Credential Templates, The Former USSR and the Russian Federation

University-Level Institutions (Pedagogical and Other Institutes, Universities, Academies)
Most lower and higher secondary school teachers as well as some pre-school and
primary school teachers in the Russian Federation are trained at university-level institutions
(pedagogical and other institutes, universities, and academies). Diploma of "Specialist" programs
train teachers for the particular levels of the school education system. The majority of Diploma
of “Specialist” programs are five years in length. Four-year programs are offered in a limited
number of single-subject disciplines (primary school education with no sub-specialization;
foreign languages, where only one language is studied; and, in rare cases, Russian language and
literature). Few Diploma of “Specialist” programs are six years in length.
University-Level Teacher Education in the Russian Federation
Professional Title in Translitera- Typical Taught Children
Title Awarded Russian tion
Length of
Study
pre-school педагог pedagog 4 years 3-6 years of age
teacher дошкольного doshkol’nogo
образования obrazovaniya
primary school учитель uchitel’ 4 years primary school grades 1-4
teacher начальных nachal’nyh
классов klassov
teacher учитель uchitel’ 4-6 years lower secondary grades 5-9
(specialization
and/or
in specific
upper secondary grades 10subject(s))
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There are over 100 pedagogical institutions in the Russian Federation. Many pedagogical
institutes of the Soviet era have upgraded to pedagogical universities and pedagogical academies.
Teaching qualifications may be obtained at pedagogical institutes and pedagogical universities as
well as institutes, universities, and academies within other study areas.
University-level pedagogical education includes foundation studies/core courses in
humanities, social sciences and natural sciences, subject specialisation, studies in biology and
medicine, studies in pedagogy and psychology, and an introduction to pedagogical profession
(in-service teacher training).
University-level graduates may specialize in one or two subjects, i.e. mathematics,
biology, language, etc. The qualification of teacher may be added to a professional title or
subject title when pedagogical requirements are fulfilled.
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