The College of Education: Driven by Equity
In 1912, the UofM began as West Tennessee State Normal School - a teaching college. All the way back at the beginning, the College of Education was there. As the UofM grew and changed, so did the College of Education. We are now home to three departments where our students specialize in teaching, counseling, researching, leading, administrating, designing, educating and so much more. If you want to work in education, non-profits, or even if you want to teach, lead or counsel in a nontraditional setting, we have a degree program that will help you reach your goals. The COE also houses award-winning research centers that help shape public and academic policy with their innovative research.
The COE demonstrates a commitment to our key values - diversity, inclusion, respect, innovation and service - in our daily operations. We remain committed to help our students excel and to turn innovation into action while inspiring Memphis, Tennessee and the world through education.
COE Departments
The College of Education offers Teaching Certification> and so much more! We have three departments that offer over 30 degree programs at the graduate and undergraduate level. To see which degree program will help you pursue excellence, visit our departmental pages.
- Interested in counseling (clinical mental health, rehabilitation, school, or counselor education), counseling psychology, or educational psychology and research? Learn more about the Counseling, Educational Psychology and Research (CEPR) department>.
- Interested in teaching at the preK-12 level or using instructional design in business, art, or education? Learn more about the Instruction and Curriculum Leadership (ICL) department>.
- Interested in being a K-12 administrator or researching or administrating in higher
and adult education? Learn more about the Leadership (LEAD) department>.
COE Research Centers
- The Center for Research in Educational Policy (CREP)> strives to provide up-to-date, relevant data useful to both schools and policy makers.
- The Center for Rehabilitation and Employment Research (CRER)> conducts research, educates and trains, and provides employment, career, and rehabilitation services for groups of individuals that have been chronically unemployed and under-employed.
- The Mid-South Access Center for Technology (ACT)> is an assistive technology resource center providing services for individuals with disabilities in Memphis and the Mid-South region. Advancing technologies and strategies to empower people with disabilities is at the core of research and activities within the Mid-South ACT.
What can I do with a degree from the COE?
COE graduates work as:
- Hospital-based and community-based treatment and rehabilitation practitioners
- Mental health counselors
- School and university counselors
- Psychologists
- University researchers
- K-12 school administrators
- District superintendents
- Non-profit directors
- Human Resources administrators
- Leaders of government agencies
- Community college presidents
- Deans, Associate Deans, and Assistant Deans
- Student Affairs administrators
- Teachers and leaders in pre-school and K-12
- Behavior Analysts in education, business, and clinical psychology
- Instructional Designers in business, military, and higher education
- Literacy Coaches in schools and the community