The University of West Alabama offers online teacher certification programs from bachelor’s through doctoral level, including Class B initial licensure, Class A alternative certification for career changers, and Educational Specialist and Doctor of Education degrees for administrators. Founded in 1835 as a teacher’s college, UWA remains one of Alabama’s primary sources of certified educators today.
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The University of West Alabama started out as a teacher’s college in 1835, and it remains one today. The school has since branched out well past the all-female student body and home-economics focus of its early classes, but it’s kept a consistent role training educators for Alabama schools for nearly 200 years.
That history matters, but UWA has kept building toward the future too, with a shift to online teacher education that fits the schedules of working teachers and career changers alike. UWA has become one of Alabama’s most established sources of online teacher preparation.
A Reputation Built on Nearly 200 Years of Teacher Preparation
UWA has been an easy choice for Alabama educators for a long time. The Tuscaloosa News reported classrooms at what was then called Livingston State College were filled to capacity as far back as 1959, and the same article credited the friendliness among students and faculty, a quality that hasn’t changed much in the decades since.
Friendliness and popularity are good signs, but substance is what keeps a school at the top. Cultural and intellectual diversity, an accommodating credit transfer policy, and strong marks in affordability make UWA as much the right choice for teachers today as it was when the school was founded.
UWA has kept that reputation current by staying focused on online education and modern pedagogical research and practice. More than 70 online degree and certification programs now draw candidates from across Alabama and around the country into every class. With a broad range of degrees at every level and in dozens of specialties, the university serves both people just starting toward a teaching career and experienced professionals branching into a new role.
Many Alabama teachers have already built their careers through UWA’s certification programs. The degree options below cover every stage, from a first bachelor’s degree to doctoral-level leadership training.
Degree Programs at the University of West Alabama
Bachelor’s Degrees in Education From the University of West Alabama
A bachelor’s degree in education is the foundation for most teaching careers. When it’s time to get your basic qualifications and initial certification to teach in Alabama, one of these online, four-year majors leads to a Class B teaching certification.
- Bachelor of Science in Collaborative/Special Education
- Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Development
- Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
- Bachelor of Science in General Science – Teaching Certificate
Master’s Degrees in Education From the University of West Alabama
A master’s degree is the goal of many active teachers, and it’s required for a Class A certification in Alabama. UWA’s master’s programs let teachers sharpen their expertise and strengthen command of their subject areas, with versions of each degree available with or without certification. Degree options, including a Master of Education (M.Ed.), a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), or Master of Science give candidates a focused path in the specific area they want to grow.
- Master of Arts in Teaching
- Master of Education in Early Childhood Development
- Master of Education in Early Childhood Education, P-3
- Master of Education in Elementary Education, K-6
- Master of Education in High School 6-12
- Master of Education in Instructional Leadership
- Master of Education in Learning Design and Technology
- Master of Education in Library Media
- Master of Education in Physical Education PS-12
- Master of Education in School Counseling
- Master of Education in Special Education – Collaborative Teacher, 6-12
- Master of Education in Special Education – Collaborative Teacher, K-6
- Master of Education in Student Affairs in Higher Education
- Master of Science in Physical Education
Alternative Class A Master’s Degrees with Certification
UWA also offers a series of specialized Master of Education (M.Ed.) or Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) programs built for alternative certification pathways. These programs target candidates who earned a bachelor’s degree without Initial Teacher Preparation (ITP) coursework and don’t currently hold an Alabama teaching certification.
Each program includes the field experience and coursework required for Class A certification, plus graduate-level coursework in the subject area. Current teachers can also use these programs to add certification in a new subject. Many subjects are available in either MAT or M.Ed. format.
- Biology, 6-12 (M.Ed. or MAT)
- Early Childhood & Elementary Education, P-3/K-6 (M.Ed.)
- Early Childhood Education, P-3 (M.Ed.)
- Elementary Education, K-6 (M.Ed.)
