Belhaven to offer online teacher program amid teacher shortage

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Belhaven University has launched a fully online K-6 Elementary Teacher Education Preparation Program aimed at combating Mississippi’s ongoing teacher shortage. The program, which leads to a Mississippi teacher license, offers a flexible, high-quality pathway for aspiring educators who are unable to attend traditional on-campus classes.

Designed to mirror Belhaven’s on-campus elementary education program, the online option includes robust academic support and field experience placements in each candidate’s local community.

“Our goal is to remove barriers for individuals who feel called to teach but need a more accessible path,” said Dr. David Hand, dean of the School of Education. “We are confident that this innovative online Teacher Preparation Program will play a vital role in addressing Mississippi’s elementary teacher shortage.”

The new initiative was developed in response to rising demand for remote learning, a partnership with Mississippi’s community colleges, and the pressing need to increase the state’s pool of qualified educators.

Graduates of the program will be licensed to teach kindergarten through sixth grade in Mississippi public and private schools. The degree also provides a foundation for various education-related careers, including curriculum coordination, reading specialization, instructional coaching, and nonprofit education work.

The program is open exclusively to Mississippi residents. Belhaven will work with local school districts, principals, and clinical educators to coordinate fieldwork and internship experiences in students’ home communities.

The new undergraduate offering builds on the success of Belhaven’s online Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Alternate Route program, which has already helped hundreds of educators enter the profession.

“Our experience and success with the MAT Alternate Route program have demonstrated the effectiveness of online education,” Hand said. “It serves as a supportive model for our new undergraduate offering.”