The Early Childhood Education major is for those students interested in teaching at the preschool or kindergarten level.  The goal of the curriculum is to provide students with the skills, knowledge and abilities to help young children develop socially, intellectually, emotionally, and physically.  To accomplish this goal, The College of Education, consistent with its emphasis on clinical education and research, operates two new public schools, Pizzo Elementary School and the USF Paval Charter School, while continuing to support the Center for Creative Learning, our early childhood facility.  These schools, as well as on-going partnerships with four local school districts, provide extensive and continuous professional opportunities for research and practice for students, teachers and university personnel.

The University of South Florida has one of the largest metropolitan colleges of education in the nation, providing student teachers to public schools throughout the Tampa Bay region. Florida principals have rated USF education graduates the best prepared teachers in the state. 

The goals of the elementary education program are for the student acquire an intellectual foundation in liberal arts and general studies that has both depth and breadth and includes both theoretical and practical knowledge.  In pursuit of this mission, the department seeks to prepare exemplary elementary education teachers from diverse backgrounds to meet the needs of a changing society, to create and extend knowledge, and to transform teaching, learning, leadership and support services through research and informed practice. 

The Department of Special Education prepares teachers to work with children who have emotional and behavioral disabilities, mental retardation, and specific learning disabilities. The undergraduate program is a state-approved program that leads to certification in Varying Exceptionalites.  

USF has one of the largest metropolitan colleges of education in the nation, providing student teachers to public schools throughout the Tampa Bay region. Florida principals have rated USF education graduates the best prepared teachers in the state. 

The Leadership Development Department at USF offers degrees designed to prepare teachers and leaders in the various fields of Industrial-Technical Education, Adult Education, Human Resource Development, Higher Education, and School Leadership. The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree is offered in the areas of: Business and Office Education, Industrial-Technical Education, and Technology Education.

Within the EVT program, students can pursue state certification in Technology Education. In general, students enrolling in the Technology Education program are expected to have successfully completed, at a community college, most of the technical laboratory courses required for Florida Teacher Certification. Teacher certification requires students to have 30 semester hours, with three (3) semester hours in each of the following areas: (a) materials and processes, (b) drafting and design, (c) energy, (d) graphics, (e) electronics, (f) construction, and (g) industrial systems.

The program of studies includes both course work and extensive field experience in school settings. This is to enable students to integrate theory with teaching practice.