For individuals who work in education, change is a constant. That has never been more true than today. 

And yet, for the University of Northern Iowa, education is also a foundation that endures. For nearly 150 years, the former Iowa State Teachers College has led in preparing educators who shape the future of Iowa and beyond. 

The results have been impressive. UNI graduates more future teachers than any other institution in Iowa. Four in 10 Iowa school leaders are alumni of our educational leadership programs. You can find UNI educators in every Iowa county and 99% of school districts. 

Consistently, UNI has adapted to meet the evolving needs of schools and communities, ensuring access to high-quality education. 

Innovation and future promise 

Today, UNI continues to open doors for those ready to step into vital professions in education.  

After two years of intense effort, we’re truly excited for this fall’s launch of the most comprehensive update to UNI Teacher Education in 20 years. Focused on educational essentials for tomorrow’s teaching workforce, we have strengthened the fundamental building blocks of teacher preparation. With a consistent, adaptable approach that provides both choice and structure, our future graduates are even better positioned for success and timely completion of their degrees.

At the College of Education, these steps followed such innovations as our online Purple Pathway for Paraeducators Program, for elementary paraeducators to earn their teaching degree. A new early childhood education online transfer program now complements our longstanding online transfer program in elementary education. Together, these are the most chosen programs by students benefiting from the UNI@IACC agreements with community colleges across the state. 

Expanding access, empowering educators 

We are just as thrilled with the direction of our graduate programs. Career changers, working professionals and aspiring educators from all backgrounds can benefit from an unprecedented number of flexible, online options in graduate education. 

In conjunction with UNI’s College of Graduate, Research and Online Education – known for the quality of its online programming – incoming graduate students have new choices like: 

• The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in secondary education. This pathway for career changers to get licensed and step into middle and high school classrooms helps  address Iowa’s teacher shortage while bringing us educators with rich career experiences and expertise.
• The Master of Arts in Education in transformative education. Current educators looking to lead change in their schools and communities gain tools to strengthen learning and drive meaningful improvement through innovative practices in teaching, student engagement and problem-solving.
• An expanding choice of graduate certificates. New offerings like the Artificial Intelligence in Education certificate includes the ability to stack certificates toward a master’s degree.
• A revamped Master of Arts in instructional design and learning technologies. A blend of education, psychology and technology coursework prepares instructional designers for classrooms of all kinds, from corporate and traditional school settings to e-learning. 

To top it all off, we continue to see growth in UNI’s only doctoral program. The Doctor of Education, with its six academic areas of specialization, includes a new option in interdisciplinary studies.  

A commitment to educational excellence for all

With programs like these, UNI reaffirms its commitment to making education accessible and effective for all learners. We’re listening. And we’re responding.

And, as always, we do so in partnership with hundreds of PK-12 school districts, mentor teachers, school administrators and school-based specialized educators. We value and respect the perseverance they show every day. Together, our dedication to education benefits the educator workforce, schools and communities. 

Whether it’s alternative certification pathways, innovative graduate programs or a transformed curriculum, UNI is shaping the future of education – one Panther educator at a time.