Teachers College includes bachelor-level degrees leading to educator licensure in elementary education K-6, middle level education 4-8, Computer Science/Business Technology Education 4-12, and many secondary content areas in collaboration with other programs and colleges across campus. Health, Physical Education, & Recreation programs include a bachelor's degree in Health and Physical Education, R
ecreation, Sport Management, and Health and Human Performance. A graduate degree in Sport Administration is also available. The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree is the graduate degree that leads to initial teacher licensure in all areas. Other graduate degrees offered include Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degrees in Educational Leadership Principalship, Curriculum Leadership, or Superintendency as well as Master of Science in Education (MSE) degrees in Educational Leadership, School Counseling, Special Education, and Teacher Leadership--with options in English to Speakers of Other Language, Online Teaching, Special Education Resource, and more. In addition, Master of Science (MS) degrees in Clinical Mental Health and Developmental Therapy are available. The Counselor Education programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Henderson State University has a proud history of preparing thousands of Arkansas’s best teachers, school administrators, and other school professionals. In 1929, Henderson became Henderson State Teachers College (HSTC) and kept that distinction for almost 40 years. When HSTC became Henderson State College and later Henderson State University, the College of Education broadened its scope to include professions other than P-12 educators. The College of Education was renamed Teachers College, Henderson with the dedication of the Education Center in 2001 and maintained the name for 21 years. From 2022-2024, Teachers College was absorbed into the Health, Education, and Social Sustainability Learning Community. In the Spring of 2024, Teachers College, Henderson was restored as a College. Through professional programs and partnerships, Teachers College, Henderson remains dedicated to its vision of “Preparing Professionals for Progressive Communities.”
Historically, the education program was accredited by the former National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) since its inception in 1954. The educator preparation program in Teachers College was nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation for Educator Preparation (CAEP) until 2023, when Arkansas began to require a state review instead. Support programs include the Office of Educator Licensure, the Office of Teacher Education Experiences, the STEM Education Center, and the Southwest-A Education Renewal Zone (ERZ). The STEM Center and the Southwest A Education Renewal Zone provide professional development and resources for Arkansas P-12 schools. HSU has maintained a strong partnership with public schools since 1994 when it was part of the “Break the Mold” initiative, funded by the Rockefeller Foundation to build P-16 partnerships between higher education and public schools. While many of the original recipients of “Break the Mold” funds no longer have strong public school partnerships, TCH’s Partners in Education (PiE) is stronger than ever!
