Connecticut Teacher Colleges and Degrees Online Guide

This guide to teaching schools in Connecticut was designed to assist aspiring teachers looking to teach in the state. As in most states, in order to be eligible for employment in a state school, CT teachers must complete a teaching preparation program that prepares them for a career in the education sector. There are several colleges and universities that offer teaching degrees in the state. For useful information on teaching schools in Connecticut, take a look at our lists of top-rated teaching programs, table of accredited, state-approved teacher preparation programs, and student reviews. Whether you are new to the world of education or looking to further your existing teaching career, this guide should help you find the right program for your individual needs.

Table of Contents

• Teacher Preparation Program Comparison
• Top-Ranked Schools with Education Programs
• Select Schools with Teacher Preparation Degrees
• Schools with Associate Degrees in Education

Quick Facts

• There are 29 colleges and universities with teacher degree programs in Connecticut.¹
• 15 schools offer an associate’s degree in education.¹
• 12 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in education.¹
• 13 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in education.¹
• No schools ranked in Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Education Majors 2022.²
• 3 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2022.³
• 3 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Online Master’s in Education Programs 2022.⁴
• 11 educator preparation providers (EPPs) are accredited by the NCATE, TEAC, or CAEP.⁵

For not-for-profit schools with teacher degree programs.

Comparison of Connecticut Schools with Teacher Preparation Programs

We have designed the following table to help you compare teacher preparation programs in Connecticut according to various factors. All of the schools included are not-for-profit institutions approved by the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) for the preparation of teachers. Completing a state-approved teacher preparation program is an important step towards earning licensure.

While accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) is not a requirement for licensure, it is included in the following table as CAEP provides a highly-regarded accreditation that is accepted in many states.

You will also find data on teacher preparation program enrollment, completion, and licensing exam pass rates by institution, for both traditional and alternative programs, for the 2018-2019 academic year in this table. These data points are collected from annual US Department of Education reports under Title II (Teacher Quality) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which holds institutions and state departments of education accountable for increasing academic achievement through improvements in teacher quality. Traditional teacher preparation programs are usually completed as part of a bachelor’s degree program. Alternative certification programs are typically designed for career changers looking to enter the field and lead to a postgraduate certificate or a master’s degree. Many schools in our table offer both traditional and alternative programs. Take a look at our Connecticut traditional and alternative certification guides for more information.

Finally, we have provided the net price per year for undergraduate tuition, based on the cost of attendance (tuition, books, room and board, and related expenses) for students who qualify for in-state tuition and fees, less the average financial aid award (including grants and scholarships).

Programs that are not ranked, or for which data is not available, in a given category are denoted as “-“.

• — indicates none or not applicable.
• N.Av. indicates data was not available or pass rates were omitted for confidentiality.

Top-Ranked Schools with Education Programs in Connecticut

US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2022

• University of Connecticut (#27)
• Central Connecticut State University (#202 tie)
• University of Hartford (#211-277)

US News & World Report’s Best Online Master’s in Education Programs 2022

Select Connecticut Schools with Teacher Preparation Degrees

Albertus Magnus College

Located in New Haven, Albertus Magnus College is a four-year, private liberal arts college founded in 1925 by the Dominican Sisters of St. Mary of the Springs. Albert Magnus offers a post-baccalaureate teacher preparation program designed to lead to initial teacher certification upon completion of the bachelor’s degree. Within this program, students complete several integral field experiences (culminating in a student teaching experience) to build their pedagogical skills and prepare them for certification. There is also a Master of Science (MS) in Education offered in two tracks: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) or Literacy. This program is offered in a fully online format and can be completed in 18 months while taking only one to two classes at a time. Albertus Magnus seeks to support both its undergraduate and graduate students by offering opportunities for research, active career counseling, and access to internships and professional experiences.

