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Major · Education

Teach across grade bands with a multi-level credential

Teacher Education, Multiple Levels prepares candidates whose credentials span more than one grade band, common in music, art, PE, world languages, and special education. Graduates still need state licensure, which depends on Praxis or state exams plus supervised clinical practice.

Schools offering
190
Annual completions
3,430
Typical degree level
Associate's + Bachelor's
Median earnings (5yr)
$46k

About this major

Teacher Education, Multiple Levels (CIP 13.1206) covers programs that prepare candidates to teach across more than one grade band: combinations like elementary/secondary, early childhood/elementary, or junior high/high school. The credential model exists because some subjects are taught school-wide rather than at one age level. Music, art, physical education, world languages, and special education are the common cases, and most schools need at least one teacher in each.

Coursework blends general pedagogy with subject-specific methods classes pitched at multiple age groups. State-mandated field hours start early and culminate in supervised student teaching, sometimes split across two grade-band placements. The major fulfills the academic side of certification, but the actual license comes from your state education department after Praxis or a state-specific exam, clinical practice, and a background check.

The completions data deserve a footnote. About 190 colleges report graduates in this CIP and roughly 3,430 students complete it each year, which looks small next to elementary education at 31,672. The gap reflects how universities label programs: many route students with cross-band credentials into named subject majors like music teacher education (3,229 completions) or physical education teaching and coaching (4,787). The credential outcome is similar; the major name on the diploma differs.

Section 3 · Careers

Where this major leads

Occupations most often associated with this major, from the federal BLS+O*NET crosswalk. Job-growth projections and median wages are national.

Occupation Median wage Job growth Typical education
Elementary school teachers, except special education $62k -2.0% Bachelor's degree
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education $65k -1.6% Bachelor's degree
Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education $63k -2.0% Bachelor's degree
Preschool teachers, except special education $37k +4.1% Associate's degree
Kindergarten teachers, except special education $61k -1.6% Bachelor's degree
Education teachers, postsecondary $72k +2.1% Doctoral or professional degree
Section 4 · Earnings

Earnings at a glance

Median graduate earnings from the federal College Scorecard, 5 and 10 years out.

Median 5-year earnings

$46k

Associate's vs Bachelor's — early-career earnings

Associate's

$38k

Bachelor's

$48k

Who this major is for

This major fits candidates who already know which subject they want to teach and like the idea of carrying that subject across an entire school. If you are drawn to working with both younger and older students in one day, or you want a credential that lets you move between elementary and middle or middle and high without re-credentialing, the multi-level structure matches that goal. Specialty areas with stable demand, particularly special education, world languages, and music, also signal a fit because most districts need to fill at least one of those slots every hiring cycle.

It is a weaker match if you are still deciding on a subject or grade band, or if your priority is the highest possible starting salary. Early-career median earnings in this CIP sit near $46,418, and even the BLS national medians for elementary and secondary teachers ($62,340 and $64,580) trail other bachelor’s-required fields. The licensure pathway is also non-negotiable: candidates uncomfortable with state exams, classroom observations, and the certification paperwork should look at adjacent paths like educational studies (non-licensure) or a content-area major paired with a post-baccalaureate certificate.

Section 6 · Where to study

Top colleges for Teacher Education, Multiple Levels

Ranked by annual completions at the associate's or bachelor's level — a proxy for program scale.

College Location Assoc. Bach. Total
Texas State University San Marcos, TX 0 324 324
Sam Houston State University Huntsville, TX 0 320 320
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA 0 229 229
El Paso Community College El Paso, TX 153 0 153
Houston Community College Houston, TX 123 0 123
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga, TN 0 108 108
University of West Alabama Livingston, AL 0 90 90
Saginaw Valley State University University Center, MI 0 89 89
East Tennessee State University Johnson City, TN 0 76 76
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus Bowling Green, OH 0 72 72
Section 7 · Explore sideways

Related majors to explore

Elementary Education and Teaching

31,672 completions/yr

Early Childhood Education and Teaching

19,347 completions/yr

Physical Education Teaching and Coaching

4,787 completions/yr

Secondary Education and Teaching

4,057 completions/yr

Music Teacher Education

3,229 completions/yr

Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching

2,213 completions/yr

Kindergarten/Preschool Education and Teaching

1,867 completions/yr

English/Language Arts Teacher Education

1,846 completions/yr

Considering this direction?

We've taken a hard look at the debt, earnings trajectory, and degree-level tradeoffs for the Teacher Education, Multiple Levels field. Read our verdict before you commit.

Is Teacher Education, Multiple Levels worth it? Read verdict
Section 9 · Frequently asked

Common questions

What does a multiple-levels teacher education major actually prepare you for?
It prepares candidates for credentials that span more than one grade band, most often in subject areas where one teacher serves the whole school: music, art, physical education, world languages, and special education. Coursework combines general pedagogy with subject methods at both elementary and secondary levels, plus state-required field hours and student teaching.
Is this major different from elementary or secondary education?
Yes. Elementary and secondary majors prepare you for one grade band. Multiple-levels programs prepare you for a credential that legally covers a wider range, typically because the subject is taught throughout the building. The course load looks different: more methods classes spanning age groups, often two clinical placements at different levels.
What do graduates earn?
Median early-career earnings in this CIP run about $46,418 across all degree levels, with bachelor’s graduates around $48,274 and associate’s graduates around $38,454. National BLS medians for elementary and secondary teachers sit in the $62,000–$65,000 range once you are credentialed and on the salary schedule. State and district pay scales drive most of the variation.
Does the major equal a teaching license?
No. The major fulfills coursework and clinical-hour requirements set by your state’s education department. Licensure also requires passing Praxis or a state-specific exam, completing supervised student teaching, and submitting fingerprints and background checks. Confirm requirements with the state where you intend to teach before you finalize a program.
How many colleges report this major and how big are the cohorts?
About 190 institutions report completions in this CIP, with roughly 3,430 graduates nationally each year. Cohorts are smaller than elementary education (around 31,672 completions) because many universities route students into named subject majors, such as music education or special education, instead of this combined code.
Which colleges produce the most graduates in this major?
Texas State University (324 bachelor’s), Sam Houston State (320), and Penn State Main (229) lead bachelor’s completions. El Paso Community College (153) and Houston Community College (123) lead associate’s completions, often as transfer pathways into a four-year licensure program.