Associate Degree in Education (Non-Licensure) Education Foundations Program
60
Credit Hours
100% online, 8-week courses
Transfer in up to 75% of the degree total
Take the First Step in Your Teaching Career with an Online Associate Degree in Education
Are you seeking a career in education? Do you want to become a teacher but aren’t ready to commit to a specific career path? Are you passionate about helping children learn and making a positive impact on the next generation?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then conferring Liberty University’s Associate of Arts (AA) in Education program may be the right step for you! This online degree is a great first step to take in your teaching journey. You’ll gain the tools needed to help students of all ages learn, grow, and succeed in school. After completing this AA degree, you can either start working in the education sector or pursue a bachelor’s degree.
At Liberty, we seek to equip qualified educators who are leaders in their field. Partner with us and get started on the path to teaching with our associate degree in education.
Why Choose Liberty’s Associate in Education Degree Online?
If you’re worried that school will get in the way of your other commitments and priorities, we have just what you need. Our AA in Education program is offered 100% online, which means you won’t have to relocate or leave your job to earn your degree! You can easily access your study materials whenever you need them and complete your courses when it’s most convenient for you.
Choosing Liberty means choosing a degree that prepares you for the real world. As pioneers in distance learning, we don’t just offer flexibility — we offer programs led by professors who are experts in their field. Liberty is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). You can be confident that the skills and credentials gained at Liberty can help you stand out to employers.
Our education associate degrees are non-licensure programs. However, you can transfer in credits from your associate degree and pursue licensure through one of our 100% online Bachelor of Education programs! With Liberty, you’ll be equipped to lead with excellence and integrity in the education field.
What Will You Study in An Associate of Arts in Teaching and Education Online Program?
You will begin your degree by studying core competencies like English and mathematics and then take courses in information literacy, social science, and cultural studies. After completing a variety of general education courses, you’ll take several education classes that will give you a broad overview of the field.
This program provides an introduction to the major trends and issues facing today’s education professionals. You’ll be equipped to pick a career path, understand the historical and philosophical roots of education, and evaluate the rewards and challenges of a teaching career. You’ll also explore the many factors that influence education, including law, ethics, cultural diversity, and society.
An understanding of how people learn is essential for all educators. Our AA in Education program will help bolster your résumé and teaching portfolio and give you insight into various learning theories. You’ll learn how to adapt and personalize your teaching style to meet the needs of all types of students. Our course in childhood psychology will help you understand children’s mental, emotional, and social needs, allowing you to effectively serve society’s youngest learners.
At Liberty, we can equip you with the specialized knowledge and skills needed to launch your career by providing solid foundational training in educational behavior and development. This degree will highlight practical methods for creating lesson plans, developing teaching strategies, and managing classrooms. With an accredited program that includes real-world training, you can become a skilled, ethical educator who inspires students and fosters their curiosity.
Potential Career Opportunities
By earning this non-licensure degree, you can pursue a variety of job opportunities in the world of education. Some of the roles you may qualify for include:
- Child care worker
- Homeschool teacher
- Preschool teacher
- Special education aide
- Substitute teacher
- Teacher’s assistant
Featured Courses
Degree Information
- This program falls under Liberty University’s School of Education.
- View the Undergraduate Education Course Guides (login required).
- This is a non-licensure program. It will not qualify you to earn a Virginia State teaching license or a teaching certificate in any other state. If you would like to be eligible for a teaching license or an ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International) teacher certification, you must complete one of our licensure-track education degrees.
Degree Completion Plan
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Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.
Tuition & Aid
Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for the majority of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.
To continue our mission of providing affordable education, electronic textbooks are provided for all undergraduate courses at no cost to you. As a full-time student, this could save you an estimated $800-2,000 per year on textbooks!
Undergraduate Full Time | $390/Credit |
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Undergraduate Part Time | $455/Credit |
Military Undergraduate | $250/Credit |
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
All Tuition & Fees
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Admission Information
Admission Requirements
- Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9595.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
- Send official high school transcripts or official GED test scores.*
- Students may be allowed to enroll in up to 12 credit hours with Liberty with the submission of our High School Self-Certification Form (login required – you will first need to claim your Liberty Account).
- Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system).
- Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form.
- Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.
*Official high school transcript requirement may be waived with college transcripts from an accredited college/university showing at least 12 earned credit hours with an acceptable GPA.
Note: A 2.0 or above cumulative GPA is required for admission in good standing.
Transcript Policies
High School Transcript Policy
Applicants may submit a High School Self-Certification Form in lieu of a final official high school transcript in order to enroll in up to 12 credit hours at Liberty University.
- Applicants may submit a college transcript showing 12 or more credits from an accredited institution and a High School Self-Certification Form in lieu of high school transcripts.
Students must submit official high school transcripts, or official college transcripts showing at least 12 credit hours earned with an acceptable grade point average (GPA) from an accredited institution, in order to register for additional courses.
The official high school transcript, GED requirement, and High School Self-Certification Form can be waived if the applicant has earned an associate degree or higher.
Final transcripts must reflect all coursework and final grades received for grades 9-12, a graduation date, and an overall GPA. (Mailed transcripts must be in a sealed and unopened envelope.)
Unofficial College Transcript Policy
Unofficial transcripts combined with a Transcript Request Form can be used for admission. Official transcripts are required within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first, and will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.
Before sending unofficial college transcripts, please make sure they include the following:
- Your previous school’s name or logo printed on the document
- Cumulative GPA
- A list of completed courses and earned credit broken down by semester
- Degree and date conferred (if applicable)
Official College Transcript Policy
An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.
If the student uses unofficial transcripts with a Transcript Request Form to gain acceptance, all official transcripts must be received within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first. Failure to send all official transcripts within the 60-day period will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.
Military Transfers
If you have military-only transfer credits (completed basic training and enlistment), you must request an official military transcript. Please go to the Military Transfer Credit webpage to request your military transcript.
International Applicants
If you are an international applicant, you may be required to have your international transcripts reviewed. Information regarding the transcript evaluation process for international students can be found by visiting NACES.
Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.
Admissions Office Contact Information
Liberty University Online Admissions Verification
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515
Ready to Apply?
Submit your application online or over the phone.
Military
Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.
Who May Qualify?
- Active Duty
- Reserve/National Guard
- Veterans/Retirees
- Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
- Current Department of Defense Employees
Available Benefits:
- Tuition discounts – $250 per credit hour for undergraduate courses
- Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder (less than $565 per course)*
- 8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)
- Potential college credit for military training
*Not applicable to certificates.
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you become a teacher with an associate degree in education?
This is a non-licensure program, and completing this degree will not qualify you to sit for teacher certification exams. However, earning an associate degree can help jumpstart your teaching career. You’ll be equipped to work in many paraeducator and early childhood education roles, including as a teacher’s aide or classroom assistant. In some states, you may also qualify to work as a substitute or preschool teacher.
If you wish to teach higher grades or become a lead teacher, you must earn a teaching license. To do so, you can transfer credits from this AA degree to one of our licensure-track bachelor’s in education programs.
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