Education & Learning Major

Help shape the future as a teacher with a bachelor of arts in education and learning.

Learn by doing with a curriculum rich in hands-on teaching experiences. Education and learning majors spend time in our on-site Early Learning Community and in local schools, and they gain international experience with study abroad courses focused on exploring education systems around the world.

The program offers a deep understanding of the psychological, social, philosophical, and curricular foundations of education, and prepares students to work with children in a variety of settings. Students interested in teaching elementary education or special education should declare a major in education and learning. Students who are interested in teaching at the secondary level should major in their content area and contact undergraduate program chair to plan their licensure program.

“I’m going to be an early education major, hopefully be a special education teacher. I chose Pacific because I was looking for a school with a great education program."

— Ryan Drake '25

Earn a Teaching License

Students can major in education and learning through the College of Arts & Sciences to gain experience with teaching and to develop an understanding of the education field.

Students who want to earn an Oregon preliminary teaching license apply to the College of Education to complete additional professional course requirements and a student-teaching experience during their last two years of their bachelor’s degree.

Earn Teaching Endorsements

Students who choose the education and learning major for licensure can pursue an Oregon preliminary teaching license with an elementary education or special education endorsement. Pair your education and learning major with a minor in teaching English to speakers of other languages to add an ESOL endorsement to your license, and learn about more add-on endorsements and graduate degrees in the Pacific University College of Education.

“What sold me on Pacific was the amazing welcome I received. The kind, welcoming gestures and the many more I consistently received form everyone at Pacific has made the university my second home. Being a Boxer was the best choice I made in my life.”

— Lillian Wolfe '20

Career Preparation

Teachers who study education at Pacific University are in high demand as teachers. Due to Pacific’s extensive hands-on classroom teaching experiences, Pacific graduates start their careers as experienced teachers. Pacific education and learning majors who choose to become teachers also find support at Pacific through the New Teacher Academy.

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