Online Elementary Education (K-6) Degrees, Certificates, Diplomas from Top Colleges and Universities

Teaching Elementary School Students

elementary education degrees

Do you love kids? Do you love teaching and helping kids learn to do new things? Do you want a career where you can make a lifelong positive impact on young minds? Then you should pursue a career in elementary education. Elementary education is a challenging and rewarding career field. America's school children need excellent teachers to assist them on their journey of learning.

As an elementary school teacher, you have the opportunity to teach and impact children from ages 5 to 10 or 12 years of age. This constitutes the elementary grades (kindergarten through 6th grade). In the elementary school years, children learn basic building blocks to their educational journeys including reading, writing, and basic math skills. These skills will form a foundation for all other formal learning experiences that they will experience from elementary school into their college and adult lives. Teachers at the elementary school level will experience children facing a variety of learning challenges and successes. Those going into this challenging career, must be prepared to teach children at a variety of different levels and in a variety of different ways.

Employment Outlook in Elementary Education

The employment outlook for elementary education is very positive. Many teachers will be retiring in the next decade. This fact is contributing to a strong need for more elementary school teachers. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics is estimating that this career field will see 13 percent job growth between now and 2018. This is stronger than average employment growth. Growth will be dependent on location. There have been severe budget cuts in certain states to education that have created teacher layoffs. So, it is important to note that this growth will be very location specific. It will most likely occur in rural and inner city school districts, where teachers are more difficult to hire. School districts are also having difficulty in hiring teachers in subject areas like math, science, chemistry, and foreign languages.

Salary Opportunities in Elementary Education

Generally, salaries for new teachers are fair but not spectacular. Also, different states offer different pay rates for teachers. However, teaching positions offer stability and great benefits, retirement and health insurance. Also, after teachers have acquired some experience, salaries generally increase with tenure. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, salaries for teachers in the United States in 2008 were on average between $47,000 and $51,000. The top ten percent made between $75,000 and $80,000, and the bottom ten percent made between $30,000 and $34,000.

College Degrees in Elementary Education

Colleges have great degree programs in elementary education. Be sure that any program you look into is accredited with the state you wish to become employed in, if you want to teach at a public elementary school. Also, be sure you obtain your elementary school teaching license for the state where you want to teach, most states require a teaching license to become employed as a public school teacher.

If you are interested in earning a degree in Elementary Education (K-6), click here to request more information.

Online Schools with Elementary Education (K 6) programs

University of Phoenix

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B.S. in Education/Elementary Education

This undergraduate degree program prepares candidates for teacher licensure and is focused on elementary student learning. The goal of the degree program is to provide students with the skills and knowledge that will allow them to become competent and effective educators. Student teaching and verified field experiences/observation is required in this degree program.

*Each student/applicant is responsible for checking with his or her state Department of Education and/or school district to determine specific credentialing requirements.
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M.A. in Education/Elementary Teacher Education

The Master of Arts in Education/Elementary Teacher Education (MAED/TED-E) is a graduate degree program preparing candidates for teacher licensure. The guiding philosophy of the MAED/TED-E program is to provide the adult student, who already has a degree in a discipline other than education, with the skills and knowledge that will allow them to become a competent and effective educator. Each student/applicant is responsible for checking with his or her state Department of Education and/or school district to determine specific credentialing requirements. Prospective candidates should hold a bachelor's degree prior to enrollment.

Walden University

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Master of Science (M.S.) in Education - Elementary Reading and Literacy (Grades preK-6)

The M.S. in Education online degree program is designed to enhance your skills, help improve your students' achievement and increase your earning potential. As an online degree program, it allows busy teachers to learn on their own time. And Walden University's learning model encourages you to apply new strategies in your classroom.
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Master of Science (M.S.) in Education - Elementary Reading and Mathematics (Grades K-6)

The M.S. in Education online degree program is designed to enhance your skills, help improve your students' achievement and increase your earning potential. As an online degree program, it allows busy teachers to learn on their own time. And Walden University's learning model encourages you to apply new strategies in your classroom.

