wyoming colleges

Online Education Degrees: Wyoming

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The Equality State’s primary state agency that oversees the preK-12 education system is the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE). Among its key functions are:

  • Setting the state’s curriculum standards and guidelines
  • Managing the resources and funds across school districts
  • Overseeing the academic performance standards, including accountability and standardized tests
  • Ensuring compliance with state and federal education laws

Besides the WDE, the Wyoming State Board of Education also oversees the preK-12 education system. In its case, however, its main function is in policymaking.

Note that Wyoming has the lowest population among the 50 states. As such, its preK-12 system reflects it, with just 49 school districts and 348 schools across the state. More than 94,400 students are enrolled, while over 7,300 teachers are employed in preK-12 public schools. Wyoming has a 1:13 teacher-to-student ratio, a lower ratio than the 1:16 national average.

The Equality State strives to provide its preK-12 students with equal access to education. Such strong commitment manifests itself in the high public spending – the state spends $16,698 per pupil, on average. The national average is $18,614 per pupil.

Despite the high per-pupil spending, however, Wyoming faces persistent issues in its preK-12 system. Like many states, it has teacher shortages due to the significant disparity between teacher salaries and cost of living.

Teacher shortages are more apparent in rural areas that, in turn, affect access to education. Students in rural areas face more difficulties with access to resources than their urban counterparts.

Significant achievement gaps are also a major concern. Native American, low-income, and rural students are most affected by these gaps. Funding issues further worsen this.

Fortunately, Wyoming recognizes these issues and adopts appropriate measures to address them. Wyoming continues to increase its high school graduation rates over the years. There’s an increasing focus on improving career and technical education access and outcomes, too. 

With its low population density, small class sizes are the norm. Students benefit from personalized learning environments and attention. With an increase in education technology integration, students enter the 21st-century classroom with more confidence.

Plus, licensed teachers are in high demand in Wyoming. There’s a gap of at least 300 public school teachers every year in the state. This means that you should consider becoming a licensed teacher in Wyoming because of the excellent job opportunities. In terms of teachers’ salaries, the state continues to implement pay increases. 

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Requirements for Teaching Licensure in Wyoming

Every aspiring teacher who wants to teach in Wyoming must secure a teaching license first. The Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board (PTSB) sets the teacher licensing standards and application and renewal process.

Wyoming offers two routes toward a teaching license.

Traditional pathway

If you’re a fresh high school graduate or you have an associate degree in education, take the traditional pathway. Here, you must complete the following eligibility requirements to qualify for an initial teaching license. Note that these requirements are for in-state applicants.

  • Earn at least a four-year bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university
  • Complete a state-approved teacher preparation program that includes a student-teaching experience
  • Secure an  Institutional Recommendation for licensure from the university where you completed the teacher preparation program
  • Submit two blue FBI Fingerprint Cards, which include a background check
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the Constitutions of the United States and Wyoming
  • Achieve passing scores on teacher certification exams
  • Submit a complete application packet

Out-of-state applicants must also complete the abovementioned eligibility requirements. But they must also submit official transcripts as proof of completion of an out-of-state teacher preparation program. Other terms and conditions apply.

Alternative pathway

If you have a valid out-of-state teaching license, you may qualify for a Wyoming teaching license if you have relevant teaching experience. You must have taught for at least three years out of the last six years in the state where your teaching license was issued.

The application requirements include:

  • Verification of full-time teaching experience for up to or including the past ten years
  • Copy of your current and valid teaching license
  • Copy of your test scores
  • Criminal background check, including two blue FBI Fingerprint Cards
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the US and Wyoming Constitutions
  • Submit a complete application packet

We must emphasize that there are no state-approved alternative licensing programs in Wyoming. Instead, PTSB recognizes alternative route programs offered by other states. PTSB reserves the right to determine the equivalency of the out-of-state alternative licensing programs to Wyoming’s standards.

WDE issues several types of educator permits, as follows:

  • Classroom Substitute Teacher
  • Lifetime Substitute Teacher
  • Head Coach
  • Assistant Coach
  • Transitional Coach
  • Professional, Industry and Career
  • Two-Year Internship
  • Native Language
  • Educational Sign Language Interpreter
  • Driver’s Education

We want to call attention to the Substitute Teaching Permit, a five-year renewable license. While a licensed teacher in Wyoming must possess at least a bachelor’s degree, a licensed substitute teacher only needs either an associate’s degree or at least 60 semester hours of college credits.

There’s an alternative path, too, which requires a high school diploma or GED equivalent, at least 24 hours of school district in-service training and 30 hours of classroom observation, among other requirements.

