WESTERN GOVERNORS UNIVERSITY
Welcome to the WGU School of Education
Championing Next-Generation Teaching, Learning, and Leading
The WGU School of Education is a champion of next-generation teaching, learning, and leading. We are the largest non-profit School of Education in the U.S., and the right choice for rising and striving teachers, learners, and leaders who want to advance their pathways to opportunity and their ability to make a difference in the lives of others.
As part of our competency-based model led by expert faculty, students will gain a working understanding of mastery-based education, online/blended instruction, next-gen teaching and learning, and the strategic use of new, emerging educational technologies to prepare them for their careers.
The School of Education is comprised of the Teachers College and the College of General Education.
Teachers College
With more than 30 undergraduate and graduate programs, WGU’s Teachers College provides a rich array of learning pathways in a proven, student-centered, competency-based model with flexible scheduling. Our career-oriented content builds a strong foundation for success and provides the knowledge and skills employers seek. Our model ensures that anyone with a passion for teaching, learning, or leading will be prepared not only for their own success but also to help others achieve their dreams.
WGU’s Teachers College educator preparation programs have been continuously accredited since 2006 and are accredited by both the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), a prestigious and rare combination.
We have approximately 37,700 active degree-seeking students and have awarded more than 70,000 degrees to educator alumni working across all 50 states. We partner with more than 2,800 school districts nationwide to provide clinical experiences and student teaching at scale, wherever students live. We provide a broad portfolio of dozens of degree pathways that prepare students for licensure. We also offer many programs for licensed educators who want to expand their knowledge and expertise.
And because of our decades of success in K–12, we are expanding beyond the classroom to wherever teaching and learning are happening, including adult education and workforce learning. Our first degree in this area is now available: our M.Ed., Education Technology and Instructional Design.
A National Network of District Partnerships
Our field experience team partners with more than 2,800 school districts to place students in student teaching assignments year-round, working to keep students close to where they live, tailoring the placement to each individual across all 50 states.
We also provide educator pathways for paraprofessionals and other district staff, helping to address the national teacher shortage. These partnerships help school districts up-skill their existing pool of dedicated, passionate employees. If you would like more information about hosting teacher candidates in your school or district, please contact our Outreach Team.
College of General Education
WGU’s College of General Education is ideal for any college-going learner who wants a transformational learning experience so they can advance successfully on their degree plan and educational pathway to opportunity. This college is at the forefront of providing next-generation arts and sciences learning. Our College of General Education powers the professions in 86 degree programs across WGU’s Schools of Business, Education, Health, and Information Technologies. This dedicated team of caring, empathetic faculty serves approximately 75,000 students throughout WGU.
Our highly-relevant curriculum is grounded in 21st-century, workforce-based, market-driven skills and stacking credentials. This work teaches students how to think critically, communicate effectively, lead graciously, and solve abstractly as they are presented with new knowledge and challenges to ‘connect the dots’ by thinking across subjects. These learning experiences benefit students throughout their degree pathways and as they build resilience to successfully navigate evolving careers and life journeys.
How We Help You Succeed
Renewing Education’s Promise
Our deep connection to the workforce helps students advance their careers and see a strong return on their educational investment—including social impact. We are not only preparing students with relevant, updated, applicable content and knowledge but also helping build their emotional intelligence and ethics so they can be successful, even in times of uncertainty and change.
Personalized Learning
WGU’s unique model enables tailored experiences and tiered comprehensive support services that help students succeed. We meet students where they are and help them get to where they want to go, with flexible scheduling within each six-month term.
Affordable, Accredited Higher Education
We effectively manage our operation so we can offer low-cost, flat-rate tuition that gives our graduates the freedom to pursue their professional passion without the burden of student loan debt. In addition, we awarded $7.9 million dollars in scholarships to Teachers College students in the fiscal year 2022.
Expanding Access and Removing Barriers
The WGU School of Education is committed to removing barriers to make higher education possible for all, regardless of their individual circumstances, so that all students can have a positive impact on the communities in which they live and work.
Accredited, Respected,
Recognized™
One important measure of a degree’s value is the reputation of the university where it was earned. When employers, industry leaders, and academic experts hold your alma mater in high esteem, you reap the benefits of that respect. WGU is a pioneer in reinventing higher education for the 21st century, and our quality has been recognized.
From the Senior Vice President of WGU and Executive Dean of the School of Education
Welcome to the WGU School of Education. We’re so glad you’re here! I grew up in a family where college wasn’t something that was prioritized, but it was my dream. I was the first in my family to earn a college degree. Early in my career, I realized I wanted my work to change trajectories for people and improve their lives. It didn’t take long to realize the best path for doing that was to work in education. You’ve probably come to the same conclusion, and I expect that is what brings you here today. I’ve been working with WGU for 25 of its 26-year history, and now have the incredible honor of leading our School of Education. I’ve been part of WGU’s innovation at scale because I believe in our promise of a different approach to higher education—one that puts each learner at the center of the model. We focus on developing and assessing competencies that are aligned with career-based skills—a model that creates pathways to opportunity that can truly change your life. I’ve seen first-hand how this work transforms lives for the better as I’ve watched thousands of students earn their degrees and build meaningful careers. I’m happy you are taking this next step in your life and pursuing your professional passion. You’ll learn how to not only have a positive impact on your life but also how to make a difference in the lives of your family and those in your community. We are ready and willing to help you at each step of this journey. Let’s work together to make your dreams come true.
Dr. Stacey Ludwig Johnson
