post-secondary schools or to become a trainer in industry.
Several graduate-level programs are offered at UCF. These include degree programs such as Counselor Education, Career and Technical Education, Applied Learning and Instruction, Early Childhood Development, Elementary Education and a variety of others. Each program is designed to increase the student’s grasp of the subject matter, making them more effective teaching professionals.
If students prefer an online learning environment, then they may pursue a certificate in Instruction Design, College Teaching and Leadership, Gifted Education, Pre-Kindergarten Disabilities and others. Any of these programs may be a complement to prior academic degrees or they may be pursued to allow the student to choose a new specialty.
As an online baccalaureate option, students may complete the entire Bachelor of Science in Technical Education and Training. This is a flexible option for students who are already employed but want to further their education.
At the graduate level, online students may pursue a Master of Arts in Art Education, a Master of Arts in Instructional Design and Technology, a Master of Education in Exceptional Student Education, a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership or other additional credentials. These programs are designed for the student who does not necessarily have a bachelor’s degree in education, though many teachers have used these programs to further their career or to gain a specialization.
About the University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida has a main campus in Orlando. It’s one of America’s largest universities, and it also is one of the most respected. U.S. News & World Report ranks UCF among the most innovative colleges in the country. Moreover, Forbes and Kiplinger both consider UCF a best-value university.
UCF has a student population that numbers 68,571, with 324 of them being National Merit Scholars. Forty-four percent of all UCF students will graduate debt-free. More than 16,000 degrees are awarded by UCF each year, with this number being higher than any other college in the state. Freshmen who gain admission to UCF have an average SAT score of 1328. With more than 13,000 members of faculty and staff, UCF is well prepared to meet the challenges of a college education.
Founded in 1963, UCF now boasts 13 colleges that provide no fewer than 220 degree programs. In addition to its main campus, UCF also has a health sciences campus, a downtown campus, a hospitality campus, and several regional locations. Online programs are available at the certificate, bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. levels.
University of Central Florida Accreditation Details
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) provides overall accreditation for UCF.
Additional accreditation for UCF’s teacher education programs is conferred by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Florida Department of Education.
University of Central Florida Application Requirements
Prospective freshman must hold or be in pursuit of a high school diploma. With an official transcript, official SAT or ACT score, an online application and a $30 fee, students can get the admissions process started. An application essay is encouraged, but not required. The process is identical for on-campus and online students.
Applicants to graduate programs must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and a GPA of 3.0 or higher. To begin the admissions process, students fill out an online application, submit the fee and include any additional materials that are required by the program of their choice. In some cases, students must already hold a teaching certificate to qualify. Additional materials that may be required include letters of recommendation, essays and resumes. Online students undergo an identical admissions process.
Tuition and Financial Aid
On-campus undergraduate students pay $212.28 per credit hour if they are Florida residents. Out-of-state students pay $748.89 per credit hour.
At the graduate level, on-campus students pay $369.65 per credit hour if they are in-state. Out-of-state graduate students pay $1,194.05 per credit hour.
In-state tuition for online certificate students is $327.32 while out-of-state students pay $694.82. The online bachelor’s degree program in education runs $179.19 for in-state students and $383.86 for out-of-state students. Online graduate programs cost in-state students $327.32 per credit hour and $694.82 for out-of-state students.
Most UCF students rely on some type of financial aid, which may include scholarships, grants, and loans from government and private sources. The Office of Student Financial Assistance provides guidance and advice concerning all of these options.
To discover more about the education degree opportunities at the University of Central Florida, visit their website.