Online Education Program Admission Requirements

The typical admission requirements among Wyoming’s online bachelor’s degree programs in education are:

  • Completed online application form
  • Application fee payment
  • High school diploma or GED equivalent OR an associate’s degree in case of degree completion programs
  • Official transcripts

These are the usual admission requirements for the state’s online graduate programs: 

  • Bachelor’s or master’s degree
  • Official transcripts from all completed coursework
  • Professional resume
  • Statement of purpose or personal statement
  • Letters of recommendation or reference
  • Standardized test scores (e.g., GRE/GMAT), if required

Depending on the program, a valid teaching license and relevant work experience are required for admission to graduate programs.

Average Annual Salaries For Common Educator Roles in Wyoming  

  • Elementary School Teachers $62,936
  • Middle School Teachers $63,690
  • High School Teachers $63,700
  • Special Education Teachers $60,774
  • Superintendents $172,138
  • School Administrators $115,309
  • Principals $114,244
  • Assistant Principals $93,700
  • Curriculum Development Specialists $112,949
  • Instructional Coordinators $68,446

Scholarships for Future Educators in Wyoming  

  • The Leona S. and Jeanette Heptner Scholarship program offers financial assistance to elementary education majors in their junior year or to graduate students. This is a need-based scholarship with preference given to Campbell County residents.
  • The Dr. Joseph I. Stepans Excellence in Education Scholarship program targets graduate students pursuing education degrees.
  • The John K. Corbett Memorial Scholarship program is a need-based program for high-achieving graduate students with demonstrated writing competency.
  • The Ray D. Kennedy College of Education Scholarship program is also a need-based program that covers in-state tuition and fees.
  • The Dr. L. Dean Sorenson Memorial Scholarship program offers a need-based scholarship for a graduate student in an educational leadership program.

The Best Online Education Degree Provider in Wyoming   

Wyoming only has two bachelor’s degree-granting universities – the University of Wyoming and Wyoming Catholic College. Only the University of Wyoming offers state-approved teacher preparation programs. The Wyoming Catholic College is a liberal arts university that primarily offers in-person, on-campus academic programs.

Again, such limited options are due to Wyoming’s small population size (around 580,000), resulting in less demand for numerous universities. Wyoming, being a rural state, is also part of the reason.

The University of Wyoming, however, offers a wide range of excellent online programs in education. Online students benefit from the robust digital infrastructure, quality instruction from on-campus professors, and academic rigor.

The University of Wyoming, a public land-grant research university, only has one main campus in Laramie. However, it maintains a state-wide reach through outreach centers in Cheyenne and Casper, among others. There are also numerous online programs in diverse fields, from management to education.

The university also maintains robust partnerships with community colleges, particularly through articulation agreements. Community college students, for example, can seamlessly transfer their associate’s degrees into bachelor’s degree programs at the University of Wyoming.

Aspiring and current teachers will find many excellent teacher preparation programs offered by the university’s College of Education. Note that teacher preparation programs are offered by its School of Teacher Education. Aspiring teachers can complete their student teaching experience requirement at Wyoming’s public schools and the on-campus K-9 laboratory school.

The College of Education is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), the highest of its kind in the country.

The online programs in education available at the University of Wyoming are as follows.

  • BA in  Elementary and Special Education

This is a licensure program that enables graduates to earn dual credentials in elementary education and special education. The 120-credit program features practicum courses and residency in teaching. Students gain fundamental knowledge and skills in evidence-based teaching pedagogy and practices.

  • BA in Elementary Education

The 120-credit program prepares students for success as licensed teachers in the K-6 levels. Students can also earn an early childhood endorsement. The curriculum includes university studies courses, elementary core content courses, and practicum and residency in teaching courses.

  • MA in Education – Curriculum and Instruction

This is a fully online program that also allows candidates to add an endorsement. Choices include ESL, literacy, and early childhood special education. Candidates can leverage the master’s degree toward the National Board Certification credential. Applicants must possess at least one year of relevant teaching experience to be considered for admission.

  • MA in Education – Literacy Education

Candidates learn the professional competencies that enable them to lead literacy programs. Applicants must also possess at least one year of teaching experience. Candidates learn from experienced professors with doctorate degrees, many of whom are also endowed chairs in their content areas.

  • MA in Education – Educational Leadership

Candidates who complete the program are eligible for principal certification. The 33-credit program has a practice-forward approach that enables candidates to develop their leadership capabilities to the next level. Candidates also complete supervised internships in all grade levels.

