Foreign Language Teacher Education: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Designed for aspiring educators, this program equips students with the specialized knowledge and pedagogical skills needed to teach non-romance foreign languages across K–12 and postsecondary education settings. It emphasizes language acquisition theory, cultural competency, and effective instructional strategies tailored to diverse learning environments.
- Language Pedagogy and Curriculum Design: Explores evidence-based methods for teaching language skills, including lesson planning, assessment development, and curriculum alignment with national and state standards.
- Second Language Acquisition Theory: Investigates cognitive, social, and psychological processes involved in learning a language beyond one’s native tongue, informing effective teaching practices.
- Cultural Literacy and Intercultural Communication: Develops deep understanding of the cultural contexts associated with target languages, fostering inclusive and culturally responsive classroom environments.
- Language Proficiency and Assessment: Focuses on evaluating and advancing linguistic competence through standardized testing, performance-based assessments, and diagnostic tools.
- Instructional Technology in Language Education: Integrates digital tools and multimedia resources to enhance language learning, support differentiated instruction, and promote student engagement.
- Methods for Teaching Specific Non-Romance Languages: Provides targeted training in pedagogical approaches for languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Korean, and others, with emphasis on linguistic structure and teaching challenges.
Foreign Language Teacher Education Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Foreign Language Teacher Education Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Foreign Language Teacher Education degrees, including Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary, Education Teachers, Postsecondary and Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 1,773,170 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1124 | $77,010 | $47,090 - $134,960 | 21,170 | N/A |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1081 | $72,090 | $38,650 - $126,450 | 59,090 | N/A |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education 25-2031 | $64,580 | $47,330 - $104,670 | 1,072,540 | N/A |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education 25-2022 | $62,970 | $47,050 - $100,980 | 620,370 | N/A |
Foreign Language Teacher Education Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $53,133 in Mississippi to $96,855 in California—a 82% difference. The highest-paying states include California, New York, and Massachusetts. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 1,773,170 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Foreign Language Teacher Education by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 54 institutions offering Foreign Language Teacher Education programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Foreign Language Teacher Education is found at University of Southern Mississippi (USM) (27 graduates), Middlebury College (25 graduates), University of Georgia (UGA) (21 graduates), Rutgers University, New Brunswick (17 graduates), and CUNY Queens College (16 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 312 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Southern Mississippi (USM) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
27 | Hattiesburg, Mississippi | Public | usm.edu |
| Middlebury College |
Master's
|
25 | Middlebury, Vermont | Private | middlebury.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
21 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Master's
|
17 | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| CUNY Queens College |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
16 | Queens, New York | Public | qc.cuny.edu |
| Florida International University (FIU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
13 | Miami, Florida | Public | fiu.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
12 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| Concordia College |
Master's
|
9 | Moorhead, Minnesota | Private | concordiacollege.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Master's
|
9 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| University of Northern Iowa (UNI) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | Public | uni.edu |
| CUNY Hunter College |
Master's
|
8 | New York, New York | Public | hunter.cuny.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Master's
|
8 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| Liberty University |
Master's
|
8 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Master's
|
7 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| Truman State University |
Master's
|
7 | Kirksville, Missouri | Public | truman.edu |
| College of Charleston (CofC) |
Master's
|
7 | Charleston, South Carolina | Public | cofc.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Master's
|
6 | Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| Brandeis University |
Master's
|
6 | Waltham, Massachusetts | Private | brandeis.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| California State University |
Master's
|
5 | Chico, California | Public | csuchico.edu |
| University of Southern Indiana (USI) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Evansville, Indiana | Public | usi.edu |
| Crowder College |
Other Award
|
5 | Neosho, Missouri | Public | crowder.edu |
| Stony Brook University (SBU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
4 | Stony Brook, New York | Public | stonybrook.edu |
| Saint Joseph's University (SJU) |
Master's
|
4 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | sju.edu |
| Temple University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Rhode Island College (RIC) |
Master's
|
4 | Providence, Rhode Island | Public | ric.edu |
| Vanderbilt University (VU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
4 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | vanderbilt.edu |
| Arkansas Tech University (ATU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Russellville, Arkansas | Public | atu.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Master's
|
3 | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
3 | Monterey, California | Private | middlebury.edu |
| Georgia State University |
Postbac Cert.
|
3 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gsu.edu |
| College of Staten Island CUNY (CSI) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Staten Island, New York | Public | csi.cuny.edu |
| Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) |
Master's
|
3 | Murfreesboro, Tennessee | Public | mtsu.edu |
| University of Vermont (UVM) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Burlington, Vermont | Public | uvm.edu |
| Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | New Britain, Connecticut | Public | ccsu.edu |
| DePaul University |
Master's
|
2 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | depaul.edu |
| Elmhurst University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Elmhurst, Illinois | Private | elmhurst.edu |
| University of Maine (UMF) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Farmington, Maine | Public | umf.maine.edu |
| Worcester State University (WSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Worcester, Massachusetts | Public | worcester.edu |
| University at Buffalo (UB) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
2 | Buffalo, New York | Public | buffalo.edu |
| Bowling Green State University (BGSU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Bowling Green, Ohio | Public | bgsu.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| University of Oklahoma (OU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Norman, Oklahoma | Public | ou.edu |
| Auburn University (AU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Auburn, Alabama | Public | auburn.edu |
| University of Alaska (UAA) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Anchorage, Alaska | Public | uaa.alaska.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| Arkansas State University (A-State) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Jonesboro, Arkansas | Public | astate.edu |
| Boise State University (BBU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Boise, Idaho | Public | boisestate.edu |
| Illinois State University (ISU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Normal, Illinois | Public | illinoisstate.edu |
| Washington University in St Louis (WashU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | wustl.edu |
| Wayne State College (WSC) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Wayne, Nebraska | Public | wsc.edu |
| University of Dayton (UD) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Dayton, Ohio | Private | udayton.edu |
| Miami University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Oxford, Ohio | Public | miamioh.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Foreign Language Teacher Education programs
How much can I earn with a Foreign Language Teacher Education degree?
Salaries for Foreign Language Teacher Education graduates vary by role and location. Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $77,010 annually, while Education Teachers, Postsecondary earn around $72,090. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $96,855 compared to $53,133 in Mississippi. Approximately 1,773,170 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Foreign Language Teacher Education programs?
Currently 54 accredited institutions offer Foreign Language Teacher Education degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of Southern Mississippi (USM) (27 graduates), Middlebury College (25 graduates), and University of Georgia (UGA) (21 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Foreign Language Teacher Education growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 386 in 2010 to 312 in 2023-24. This represents a 19% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Foreign Language Teacher Education degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary, Education Teachers, Postsecondary, and Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education. Related occupations employ approximately 1,773,170 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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