Elementary Education Degree

Elementary Education Degree and Career Information

Elementary teachers accompany inquisitive young minds on their first journey of discovery. Instructing young children requires effective management techniques and expertise in elementary education. You will develop both of these during your elementary education degree.

As an elementary education teacher, your love for children and teacher training will give you the background you need to foster your students' imagination and make the most of each teaching opportunity. And an elementary education degree program prepares you to be the kind of teacher your students will remember for years to come.

In addition to the elementary education degree and certification requirements discussed below, here are more articles that you might find useful:

• Find accredited online and on-campus Elementary Education Degree Programs.
• Learn about Elementary Teacher Certification Programs.
  
• Search schools for Masters in Teaching Education Programs (MAED).

Elementary Education Degree Programs

Your career in elementary education begins when you decide to get an elementary education degree. As an undergraduate student, you will focus on the following course components:

• Core Academics — content knowledge in mathematics, language arts, history and science
• Educational Psychology — classroom management and special situations
• Specialty Area — often optional for elementary teachers, but good for your skill set, resume and career building

Campus-based Elementary Education Degree Programs

Elementary Teacher Certification

Elementary teacher certification permits K—6 teachers to teach in public schools. Each state has its own certification criteria, but most require the following:

• A bachelor's or master's from an elementary education degree program
• Supervised student-teaching experience
• Passing a state or national teaching exam, such as the Praxis™
• Continuing education classes or completed post-graduate work within a certain time frame

There may be different ways for you to earn your elementary teaching certificate, depending on the state in which you want to teach. Find your state's certification requirements by exploring our state-by-state teacher education information, or find an accredited certification program below.

Post-Graduate Elementary Education Degrees

Most states now require elementary teachers to have a master's degree, or to complete one at some point after their initial teacher certification. Regardless of your state's requirements, earning a master's degree in teaching or education can increase your earning potential, give you greater job opportunities, and help you lead your students to greater success. Well-trained teachers with post-graduate elementary education degrees can give students the foundation they need to succeed in middle school, high school, college and beyond.

Graduate-level programs focus on all aspects of elementary education, including the following:

• Finding the best and most accessible teaching tools
• Developing a quality curriculum that conforms to state standards
• Learning to incorporate new technologies into the classroom
• Overcoming individual students' psychological challenges

Find accredited master's degree programs in elementary education below. Request information and start on your path to academic excellence—both for you and for your students.