  • MA in Education – Higher Education Administration

The 33-credit program enables candidates to build a strong foundation in leading higher education institutions. Candidates learn the ins and outs of the business side of community colleges, universities, and adult education organizations.

  • MA in Education – Special Education

This is a generalist program with a 34-credit intensive curriculum. Courses cover topics in teaching students with mild/moderate and severe-to-low incidence disabilities. Candidates qualify for a K-12 special education endorsement and doctoral study upon program completion.

  • Doctor of Education –  Curriculum and Instruction Concentration

The effective ability to provide teachers with a functional framework to deliver quality and equitable education is at the heart of the program. Candidates study to become curriculum and instruction leaders through didactic coursework and action research.

  • Doctor of Education – Mathematics Education Concentration

Math instructors become leaders and innovators in their fields by developing advanced competencies in the program. Applied research skills, expertise in mathematics education pedagogy, and commitment to equity, social justice, and inclusion are emphasized. Candidates must identify practical issues in their workplaces and develop effective solutions to address them.

  • Doctor of Education – Educational Leadership Concentration

The fully online program prepares candidates for leadership positions in K-12 settings. Graduates become superintendents and assistant superintendents, among others. The emphasis is on applied research skills, as proven in an approved dissertation. Candidates complete a superintendency internship, too. Core courses include Advanced Organizational Leadership and Educational Leader as Manager of Human Resources.

  • Doctor of Education – Higher Education Administration Concentration

Applicants must have at least three years of full-time professional experience in higher education or in related fields. A master’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA and satisfactory GRE scores is also a must. Admission is on a selective basis. Candidates tackle intensive courses that prepare them for leadership roles in higher education, particularly as change agents and direction setters.

  • Doctor of Education – Learning, Design and Technology Concentration

This is an experiential learning-focused program that enables candidates to gain advanced competencies in learning, design, and technology. Candidates must complete at least 81 credits beyond a bachelor’s degree. The program features online courses and spring residencies.

  • Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction – Literacy Education Concentration (Hybrid)

Candidates tackle rigorous courses as well as engage in various research, teaching, and professional development opportunities. Their studies also include hosting annual conferences in literacy education, usually organized by the Literacy Research Center and Clinic (LRCC). Full-time students can apply for graduate assistantships.

  • Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction – Curriculum Studies Concentration (Hybrid)

Candidates interested in tenure track positions and leadership positions in colleges and universities should consider the Curriculum Studies Concentration. Advanced teaching and research skills are emphasized.

  • Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction – Mathematics Education Concentration (Hybrid)

Educational professionals interested in honing their mathematics education skills or in career advancement opportunities are welcome to apply. Candidates develop their research agenda early in the program and under the mentorship of academic researchers.

  • Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction – Science Education Concentration (Hybrid)

The program prepares candidates for successful careers in science education in universities, outreach centers, and research organizations. Candidates learn in an apprenticeship model.

  • In-state Tuition: $6,938
  • Online Education Degrees:  16 (Includes concentrations)
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As previously mentioned, community and technical colleges in Wyoming offer associate degrees in education. If you want to test the waters, you can earn an associate degree in education first. Then, when you’re ready for more advanced studies, you can transfer credits to a bachelor’s degree in education program at the University of Wyoming.

Here are some of the community colleges in Wyoming that offer associate degrees in education online and hybrid programs.

  • Casper College
    • AA in Early Childhood EducationAS in Elementary EducationAS in Mathematics – Secondary Education
    • AA in Social Studies – Secondary Education

If you’re a Wyoming resident, you can also meet the academic requirements by earning an online or out-of-state bachelor’s degree with a teacher preparation program. The Wyoming Department of Education also participates in the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) Interstate Agreement. This agreement facilitates the acceptance of out-of-state academic credentials and teacher licenses in Wyoming.

According to the PTSB, these online and out-of-state colleges and universities offer approved teacher preparation programs. If you complete your teacher preparation program in one of these universities, you’re eligible for a Wyoming teaching license. Other eligibility requirements must be met, too.

  • Black Hills State University
  • Chadron State University
  • Grand Canyon University
  • Lesley University
  • Montana State University
  • Regent University
  • Rio Salado University
  • Texas Tech University
  • Valley City State University
  • Western Governors University
  • Walden University
  • Moreland University
  • University of West Florida
  • University of North Dakota

Wyoming residents can also enjoy tuition discounts in colleges and universities in neighboring states under the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE). You can, for example, choose from online programs in education offered by universities in Montana, South Dakota, and Colorado.