TEACH.org Logo
3 women talking
Fairfield

Fairfield University

About

Fairfield University is a Jesuit, Catholic university in mission and spirit. Our objectives include promoting a sense of social responsibility, and making sure all students embrace and develop their full creative, intellectual potential. 

We provide a liberal arts education that is both broad and deep, believing that in order to better the world, you first have to understand it from a staggering number of viewpoints. We believe that each and every student is a capable individual with infinite potential, and we embrace the opportunity to turn strengths into careers. 

As a student at Fairfield, you'll do this through reflection, gaining and evaluating knowledge, and identifying and understanding social issues. Fairfield University was founded in 1942, and has since awarded over 45,000 degrees. Each degree represents a different jumping-off point for students who have embraced their capabilities and taken them out into the world.

  • College or University
  • Fairfield, CT

Institution Links

  • Admissions
  • Financial Aid Office
  • Online Application
Mindy Khamvongsa

Teachers need to foster an environment where students feel safe, celebrated and respected. Professor Colwell spoke very highly of the internship program: an eye-opening opportunity for graduate students to fully understand teaching as a potential profession.

Mindy Khamvongsa

Fairfield

Programs

Bachelor’s & certification

Five Year B.A./M.A in Teacher Certification

  • 15 months

    Program Duration

  • Hybrid

    Program Format

  • Pre-Test Required

    Yes

Relevant Links

Program Info

In close collaboration with the College of Arts and Sciences, the Educational Studies and Teacher Preparation Department (in the Graduate School of Education and Human Development) offers: 

  • A 15-credit minor in educational studies to all interested undergraduates, and 
  • A five-year integrated teacher certification program, which awards Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in (a) Secondary Education, with concentrations in science, math, English, social studies and world languages, (b) Elementary Education, and (c) Special Education

Our programs are organized around reflective inquiry and socially responsible professional practice. We are committed to educating scholar-practitioners who have the knowledge, skills and dispositions to enact meaningful connections between theory and practice, promote a developmental model of human growth and learning, exercise ethical professional judgment and leadership, and advocate for quality education for all learners.

Faculty of the Educational Studies and Teacher Preparation Department are available for individual advising by appointment throughout the year. Our teacher preparation programs are accredited by the State of Connecticut and are nationally recognized by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. 

Students who successfully complete the teacher preparation programs at Fairfield qualify for an initial teaching certificate as secondary educators (grades 7 through 12) or elementary educators in the state of Connecticut. This certificate is recognized by 38 other states and the District of Columbia, all of which participate in the NASDTEC Interstate Contract.

Get Deadline Reminders

Application Fee & Annual Tuition

  • $26,000

    In State Tuition

  • $26,000

    Out of State Tuition

  • $65

    Application Fee

Ways to Lower Your Costs

Students at Fairfield University have reduced the cost of their program using these methods. Check with Fairfield University to see if you can, too!

Amount
Description

$5,000-$7,500 / year

Grants, Stipends, Scholarships

The Minority Teacher Incentive Grant Program provides up to $5,000 a year for two years of full-time study in a teacher preparation program (usually junior or senior year), as long as you are an admitted education minor and complete all the requirements. As an added bonus, you may receive up to $2,500 a year, for up to four years, to help pay off college loans if you teach in a Connecticut public elementary or secondary school. To qualify, you must be a full-time college junior or senior of African-American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian-American or Native American heritage, and be nominated by the chair of the Educational Studies and Teacher Preparation Department. To apply, obtain a nomination form here

 

Up to $30,000

Work Study, Working While Still Enrolled

Once entering the fifth-year graduate portion of this program, costs may be offset by voluntary participation in the internship program. Visit Teaching Internships on the Fairfield University website or contact SEHDcommunication@fairfield.edu for more information.

For more information visit:Financial Aid Office

Certifications

Bilingual Education, Elementary / Secondary Education
Biology, Grades 4-12
Chemistry, Grades 4-12
Comprehensive Special Education, Grades Pre-K-12
Elementary, Grades Pre-K-6
English, Grades 4-12
French, Grades 4-12
General Science, Grades 4-12
German, Grades 4-12
History & Social Studies, Grades 4-12
Italian, Grades 4-12
Latin & Classical Humanities, Grades 4-12
Mathematics, Grades 4-12
Physics, Grades 4-12
Spanish, Grades 4-12
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), Grades Pre-K-12

Get Started

Own the application process. Start a checklist to put yourself on track to becoming the best teacher you can be.