University of Connecticut

The University of Connecticut (UConn) is home to the Neag School of Education. Departments within the Neag School include Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Leadership, Educational Psychology, and Teacher Education. Programs of study include an integrated Bachelor of Science (BS) and Master of Arts (MA) in Leadership, Equity, and Diversity (LEAD) in Education; Educational Technology (MA); Higher Education and Student Affairs (MA); Special Education (MA or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)); and Counseling Psychology (MA or PhD). The Neag School also offers a unique Integrated Bachelor’s/Master’s Teacher Education program designed to award students with both a bachelor’s and master’s in education at the end of five years of study. The five-year intensive program includes two years of general education, two years of major-specific undergraduate coursework, and one year of graduate-level coursework.

Schools with Associate Degrees in Education

While a bachelor’s degree is the minimum educational level required to qualify for state certification, an associate’s degree can be the first step towards a career in education. It can qualify graduates for careers in non-licensed roles in early childhood education, after-school care, and related areas. The credits earned from an accredited associate degree program can also typically be transferred towards a bachelor’s degree. The following Alabama schools offer associate’s degrees in education.¹ Schools with an asterisk (*) also offer four-year teaching programs and/or alternative route to certification programs.

Asnuntuck Community College
170 Elm St
Enfield, CT 06082-3873
(860) 253-3000
www.asnuntuck.edu

Capital Community College
950 Main St
Hartford, CT 06103-1234
(860) 906-5000
www.ccc.commnet.edu

Charter Oak State College*
55 Paul Manafort Dr
New Britain, CT 06053-2150
(860) 515-3800
www.charteroak.edu

Gateway Community College
20 Church St
New Haven, CT 06510-3304
(203) 285-2000
www.gatewayct.edu

Goodwin University
1 Riverside Dr
East Hartford, CT 06118-1837
(860) 528-4111
www.goodwin.edu

Housatonic Community College
900 Lafayette Blvd
Bridgeport, CT 06040
(203) 332-5000
www.housatonic.edu

Manchester Community College
Great Path
Manchester, CT 06040
(860) 512-3000
www.manchestercc.edu

Middlesex Community College
100 Training Hill Rd
Middletown, CT 06457-4829
(860) 343-5701
www.mxcc.edu

Mitchell College*
437 Pequot Ave
New London, CT 06320-4452
(860) 701-5000
www.mitchell.edu

Naugatuck Valley Community College
750 Chase Pkwy
Waterbury, CT 06708-3089
(203) 575-8000
www.nv.edu

Northwestern Connecticut Community College
2 Park Pl E
Winsted, CT 06098-1710
(860) 738-6300
www.nwcc.commnet.edu

Norwalk Community College
188 Richards Ave
Norwalk, CT 06854-1634
(203) 857-7000
www.norwalk.edu

Quinebaug Valley Community College
742 Upper Maple St
Danielson, CT 06239-1436
(860) 932-4000
www.qvcc.edu

Three Rivers Community College
574 New London Tpke
Norwich, CT 06360-6500
(860) 215-9000
www.threerivers.edu

Tunxis Community College
271 Scott Swamp Rd
Farmington, CT 06032-3187
(860) 773-1300
www.tunxis.edu

Student Reviews

Quinnipiac University
275 Mt Carmel Ave
Hamden, CT 06518-1908
(203) 582-8200
https://www.qu.edu/

Student Review: “The more influential aspect of Quinnipiac’s program was the extensive classroom experience that was provided. Aside from the regular fieldwork and student teaching that most programs have, Quinnipiac also has a yearlong internship where you work as a long-term substitute in a school of your choice. During this time you get to observe different classrooms, work with and teach students, observe meetings, and watch the growth of students over a full school year instead. The coursework is also directly related to what you are doing in the school system and many assignments are given to complete with or based off of students at your internship. In addition to your advisor you also have a course based off your internship to discuss what you observe and work through any difficulties you might be having. Even now that I have graduated, staff still reaches out to make sure that I am doing well. They have also created an online forum where recent graduates can write to each other and to professors of the program with any first year teacher questions. I honestly have no complaints about the program and recommend it to anyone looking to go into the teaching profession.” -Student at Quinnipiac University

