Supportive Faculty
You will learn from professors who are personally committed to your success. They provide individualized guidance and support, ensuring you receive valuable feedback and mentorship throughout your academic journey.
School of Education
Empowering Educators. Inspiring Futures.
Whether you're just beginning your journey into teaching or looking to advance your career, Florida Southern's School of Education offers a full range of programs, including undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees, designed to meet you where you are and take you where you want to go.
With hands-on clinical experiences, personalized faculty mentorship, and strong school partnerships, our students gain the tools they need to thrive in real-world classrooms. From early childhood to educational leadership, our programs are grounded in research, driven by innovation, and focused on impact. Discover how you can lead the future of education starting today.
At Florida Southern College’s School of Education, we prepare passionate, knowledgeable, and forward-thinking educators to make a lasting difference.An Unparalleled Education Experience
On-Campus Schools
All education majors have opportunities to collaborate with teachers and students at our on-campus lab schools, the Early Childhood Learning Lab and the Roberts Academy.
Practical Experience
Clinical experiences, internships, and partnerships are a major part of the education programs, with opportunities beginning in your first year. These hands-on experiences ensure you are well-prepared for a successful career, providing valuable insights and practical skills.
Generous Funding
Mark and Lynn Hollis established the Hollis Fellows in Education Program to provide scholarships to education majors pursuing teaching careers.
Student Voices
Some of our students are preparing for their first classroom. Others are already running one and coming back for what comes next.
FSC offers education majors so many opportunities! Practical experiences, both on campus and through fieldwork, prepared me for the classroom and reinforced my passion for teaching. The support from the faculty is incredibly influential; each encouraged and challenged me to excel.
Jimmy Houle, 2023
"I am passionate about growing the next generation of teachers and leaders! Florida Southern College provides teachers and leaders the opportunity to pursue their personal and professional goals. I am thankful for all the professors that are guiding me on my journey to pursue my Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership degree."
Lana Tatom
Undergraduate Programs
Start with the students you want to teach. Our undergraduate programs span early childhood through grade 12 and range from a single subject to a full elementary classroom, each leading to Florida teacher certification.
Art Education
Prepare to teach visual arts, fostering creativity and artistic skills in K-12 learners.
Elementary Education
Equip yourself to teach a variety of subjects to children in elementary schools, focusing on meeting the needs of all learners.
Music Education
Learn to teach music in grades K-12, covering music theory, performance, and conducting to inspire and educate future musicians.
Secondary Education
Prepare to teach middle and high school grades 6-12 in subjects such as biology, English, math, and social science, focusing on advanced academic content and adolescent development.
Education Minors
The Early Childhood Education minor focuses on child development and teaching practices for children ages three to eight. The Special Education minor prepares students to support all learners through inclusive and differentiated instruction.
Degree Completion for Working Adults
Earn your Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education through this flexible option.
Fast-Track Your Future and Save
Florida Southern’s 4+1 programs let you earn both your bachelor’s and master’s degrees in just five years. By overlapping coursework, you save on tuition and graduate faster—equipped with advanced skills to lead and inspire in the classroom.
Get Your DOE Credits with FSC's Teacher Workshops
Florida Southern makes earning certification and recertification credits convenient! Taught by faculty, our workshops are approved by the State of Florida Department of Education can be completed online.
Graduate Programs
Whether you hold a Florida Professional Teaching Certificate or you're coming to education from another career, our online master's programs are designed to fit around the work you're already doing.
Master of Arts in Transformational Curriculum and Instruction
Transition to a teaching career with online courses in research-based practices and hands-on internship designed for individuals from diverse professional backgrounds.
Master of Education in Transformational Curriculum and Instruction
Advance your teaching career by enhancing your knowledge of student-centered, experiential, and problem-based learning methods. This program is designed for teachers holding a Florida Professional Teaching Certificate.
Master of Education in Educational Leadership
Gain the skills and credentials to lead your Pre-K-12 academic community with practical curriculum and professional networking opportunities. This program is designed for teachers holding a Florida Professional Teaching Certificate.
Doctoral Programs
Two doctorates, one question: where do you want to lead? Both are hybrid and cohort-based, built around the schedules of working professionals, and both culminate in a dissertation addressing a real problem of practice.
Doctor of Education
A broad, research-driven doctorate for accomplished professionals leading in higher education, business, nonprofits, government, and P-12. Many students enter with a master's from outside education.
Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership
Built for experienced P-12 teachers and administrators ready to lead schools and districts, with coursework in administration, policy, and instructional leadership.
Happening in Education
News from the classrooms, the partner schools, and the students who will be running rooms of their own soon.
Connect with the School of Education
Questions about certification, a program, or where to start? The dean's office can point you to the right person.
Lori Rakes, Ph.D.
Dean of Education, Nina B. Hollis Endowed Chair of Education, Associate Professor of Education
- 863.680.4172
- lrakes@flsouthern.edu
- Carol J. Barnett / Curry Education Office - 113
Ashlee Lamb, Ed.D.
Master of Education in Educational Leadership Program Coordinator, Professional Education Program Manager
- 863.616.6457
- alamb@flsouthern.edu
- Curry Education Office - 105
Brooke Veal, MATL
Director of Field Study and Evening Education Programs
- 863.680.5004
- bveal@flsouthern.edu
- Carol J. Barnett / Curry Education Office - 106
Take the Next Step on Your Educational Journey
Have questions about certification areas, transfer credit, or what a semester actually
looks like? Our admission counselors work with future educators every day and can
answer your questions. Reach out, or come see the campus for yourself.