Education Four-Year, Undergraduate Options (B.A.) (B.M.) (B.S.)

What are the four-year undergraduate education options?

The four-year education degree options are for students interested in obtaining teaching credentials in four years in early childhood education, elementary education, health and physical education, mathematics, music, theatre or dance. For elementary education, you’ll pursue a B.A. degree in Education. For the other areas, you’ll pursue a bachelor’s degree (B.S., B.A. or B.M.) in your chosen field while also studying human development and learning, contemporary educational perspectives, and classroom management. Completing the program’s student-teaching requirement will qualify you for undergraduate licensure in your area of specialization.

Why study undergraduate education at UNH?

Community engagement is central to our mission in the Education Department, and you’ll have an array of opportunities as a result of our strong collaborative relationships with schools and community agencies in the region and internationally. The Community Literacy Center offers resources and engaging programs right on campus. Several outreach programs work in the surrounding communities to increase literacy, offer English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) instruction and provide special needs services. For students who would like to continue their studies beyond the four-year program, a five-year program leading to licensure and a graduate degree also is available.

Potential careers

  • Dance teacher
  • Drama teacher
  • Education coordinator
  • Health education teacher
  • Mathematics teacher
  • Music teacher
  • Physical education teacher
  • Preschool teacher
  • Program director

Curriculum & Requirements

The Education (B.A.) four-year program is for students interested in education in a variety of settings (including those interested in becoming teachers in elementary school settings). 

The Education major offers a Teacher Preparation Program leading to a pathway to dual certifications in Elementary Education (K-6) and ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages, K-12). Interested students must apply to the Teacher Preparation Program. Only those who submit the application materials by the deadline (April 15th) and meet all the admission requirements are accepted into the Teacher Preparation Program. Graduates of the Teacher Preparation Program will be eligible for NH teacher certifications in Elementary Education and English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).  

A bachelor's degree including a one-semester student-teaching requirement allows students to be recommended for licensure in the following specialized programs:

See the Education (B.A.) page for the requirements of this program.

For the specialized areas listed on the Description tab (i.e., health and physical education, human development and family studies, math education, music education, theatre and dance education), students must fulfill requirements for the major appropriate for the licensure being sought, in addition to the following core professional courses or their equivalent:

EDUC 500Exploring Teaching4
EDUC 605Educational Perspectives in Critical Times4
EDUC 701Human Development & Learning: Cultural Perspectives4
EDUC 751AInclusive Elementary Education: Literacies and Learning for Diverse Learners4
or EDUC 751B Methods of Inclusive Secondary Education: Literacies, Learning, and Transitions
EDUC 694Courses in Supervised Teaching8

A minimum 2.8 cumulative grade-point average at the time of application to student teaching is required. Students in music, mathematics, and physical education need to apply by March 1st of the junior year and October 15th of the senior year for spring semester to the Education Department for student teaching. An unofficial transcript and a current resume must accompany the application. Return applications to the Education Department Office, 203 Morrill Hall, or Education.Department@unh.edu.