"School is not so easy and it is not for the most part very fun, but then, if you are very lucky, you may find a teacher. Three real teachers in a lifetime is the very best of luck. I have come to believe that a great teacher is a great artist and that there are as few as there are any other great artists. Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit.

My three had these things in common. They all loved what they were doing. They did not tell -- the catalyzed a burning desire to know. Under their influence, the horizons sprung wide and fear went away and the unknown became knowable. But most important of all, the truth, that dangerous stuff, became beautiful and precious." (Steinbeck, 1959)

"School is not so easy and it is not for the most part very fun, but then, if you are very lucky, you may find a teacher. Three real teachers in a lifetime is the very best of luck. I have come to believe that a great teacher is a great artist and that there are as few as there are any other great artists. Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit.

My three had these things in common. They all loved what they were doing. They did not tell -- the catalyzed a burning desire to know. Under their influence, the horizons sprung wide and fear went away and the unknown became knowable. But most important of all, the truth, that dangerous stuff, became beautiful and precious." (Steinbeck, 1959)

Majoring in education is a choice to go beyond knowing what to learn; it is a choice to about learning how to learn. An old Latin proverb reminds us that by learning, you will teach, and by teaching, you will understand. The role of individuals who devote their lives to facilitating the learning of others contributes to our society and world in a powerful and meaningful way. Not only does it open the door for others to find success and fulfillment in their lives, but also it provides an opportunity for a very important and significant career for the teacher. As Henry Adams  CITATION Ada99 \n  \t  \l 1033  (1999) wrote in The Education of Henry Adams: An Autobiography more than a century ago, “A teacher affects eternity: he can never tell where his influence stops.” If your goal in life is to make a difference by touching lives, teaching is a career that will enable you to shape the world of tomorrow.

Today’s teachers are expected to have specialized knowledge and skills on a par with lawyers, doctors, nurses, architects and other professionals.

Teachers are in demand.
According to National Center for Education Statistics, a historic turnover in the teaching profession is on the way and a teaching shortage is predicted. In the next 10 years, statistics indicate that over two million teachers will be needed due to teacher retirement, attrition and increased student enrollment. Graduate school is often a path our education students take, either immediately after graduating from the University of Pikeville or after establishing careers. This pathway may lead to additional opportunities in leadership and supervisory roles.

What can I do with an education degree from the University of Pikeville?

The organizing theme that undergirds and guides the professional education programs at the University of Pikeville is “Effective teachers enable ALL students to learn.” Through the University of Pikeville’s teacher education program, you will have extensive opportunities to access the latest technology and work closely with your professors to acquire the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to be an effective teacher who enables all students to learn. Our education program has an excellent reputation among area schools — schools that will welcome you into their diverse classroom settings for extensive clinical experience and clinical practice. You can use your talents and abilities to become an effective and reflective teacher in a life of professional service and leadership. You will find teaching opportunities in the private and public sectors of education at any level.

Gainful Employment Disclosure

Elementary Education at the University of Pikeville
A candidate who completes a program in elementary education will be prepared to teach in primary through fifth grade in Kentucky. Candidates are required to complete courses in general knowledge, specialization knowledge, and professional knowledge.

Secondary Education the University of Pikeville
A candidate who completes a program in secondary education will be prepared to teach in grades eight through 12 in Kentucky. Candidates are required to complete courses in general knowledge, specialization knowledge in one of the following areas: (1) biology; (2) chemistry; (3) English; (4) mathematics; or (5) social studies and professional knowledge.

Middle Grades Education at the University of Pikeville
A candidate who completes a program in middle grades education will be prepared to teach in grades five through nine in Kentucky. Candidates are required to complete courses in general knowledge; specialization knowledge, in one or two teaching fields; and professional knowledge.

Teacher Education Degree Options

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) or Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

·       Elementary Education

·       Middle Grades Education

·       Secondary Education

Click here to find out more about the teacher education program.

Teacher Education Faculty

Robert W. Arts
Carol J. Baker
James Michael King
John P. Nelson
Shirley A. Nelson
Linda Neuzil
Gary Warford
Mary Beth Webb