Top Teaching Colleges in America

Stanford University

• Stanford University, a world-renowned research institution in multiple disciplines, was tied for No. 3 on the U.S. News & World Report rankings for 2010. One thing that sets Stanford apart from other traditional education programs is its emphasis on graduate studies. Students do not pursue a bachelor's degree in education at Stanford. Instead, students meet state requirements for teaching while pursuing a degree in another field. Education courses pursued by undergraduates are taken at the graduate level. Students can then go on to pursue a master's degree or other advanced degree upon completion of their baccalaureate studies. Master's degrees in elementary and secondary education are offered, as are degrees in comparative education; policy, organization and leadership studies; and learning design and technology, among others.

  Stanford University
  School of Education
  485 Lasuen Mall
  Stanford, CA 94305
  650-723-2109
  ed.stanford.edu

Harvard University

• Tied with Stanford for the No. 3 spot is Harvard University, which also offers a graduate degree emphasis in the field of education. Graduate degrees include the doctor of education (Ed.D.) and the doctor of education leadership (Ed.L.D.), as well as multiple master of education programs that emphasize areas of specialization such as school leadership, teacher education psychology and human development in education. Notable is the teacher education program that is primarily designed to produce effective teachers for education in an urban context. Within the teacher education program, Harvard emphasizes the disciplines of math and science, along with curriculum and instruction.

  Harvard University
  Graduate School of Education
  Appian Way
  Cambridge, MA 02138
  617-495-3414
  gse.harvard.edu

Columbia University

• Teachers College at Columbia University moved up one spot from the previous year's list to the No. 2 ranking for 2010. Teachers College offers multiple concentrations within the education program, which are spread across several departments. Teachers College offers specializations within the fields of organization and leadership, arts and humanities, math, science and technology, biobehavioral sciences, human development, counseling and transcultural and international studies.

  Teachers College
  Columbia University
  525 W. 120th St.
  New York, NY 10027
  212-678-3710
  tc.columbia.edu

Vanderbilt University

• The top teaching college in America continues to be the Peabody College of Education at Vanderbilt University. Vanderbilt retained its top rating for 2010. Of the top teaching programs in the nation, Vanderbilt is the only one that offers various undergraduate and graduate degrees in the education field. Undergraduate majors are offered in a variety of fields, including traditional programs like elementary and secondary education, along with nontraditional education degrees in the fields of cognitive studies and human and organizational development. Notable is Vanderbilt's special education program, which is also the top ranked program of its kind in the nation. Vanderbilt offers numerous opportunities for graduate study as well.

  Vanderbilt University
  Peabody College of Education and Human Development
  P.O. Box 327
  Nashville, TN 37203-9418
  615-322-7444
  peabody.vanderbilt.edu