ASU Offers Three-Year Teaching Degree

Arizona State University's new pathway lets students earn an elementary or special education bachelor's degree in three years amid a statewide teacher shortage.

Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Primary Education

Bold vector editorial illustration of a small one-room schoolhouse on a sandy desert plain, with three stepped blocks leading toward its door under warm light. — Arizona State University is offering a three-year elementary and special education bachelor's degree, completed after 90 credits, to help ease the state's teacher shortage. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Arizona State University is offering a three-year bachelor's degree in elementary and special education, completed after 90 credits. The option is designed to help address teacher shortages across Arizona.

Why it matters

Arizona has more than 4,200 teaching positions filled by long-term substitutes, contracted staff, or student teachers. ASU created the shorter pathway to build a pipeline of teachers for the state's schools, including rural communities.

The three-year pathway requires 90 credits and is available in elementary and special education, compared with the traditional four-year route. Arizona has more than 4,200 teaching positions filled by long-term substitutes, contracted staff, or student teachers, and it is unclear how quickly the program will affect that number.

The players

Arizona State University

A public research university based in Tempe, Arizona, and one of the largest public universities in the United States.

Mary Lou Fulton College of Education

The education college within Arizona State University that oversees teacher preparation programs, led by dean Carole Basile for 11 years.

The details

Students can complete the three-year program online or in person and it meets the same academic standards as other bachelor's degrees. ASU partnered with Gila Community College and Arizona Western College to offer the program to rural students.

November 13, 2026: ASU announced the three-year teaching bachelor's degree.
Currently: More than 4,200 Arizona teaching positions are filled by substitutes or contracted staff.

Culture Shift

The shorter route reflects a departure from the four-year degree standard that has long defined teacher preparation in Arizona. It arrives as the state reports more than 4,200 positions filled by non-permanent staff.

Arizona families with children in public schools may see more certified teachers in classrooms as the pathway grows. Prospective teachers can consider the three-year option if they want to enter the profession sooner.

The takeaway

Prospective teachers in Arizona can pursue a three-year path in elementary or special education, with 90 credits required. Anyone considering the program should compare its online and in-person options with their own schedule and location.