Kaplan University

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MS in Education (for Existing Teachers Grades K-12)

Grand Canyon University

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B.S. in Elementary Education / Special Education (Dual Major)

This robust and specialized degree program is designed for any individual who seeks an elementary or cross-categorical teaching certificate to teach children with special needs in the K-12 setting.

Participants are responsible for contacting their state department of education for certification requirements and program approval. In addition, participants should consult the Grand Canyon University Catalog and academic advisor to obtain current information about teacher credentialing programs.

Courses in this state and regionally accredited program are taught by experts in their respective fields who share knowledge and experience in areas of learning disabilities, emotional and behavioral disabilities, and other physical and cognitive impairments. Opportunities are provided to apply concepts, theories, and research throughout the program. Assignments within each course guide students through observational and practice-based experiences.

Teacher candidates must have access to a K-12 special education classroom to complete the program assignments. Teacher candidates must be prepared to complete a full-time, 16-week student teaching component at the end of the program. Eight weeks of student teaching is completed in a regular education setting and 8 weeks is completed in a resource room, self-contained class, or in a special school for students with disabilities. These special education settings must include at least 3 or more of the following disability categories: mental retardation, learning disabilities, emotional disabilities, physical/health impairments; and they must be completed with a certified special education teacher.

Graduates of this program are prepared to become effective educators in both regular education and special education settings, and to implement individualized educational plans to accommodate the students' various learning, behavioral, and social needs.
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M.Ed. in Elementary Education (With IR and Cert.)

Master of Education in Elementary Education (Eligible for Institutional Recommendation).
This current and comprehensive degree program is designed for any individual interested in the education of children in Grades K-8, and who is seeking teacher certification.
Participants are responsible for contacting their state department of education for certification requirements and program approval. In addition, participants should consult the Grand Canyon University Catalog and an academic advisor to obtain current information about teacher credentialing programs.
Courses in this state and regionally accredited program are taught by experts in their respective fields who share knowledge and experience in areas of educational psychology, reading strategies, teaching methods, and curriculum development.
The program covers a range of relevant subjects, including classroom engagement and management, learners with diverse needs, and curriculum planning and assessment for the fundamental K-8 areas of learning. Opportunities are provided to apply concepts, theories, and research throughout the program. Assignments within many of the courses guide students through over 130 hours of observational experiences, and the final semester of the program includes a full-time, 16-week student teaching component.
All courses are directly aligned with the Arizona Professional Teacher Standards and the Interstate New Teacher Support and Assessment Consortium Standards.
Graduates of this program are prepared to become informed and effective K-8 educators in public and private schools and other settings requiring a teaching credential.
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B.S. in Elementary Education: English (With IR and Cert.)

The Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with an emphasis in English is a program for students who are preparing for a teaching career in grades K-8, inclusive of elementary and middle school, and who are seeking initial teacher certification or licensure. This program is offered both online and on the main campus and requires a minimum of 24 credits in the content area. In the English emphasis, the program covers the comprehensive English education for elementary students, including analysis of world and American literature, grammar, linguistics, as well as literary criticism and analysis.

Prospective students should have some previous college experience.

Student applicants are responsible for contacting their state department of education for certification requirements and program approval.
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B.S. in Elementary Education: Science (With IR and Cert.)

The Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Science is a program for students who are preparing for a teaching career in grades K-8, inclusive of elementary and middle school, and who are seeking initial teacher certification or licensure. This program is offered both online and on the main campus and requires a minimum of 24 credits in the content area. In the Science emphasis, the program covers the comprehensive Science education for elementary students, including Earth and space science, physical science and life sciences. The curriculum also puts an added emphasis on student understanding, the scientific method, critical thinking, problem solving and the impact of science.

Prospective students should have some previous college experience.

Student applicants are responsible for contacting their state department of education for certification requirements and program approval.

Campus-based Schools with Elementary Education (K 6) programs

University of Phoenix
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Ottawa University
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Teaching Elementary School Students

Employment Outlook in Elementary Education