Columbia University is recognized throughout the nation for its elite education programs that train and prepare students to achieve successful careers as educators. Columbia's Teachers College is the oldest graduate school of education in the U.S., and the largest as of 2011. The school offers numerous graduate and doctorate degree programs for almost every academic subject, and programs can qualify graduates to competently and effectively teach all education levels, including in elementary, secondary, college and graduate classrooms.
The school's Master of Art and Art Education degree program consists of courses that address important topics such as the artistic development of children, curriculum designs in art education, research methods, artistic development in adolescents and adults, and the historical foundations of art education. The school offers master's and doctorate degree programs in science and education that provide students with a comprehensive knowledge of the sciences along with effective methods of teaching this knowledge to children and adults. The school's master's, Ph.D. and Ed.D degree programs in history and education discuss influential individuals, ideas and institutions of the past, while also teaching students to apply historical knowledge and perspective to contemporary educational issues.
Vanderbilt's Peabody School of Education and Human Development is ranked as the best education program in the nation for 2011 by "U.S. News & World Report." Students benefit from the school's advanced resources, innovative technological equipment and experienced professors who are highly regarded in the field for demonstrating excellence in their professional and teaching careers. Vanderbilt provides several undergraduate, graduate and doctorate degree programs in many different areas of study. The school's bachelor's degree in Secondary Education educates and prepares students to teach one or more subjects at the level of grades 7 through 12.
Vanderbilt's master's degree program in education policy equips students with a scholarly understanding of the public policy process regarding education, and prepares them to achieve successful careers working in policy analysis and public service positions for governmental or private institutions. The school's Ph.D. program in language, literacy and culture focuses on how language and literacy help humans understand and change their world,. Courses in the program address oral language, learning through literacy, early literacy learning, second language learning, and connections among language, literacy and culture.
As of 2011, "U.S. News" ranked Harvard as the third-best education school in the nation. The Harvard Graduate School of Education provides many master's and doctorate degree programs that prepare students to thrive as educators at a variety of education levels. The school provides a master of education degree in higher education that equips students with the advanced knowledge and essential skills required to teach college courses or to work in policy and planning for higher education associations. With a focus on analytical and managerial skills, the curriculum discusses significant practices, policies and issues influencing current U.S. higher education systems. The school's Doctor of Education degree program enhances the leadership skills of the students and teaches them about the intricate relationships among policy, research and the practice of education. The Ph.D. program in Human Development and Education emphasizes patterns of development throughout the span of an entire life from infancy to adulthood. The courses in the program also focus on the cultural influences on cognitive, social and emotional development.
The School of Education at Stanford University is ranked by "U.S. News" as the fourth-best school for education as of 2011, and the school offers many high-quality degree programs for potential educators. The school's undergraduate program in education allows students to do a combined major with educational studies. The school has a Master of Arts in Education degree program for elementary school education. The program entails comprehensive lessons regarding all elementary school subjects and valuable hands-on exercises that enable students to practice their teaching skills in public elementary school classrooms for many different grade levels. Students can also continue their studies through Stanford's many doctorate programs. The school's Ph.D. program in mathematics education requires students to conduct original and ambitious research projects, teach courses and lead seminars as they obtain expert-level knowledge of mathematics teaching and learning. Other Ph.D. programs offered by the school include degrees in anthropology and education, economics of education, higher education, history of education, philosophy of education, and sociology of education.