ASU expands access to careers in education with new three-year bachelor's degrees

New programs offer high-quality bachelor's degrees in less time

TEMPE, Ariz., Aug. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Arizona State University is launching its first three-year bachelor's degree programs, giving education students the option of an accelerated curriculum for certain paths while maintaining the academic quality and clinical preparation expected of an ASU education.

Developed by the Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation, the programs are believed to be the nation's first three-year bachelor's degrees in education from a public university. The accelerated degree programs build on more than a decade of efforts to redesign education curriculum around the needs of today's students, schools and communities.

Students now can choose from these three-year bachelor's degree options:

• Bachelor of Education in Education (Elementary Education)
• Bachelor of Education in Education (Special Education)

The elementary education and special education degrees meet Arizona teacher certification requirements.

"Future educators should be able to easily access high-quality programs that work for their needs," said Carole Basile, dean of Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation. "These new programs reflect years of redesigning educator preparation so more students can pursue meaningful careers in education through ASU's high-quality preparation."

The three-year degree options are available online and in-person. They have been designed for students anywhere with different goals, life circumstances and career aspirations who are seeking more affordable and flexible paths to earning bachelor's degrees. They build on innovations already embedded throughout ASU's educator preparation programs, including clinically rich experiences, flexible learning options and opportunities for students to earn income while gaining experience in schools. The programs meet Arizona's academic and clinical preparation requirements.

The college will continue to offer a variety of four-year degree programs, which provide more opportunities to take electives and a broader range of degree options and specializations, including early childhood education, secondary education, physical education and more. Four-year Bachelor of Arts in Education programs in elementary education and special education will also continue to be available.

The three-year degrees require a minimum of 90 credits, compared with 120 credits for traditional four-year degrees. Actual time to completion varies depending on full-time or part-time enrollment, transfer credits and other factors.

ASU is exploring more three-year bachelor's degree options in disciplines with high workforce demand and where rigorous outcomes can be achieved through this model. Any future programs would expand student choice alongside, not instead of, the university's four-year bachelor's degrees.

The college's new degree options aim first to increase access and affordability for future educators. The move also helps address persistent teacher shortages in Arizona and across the country.

In fall 2025, nearly 1,400 teaching positions in Arizona remained unfilled, while more than 4,200 additional positions were being covered through alternative staffing arrangements. Nationally, about one in eight teaching positions in 2025 were either unfilled or filled by teachers who were not fully certified for their assignments.

"School districts need innovative solutions that make it easier for talented people in our communities to become teachers," said Jennifer Cruz, superintendent of the Pendergast Elementary School District in Phoenix. "Expanding access to high-quality educator preparation while reducing barriers is an important step toward strengthening Arizona's teacher pipeline and helping more students succeed."

ASU is also partnering with Gila Community College and Arizona Western College to make the three-year degree options available to students in those communities. At Yuma's Crane School District #13, Superintendent Dale Ponder said the three-year option will allow local students an affordable way to become teachers without leaving the community.

"By preparing educators right here in Yuma, we're building a stronger pipeline of teachers who understand our students, know our communities and are more likely to stay in our schools, making a lasting difference for our students, families and the communities we serve," he said.

ASU Executive Vice President and University Provost Nancy Gonzales said the new degree options are examples of the university's commitment to serving Arizona and the United States.

"ASU's charter compels us to take fundamental responsibility for our communities," she said. "That means that we must anticipate and respond to the needs of our students, their families and our K-12 schools. ASU is proud to advance these new degree options that will create even more opportunities for educators to enter classrooms and transform the lives of students in Arizona and across the country.

"I thank Dean Basile and the Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation team for their national leadership in bringing this vision to reality at ASU." 

Learn more:
Applications are now open for all three-year degree programs. Additional information, admissions requirements and application details are available at https://education.asu.edu/three-year-bachelor-education. 

SOURCE Arizona State University - Media Relations