School of Education & Human Sciences

General Information

UAB offers graduate programs that lead to teacher certification in a variety of preschool-12th grade teaching disciplines (such as Biology, English Language Arts, Early Childhood Education, English as a Second Language, Kinesiology/Physical Education, Early Childhood and Collaborative Special Education, etc.) and School Psychometry, School Psychology, and Instructional Leadership. Non-teacher-certification programs include Community Health, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Marriage, Couples, & Family Counseling, and Kinesiology with a choice of concentration areas. UAB also offers graduate programs that are focused on Higher Education Administration (MS) and Instructional Design and Development (MS). A complete listing and description of all graduate programs are included in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and Department of Human Studies sections of the catalog. Most teacher certification programs have both master's (MAEd) and a post-master's Education Specialist (EdS) degrees. Additionally, the School of Education and Human Sciences offers doctoral programs in Early Childhood Education (PhD), Instructional Leadership (EdD), Educational Studies in Diverse Populations (PhD), and Community Health Promotion (PhD).

All educator certification programs in the School of Education and Human Sciences are approved by the Alabama State Board of Education (ALSBE) and are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The Counseling programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP).  The Music program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). The Art program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

Degrees and Certificates

Degrees are awarded by UAB in recognition of scholastic achievement and may be pursued for their own sake. However, employment in the public schools is governed not by the degree but by the professional certificate issued by the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE). Since many students in these programs are preparing for work in the public schools, the pursuit of a degree is usually coupled with pursuit of ALSDE certification. There is a rough correspondence between degree level and certification class, as follows: 

Bachelor's = Class B Professional Educator Certification

Master's = Class A Professional Educator Certification

Education Specialist (post-master's) = Class AA Professional Educator Certification

Doctoral does not have an equivalent associated educator certification

We emphasize that the admission and completion requirements for the degree and for the certificate are often significantly different. Furthermore, not all School of Education and Human Sciences students are pursuing teacher certification. Students seeking certification should verify requirements with an advisor or program director. Alabama State regulations governing certification change often; therefore, it is incumbent upon the student to seek advisement each term.  Students should not register for any coursework without having first met with an advisor.