- English Language Arts, 6-12 (M.Ed. or MAT)
- General Science, 6-12 (M.Ed. or MAT)
- History, 6-12 (M.Ed. or MAT)
- Mathematics, 6-12 (M.Ed. or MAT)
- Physical Education, P-12 (M.Ed. or MAT)
- General Social Science, 6-12 (M.Ed. or MAT)
- Collaborative Teacher Special Education, 6-12 (M.Ed.)
- Collaborative Teacher Special Education, K-6 (M.Ed.)
Educational Specialist Degrees from the University of West Alabama
An Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree offers a high level of expertise without the time and cost of a doctorate, and it’s often the next step toward administrative and leadership roles for Alabama educators. UWA’s Ed.S. programs pair certification-track coursework with post-graduate leadership and instructional training.
- Educational Specialist in Counseling
- Educational Specialist in Early Childhood Education
- Educational Specialist in Elementary Education
- Educational Specialist in Instructional Leadership
- Educational Specialist in Library Media
- Educational Specialist in School Counseling
- Educational Specialist in Collaborative Special Education 6-12
- Educational Specialist in Collaborative Special Education K-6
- Educational Specialist in Teacher Leader
Certificate Programs in Education from the University of West Alabama
Sometimes a focused certificate with a state-approved curriculum is all a candidate needs. UWA’s certificate programs draw on the same instructors and curriculum as its degree programs, but get the job done faster and at lower cost.
- Provisional Certificate in a Teaching Field
- Post-Master’s Certificate: Instructional Leadership
- Temporary Special Education Certificate
Doctoral Degrees in Education from the University of West Alabama
At the highest level, a doctoral degree can define an entire career. UWA’s Doctor of Education in Rural Education offers a course of study built around the leadership challenges specific to Alabama’s small, diverse school districts. It prepares administrators and principals to take on the poverty and resource challenges those districts face, with concentrations that let candidates focus on the issues most relevant to their own district.
- Doctor of Education in Rural Education with a concentration in:
- Counseling
- Higher Education Administration
- Instructional Technology
- Library Media
- Organizational Change and Leadership
- Teacher Leader
Frequently Asked Questions
What degree levels does the University of West Alabama offer for teacher certification?
UWA offers online programs from bachelor’s through doctoral level, covering initial Class B certification, Class A alternative certification for career changers, Educational Specialist degrees, standalone certificates, and a Doctor of Education in Rural Education.
Are UWA’s teacher certification programs fully online?
Yes. UWA’s education programs are delivered online, with more than 70 degree and certification programs available, built to fit around the schedules of working teachers and career changers.
What’s the difference between Class A and Class B certification in Alabama?
Class B certification is the initial teaching credential, typically earned through a bachelor’s degree program. Class A certification requires a master’s degree and reflects an advanced level of preparation, which is why many teachers return to a master’s program specifically to reach it.
Can someone without an education degree become certified through UWA?
Yes. UWA’s alternative Class A master’s programs are built for candidates who already hold a bachelor’s degree in a different field and don’t yet have an Alabama teaching certification, combining certification coursework with graduate-level study.
What kind of support do online students get at UWA?
Online students have access to Career Services advisors and a formal mentorship partnership with The Mentor Collective, which pairs each student with a mentor suited to their program and goals.
- UWA covers every certification level — from a first Class B bachelor’s degree through Class A master’s, Ed.S., and doctoral programs, all online.
- Alternative certification is built in — candidates with a non-education bachelor’s degree can pursue Class A certification through UWA’s alternative master’s programs without starting over.
- Mentorship supports online learners — a partnership with The Mentor Collective pairs students with mentors, on top of standard student teaching and Career Services support.
- A long track record in Alabama — UWA has trained Alabama educators since 1835 and has built one of the state’s most established online teacher preparation programs.
Explore online teacher certification and education degree programs at the University of West Alabama, from bachelor’s-level initial certification through doctoral leadership training.
