Belhaven University

What you'll study

The Bachelor of Education blends a liberal arts core with professional education coursework to prepare students for classroom teaching and education-related roles. Typical modules include Educational Psychology, Foundations of Education, Curriculum Design and Assessment, Classroom Management, Teaching Literacy in the Content Areas, Differentiated Instruction, and Educational Technology. Students study subject-specific methods courses oriented to their intended grade band (elementary, middle or secondary), such as Elementary Methods, Secondary Content Methods, and Mathematics or Science Methods.

• Foundations and theory: history and philosophy of education, child and adolescent development, diversity and inclusion.
• Pedagogy and practice: lesson planning, classroom management, assessment, differentiated instruction, literacy and numeracy strategies.
• Special topics: special education introduction, behaviour support, educational technology and instructional design.
• Practicum and student teaching: supervised field experiences in partner schools, culminating in a full-term student teaching placement with mentorship and evaluation.
• Capstone / reflection: professional portfolio development, practicum reflection and preparation for licensure examinations where applicable.

Entry requirements

Applicants typically need a secondary school diploma or equivalent with a competitive academic record. Belhaven looks for evidence of strong communication skills and a desire to work with children and young people. Typical application materials include official transcripts, a personal statement outlining vocational and professional goals, and one or more references.

Additional requirements for progression into the professional phase of the programme often include satisfactory background checks and health clearance (for placement eligibility), completion of core general education courses, and meeting any state or programme benchmarks. Students aiming for state teacher licensure should expect to meet the state-mandated testing and certification requirements, which may include subject-matter or pedagogy examinations.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for a range of education roles. Many pursue initial classroom teaching positions in public, charter or independent schools at the elementary or secondary level (subject to state certification). Other common pathways include roles as teaching assistants, special education paraprofessionals, curriculum support staff, instructional coaches, or youth programme coordinators.

With further study or certification, alumni may advance into school leadership, curriculum development, educational consultancy, or roles in non-profit and faith-based education organisations. The degree also provides a solid foundation for postgraduate study in education, educational psychology or administration.

Why study at Belhaven University

Belhaven offers a Christian-centred approach to teacher education with small class sizes that enable close mentoring from experienced faculty. The university maintains partnerships with local schools to provide progressive, supervised field placements and real-world classroom experience throughout the programme. Students benefit from a liberal arts curriculum that emphasises critical thinking, communication and creativity—skills that support versatile teaching practice.

Belhaven's regional accreditation and programme alignment with state certification standards help graduates pursue licensure where required, and the university's emphasis on service, character and the arts provides distinctive preparation for educators seeking to integrate values and creativity into their classrooms.