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Eriksson College
of Education

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Learn to teach at Austin Peay.

Our diverse program offerings bring your career as an educator even closer from our Pre-K – 12 programs through our Doctor of Education. From initial licensure to preparing you to lead as a school administrator, we equip you to succeed.

Austin Peay's education programs will give you the tools you need to be a world-class educator.

Our departments of Teaching and Learning and Educational Specialties offer undergraduate and graduate degree programs that will give you the training you need to be successful in our classroom and in yours. Our various Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) programs provide multiple avenues for career changers and college graduates in other disciplines to prepare themselves to become teachers. The Doctor of Education will prepare you for a variety of positions from state and district leadership roles to educational research and higher education careers.


Academic Departments

Joanna Zimmerle teaches students in Ready2Teach classroom
Educational Specialties

The Department of Educational Specialties offers advanced degree programs in both licensure and non-licensure areas. The mission of the department of Educational Specialties is to prepare and support educational professionals in their development as effective practitioners.

students listening in classroom
Teaching and Learning

The Department of Teaching and Learning offers degrees in initial licensure programs. As you pursue your potential career as a professional educator, please explore what the Department of Teaching and Learning has to offer in support of your career goal.


Scholarship Opportunities

There are several scholarship opportunities available now. Click the button below to learn more and download applications. 

Explore Scholarships

Sarah Dugger
Sarah Dugger
('21) Doctor of Education

It’s been a great program. A lot of really practical course work, things I’ve been able to implement over the last three years.
Sibyl Brush
Sibyl Brush
('24) Pre-K - 3rd Grade Education

The professors and students in this department are some of the most inclusive, progressive and kind people I’ve ever met.
Emmanuel Méjeun
Emmanuel Méjeun
('17) Music Performance and Education

Everything about my story is tied to music: it’s my passion, it’s my love, it’s going to be my job — It’s everything to me.
Susannah White
Susannah White
Elementary Education

Without Austin Peay's programs, I wouldn't have found my passion for teaching children, or seen the joy a child experiences when they learn how to sing or play an instrument.

News Feed

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Austin Peay's Full Spectrum Learning opens sensory room for neurodivergent students
Austin Peay's Full Spectrum Learning opens sensory room for neurodivergent students

Austin Peay's Full Spectrum Learning program has opened a sensory room for neurodivergent students. The space in Woodward Library features fidget toys, bean bags, and calming elements to help autistic students relax and focus. The initiative aims to create a more inclusive campus environment.

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First-gen education student finds success, community at Austin Peay
First-gen education student finds success, community at Austin Peay

Jasmine Lewis, a first-generation college student and elementary education major at Austin Peay State University, overcomes foster care background to thrive on campus. She actively participates in numerous organizations, finding success and community while pursuing her degree at the Eriksson College of Education.

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oct-2024-stem-center-checkout
APSU's Jack Hunt STEM Center offers free classroom equipment checkout for teachers

APSU's Jack Hunt STEM Center has launched a free equipment checkout program for K-12 teachers in Montgomery and nearby counties, offering access to STEM tools like scales, Petri dishes, and measuring cylinders for up to two weeks.

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october-2024-valerie-mandez
Latina elementary education student leader thrives at Austin Peay

Valerie Mandez, an aspiring educator dedicated to making a difference in children's lives, has come a long way from her time in the Clarksville-Montgomery School System to her role as the new Student Tennessee Education Association (STEA) president at Austin Peay State University.

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sept-2024-stea-book-club
Austin Peay's STEA student group to host community book club

APSU's Student Tennessee Education Association (STEA) is hosting a community book club to discuss "Where the Crawdads Sing" on Nov. 14. The event, open to students, faculty, staff, and local community members, aims to explore educational themes and provide networking opportunities for aspiring teachers.

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Tracy Bettencourt teaching a student in a class
Tracy Bettencourt

"APSU has amazing technology I can't afford at home like book scanners or screen readers. This University gave me the same opportunity to succeed as any other student, and I wouldn't change my experience for anything in the world."

Allison Oliver
Allison Oliver

"I believe great institutions and effective educators are humble enough to know that progress comes from shared learning experiences and that we can learn from each other."

Joanne Philhower
Joanne Philhower

“I look forward to learning from and with my students just as much as they learn from me. I'm excited about getting to know them as people and not just as students.”