Southern Connecticut State University
501 Crescent Street
New Haven, CT 06515-1355
(203) 392-5200
https://www.southernct.edu/

Student Review: “I went to SCSU for a long time, seven years, and have close to two bachelor’s degrees. I studied Secondary Education to become a high school teacher. I started out focusing on English and ended with a focus on art. I never did follow all the way through with the teaching program. Part of the reason was that there was difficulty in my own personal life that was distracting, and also, I had a hard time finishing the required courses/steps. On more than one occasion, a course I needed was either dropped or for some reason not available. That became a frustrating occurrence. At another time, my information in the financial aid department was lost entirely and I was forced to skip a semester because I could not afford to pay out-of-pocket at that time. Finally, I had to take the praxis test, and at the point in time when I finally took it, I needed to pass it in order to continue on with the secondary education courses. I did not meet the requirement in the math portion of the test, and after a long debate with myself, I chose a different major. I have a B.S. in Art and am only 8 courses away from a B.A. in English. I would say that overall my time at SCSU was enjoyable. I took many fun and interesting courses, had many great teachers, and met a lot of exciting people. I ultimately learned that I wasn’t 100% satisfied with the public school system, the somewhat controlled and regulated fashion that was administered wasn’t appealing to me. I still think about perhaps becoming a teacher at a private institute where the specific degree isn’t necessary, or even becoming a professor.” – Student at Southern Connecticut State University

Student Review: “I did not have the best experience in the education program while I was in college, and it actually caused me to switch my major three times. I went in for secondary English education, and although my teachers and classes were mostly enjoyable, the program itself I could not stand behind. It was probably around the time when we were learning about how the curriculum was mostly controlled by the school board, and teachers had little freedom to express themselves by creating their own ways of teaching. I ended up switching to secondary art education, but I wasn’t pleased with that either. To be an art teacher, I would need much more freedom, and it just didn’t seem available. I stayed in the program up until we had to take the test which would determine if you could continue in the program and start student teaching. Well, I missed the math portion by 1 or 2 points. To take the test again would not only cost more money, but I’d pretty much have to waste an entire semester waiting to be able to take the test again, so I opted to change my major once again. This time I just focused on fine/studio arts since I already had so many credits in that area, and if I wanted to teach in a private school, I wouldn’t need all the education courses, but the final degree was what was important. I got to a point where I had accumulated so many credits I went to the dean and asked to create my own major so that I can finally graduate, and I did. After a year or so of not finding a job with my degree I went back to the school to see if they could point me in a direction, and it turned out I had so many credits in English that if I stayed for two more semesters, I could have a second bachelor’s degree. I was very disappointed no one stopped me before I graduated to guide me to do that because after graduating, and the fact that I was enrolled for so long, I no longer had motivation to continue furthering my education.” – Student at Southern Connecticut State University

University of Saint Joseph
1678 Asylum Ave
West Hartford, CT 06117-2791
(860) 232-4571
https://www.usj.edu/

Student Review: “The education program at the University of New Haven (UNH) was an enriching experience filled with many different learning opportunities. The internship program was a logical way to put pedagogy into practice on a daily basis. Interning for a full school year, every day of the week while taking classes a few nights a week was an enriching way to get a complete experience. My coursework at the university combined with my internship experience has helped me become the educator I am today. The cohort I was in class with throughout my schooling was a great support system both in and out of the classroom. The timing of the program (one year) worked well. The work was tough, and the pace of it all tiring, but in the end, it was all worthwhile. The professors were all very approachable and knowledgeable about their individual subject areas. They were enthusiastic, helpful, and were able to easily relate to the profession and to our experience, as most of them had been teachers in public school prior to working at the university.” -Joe A., student at University of New Haven

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. The Princeton Review. The Best 385 Colleges, 2022 Edition. The Princeton Review, 2021.
3. US News & World Report Best Graduate Education Schools 2022: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/edu-rankings
4. US News & World Report Best Online Graduate Education Schools 2022: https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/education/rankings
5. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): http://caepnet.org/provider-search
6. US Department of Education 2020 Title II Report: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx