Highlights
- Arizona State University announced its first three-year bachelor's degree programs on Aug. 27, targeting future teachers.
- Programs cover Elementary Education and Special Education, both meeting Arizona state teaching certification requirements.
- ASU says the degrees are the nation's first three-year education bachelor's programs from a public university.
- Arizona had roughly 1,400 open teaching positions in fall 2025, with more than 4,000 filled through alternative measures.
Arizona State University launched its first three-year bachelor's degree programs Thursday, targeting the state's persistent teacher shortage with an accelerated path through the Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation.
Students can now choose the three-year track for the Bachelor of Education in Elementary Education or the Bachelor of Education in Special Education. Both programs meet all required state teaching certifications, ASU said. The programs require a minimum of 90 credits, and are available both online and in-person.
ASU and PR Newswire describe the offerings as the nation's first three-year bachelor's degrees in education from a public university.
The backdrop: in fall 2025, about 1,400 teaching positions were open in Arizona, with over 4,000 more positions being filled through alternative measures, according to AZFamily's reporting on the announcement.
Jennifer Cruz, superintendent of the Pendergast Elementary School District in Phoenix, said school districts need solutions that make it easier for people to become teachers and that expanding access while reducing barriers is an important step toward strengthening Arizona's teacher pipeline.
ASU officials said they are looking to offer more three-year degree programs in the future.
Sources
Every factual claim in this article traces to one of the sources below. See how we work for the editorial process.
- AZ Family (3TV/CBS5) retrieved 27/08/2026 20:22
- PR Newswire retrieved 27/08/2026 20:22
Authored by The Scottsdale Signal. Drafted by AI from primary-source material under our beat-specific editorial guides; reviewed by humans before publish under our five-gate process. Sources retrieved at 27/08/2026 20:22. Every claim traces to a source.
