Amherst College

Amherst students who are considering public school teaching careers also have an attractive option in the many one- or two-year graduate programs. Master’s programs are, in most cases, the best route for students planning a long-term commitment to public school teaching, or for those who are interested in working with elementary age children, in special education, or in other areas that require a significant amount of highly specialized training. These teacher preparation programs combine practical experiences with courses about teaching. While one-year programs tend to emphasize fieldwork, two-year programs will provide students with a stronger background both in pedagogy and their subject area, as well as expose students to a wider group of peers who share their interests. In almost all cases these programs provisionally certify students in the (the) state where the graduate school is located.