About Our Teacher Preparation Programs

Duke's Program in Education is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI). We offer a Minor in Education, and two teacher preparation programs (Elementary and Secondary Education) that lead to licensure in North Carolina and beyond. Service-learning and field experiences are a foundation of all our programs. At the graduate level, we offer a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT). For In-Service Teachers, we offer a non-degree Academically/Intellectually Gifted (AIG) add-on licensure program. Duke's Program in Education is home to the International Center for Service-Learning in Teacher Education, an international consortium of university education programs, and the Duke TeachHouse, a living and learning community for students in our teacher preparation programs.

Undergraduate

The Minor in Education is designed to provide students who are majoring in an Arts and Sciences discipline with opportunities to combine coursework in their majors with academic and field-based experiences focused on complex social, psychological, economic, historical, political, and cultural issues that impact schools and school children.

The Teacher Preparation Programs prepare liberally educated, culturally responsive and reflective teachers who are equipped for leadership roles in education. We prepare students to pursue teaching licenses in elementary education and secondary education (in mathematics, science, English and/or social studies).

Graduate

The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Program provides talented liberal arts college graduates with a challenging program of study within their academic discipline while preparing them for careers as high school teachers. The Program is open to students with undergraduate majors in English, mathematics, social studies, and the sciences. MAT combines graduate level work in the teaching field with education courses and a two-semester internship under the direction of carefully selected and trained mentor teachers in Durham's public high schools. We also offer two joint degrees with the Nicholas School for the Environment: the MAT and either a Master of Environmental Management or Master of Forestry degree.

In-Service Teachers

Currently, we offer in-service teachers the ability to earn add-on licensure for Academically/Intellectually Gifted (AIG). Our program support teachers in the Raleigh/Durham, Winston-Salem and Rutherford County areas.

Our History

Education has been central to Duke’s mission throughout its history, beginning in 1851 when Union Institute (founded 1839) first prepared teachers and was reorganized into Normal College. In 1858, Union Institute became Trinity College, a liberal arts institution in which teacher training assumed a central and major role. In 1924, under the direction of and with an endowment from James B. Duke, Trinity College became Duke University. In the Indenture of Trust, J.B. Duke insisted that the training of teachers be among Duke’s primary missions.