Education
Every classroom is a mission field, and every student is worth showing up for. Teaching is more than a profession, it's a calling to love, disciple and shape minds with Christlike care. Jessup’s education programs prepare you to teach with both excellence and heart, so every lesson becomes an act of ministry. Choose from liberal studies to a teaching credential and beyond.
A CALLING TO SHAPE HEARTS AND MINDS
An education degree in California prepares aspiring and current teachers to lead classrooms from early childhood education through high school.
Jessup's education degree programs pair a teaching degree with real classroom experience and student teaching. Guided by seasoned faculty, you'll explore a Christ-centered view of a teacher's calling, one rooted in serving and shaping the next generation.
FALL PREVIEW DAY
Friday, October 16, 2026 · 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. · Rocklin, CA. Experience Jessup for a day and receive a $500 scholarship when you register and visit.
Why Jessup
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Faith First
Since 1939, faith and learning haven't lived in separate rooms here. They're woven together in the classroom, in chapel, and in the way our faculty teach. You won't have to choose between growing your mind and deepening your faith. Here, they grow together.
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Affordable Excellence
We're the most affordable private Christian university in Northern California, and we don't make you guess what it'll cost. Nearly every student receives aid, and we get you clear numbers early so you can plan with confidence. Exceptional education is within reach.
Safe All Around
Safety here means more than a secure campus in one of California's safest cities. It's a place that's safe spiritually, safe emotionally, and safe to take the risks that help you grow. This is somewhere you can stretch, stumble, and become who God made you to be.
Community
Small classes mean you're known by name, not lost in a lecture hall. Faculty who mentor, friends who show up, a campus where people actually see you. You'll find your people here, and they'll walk with you.
Regional Proximity
More than 60% of our students come from within a hundred miles, so you're close enough to home without being right on top of it. You'll be rooted in a NorCal network of churches, employers, and internship connections across the Sacramento corridor. Familiar ground, with room to grow.
Mentorship
From day one you'll have advisors, internships, and a clear path toward a career that matters. We focus on high-impact fields like health sciences, business, psychology, leadership, and aviation, and every student is grounded in Bible and theology. We don't just hand you a degree. We help you find your calling and walk with you toward it.
On campus or online, the same Jessup
Choose the format that fits your life. Every program is built on the same Christ-centered foundation, whether you study in Rocklin or fully online.
What to Expect
On Campus
Online
MEET YOUR FACULTY
Learn teaching from education faculty who spent years in real classrooms.
Wendy Westsmith
Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, Assistant Professor
Hervey Taylor
Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies, Associate Professor
David Bills
Senior Associate Dean, School of Education
Daniel Nordaas
Assistant Professor, School of Education
FAQs
Answers to what prospective education students ask us most.
What education degrees does Jessup offer?
We offer four education programs: the BA in Child Development, the BA in Liberal Studies, the Master of Arts in Teaching and the online Master of Arts in Education, spanning an undergraduate education degree through master's programs. Each education degree program builds toward a teaching career with its own blend of coursework and classroom time.
How do I become a licensed teacher in California through Jessup?
The Liberal Studies degree program includes a Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential pathway, and the MAT leads to a Multiple Subject or Single Subject Credential, the teacher certification that serves as California's teaching license. Both education programs include student teaching, the step every licensed teacher completes before leading a classroom.
Can I earn an education degree online?
Yes. Jessup's online teaching degree pathway includes the Master of Arts in Education, a fully online master's degree built for current teachers, and the MAT offers remote courses so aspiring teachers can join live teaching classes from anywhere. The education degree online format fits teaching schedules and family life.
Is the MAT a good fit for career changers?
Yes. The cohort-based master's degree program welcomes career changers who hold a bachelor's degree in another field and want teacher certification, pairing education coursework with student teaching in real school settings from elementary education to middle and high school classrooms.
What ages can Child Development graduates teach?
Graduates prepare for early childhood education classrooms from preschool through 3rd grade, including Transitional Kindergarten, and can earn Early Childhood Education units toward preschool teaching roles working with young students and families.
What subject concentrations does Liberal Studies offer?
Child Development, English, History and Psychology, alongside the elementary education credential pathway, covers subject areas from reading and mathematics to social studies. Every student's teaching degree matches their individual career goals.
What is the difference between the MAT and the MAEd?
Both master's programs serve teachers at different stages. The Master of Arts in Teaching pairs a master's degree with teacher certification for aspiring teachers who need California's teaching license, while the Master of Arts in Education develops current teachers and education leaders through fully online education coursework in curriculum development and instructional design.
How long does each teaching degree take?
The undergraduate education degree programs run in 15-week semesters on campus. The MAT moves as a 41-unit cohort with remote options and the online master's degree in education takes 24 months. Timelines vary depending on transfer units.
Is financial aid available for education students?
Yes. Jessup students can finance their education degree through grants, loans and Jessup aid. Admissions counselors help prospective students understand financial aid options and application deadlines for each education program.
What careers do education graduates pursue?
Graduates become classroom teachers in elementary education and early childhood settings, direct preschool programs and grow into curriculum development and school leadership roles supporting diverse learners across public and private schools, from the first teaching job to education leadership.
YOUR NEXT STEP, MADE CLEAR.
Your faith. His calling. Our community.
Faith that steadies you. A calling worth stepping into. Community that knows your name. That's Jessup: ready for the world, rooted in the word.
