Online Elementary Education Degrees
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Elementary school teachers work with children ages 5 through 11, teaching them the building blocks of education, which students will apply to middle school, high school, and the rest of their lives and careers. Because elementary school is often the first step on the road to knowledge, teachers have a responsibility instill in their students a love for education and good study habits, respect, common courtesy, and a number of life skills like time management. Individuals who pursue a career in elementary education complete a bachelor's degree followed by a state-approved certification program. As an occupation that grows according to the growth of communities and the need for new schools, employment in elementary education will continue to increase at the average rate of change compared to other professions. Elementary school teachers experience a median annual wage of just over $50,000, and the bulk of teacher salaries hover between $40K and $65K.
Though many people have memories of early education being a lot of fun and games, filled with more friendship and stories than homework assignments, elementary school teachers actually have to put forth a great amount of effort and expertise to foster that environment that students remember so fondly.
Degree programs in elementary education provide prospective teachers with the knowledge and experience they need to create a quality classroom. Case studies in pedagogy and actual experience working with students act as the basis for most elementary education programs. Through either a bachelor's degree in education, certification program, or the rare master's degree in elementary education, graduates will study the prevailing theories and methods of instruction and classroom management for young students.
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Featured Accredited Schools Offering Online Elementary Education Degrees
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Learn more about Kaplan University - Education Programs
Career Specializations
Specializations in elementary education are usually divided by type of job performed and age of students. Division of subject does not often create specializations in elementary schools, since most teachers teach all or most subjects.
- Administrative: This includes principals and superintendents at elementary schools who oversee and manage the teachers. Administrators handle the business end of education, securing funding, making hires and transfers, and ensuring that the school is a safe and healthy learning environment.
- Research-Based: In the field of elementary education, pedagogical research is performed, usually by analyzing test scores and trends in teaching methods to draw conclusions and make decisions about childhood development and learning. Psychology and communications disciplines are also prominent in this subcategory.
- Teaching: Making up the bulk of the field, elementary school teachers are sometimes divided into grades K-2 or 3 and 3-6, and have a few subfields of interdisciplinary expertise, most of which are in special education.
Degree Levels Available for Elementary Education
- Bachelor's Degree: 4 years to complete
- Master's Degree: 1-2 years to complete
- Doctoral Degree: About 4 years to complete
Education & Certification Requirements
Prospective elementary school teachers are required to complete a bachelor's degree before they can be licensed and begin work.
Traditionally, teachers complete a degree in education or teaching, which includes the basic subjects taught in elementary school as well as the leading methods of teaching them. Courses in math, science, reading, and writing development will directly prepare students majoring in education for their work as elementary school educators. Additionally, most programs in education which lead to licensure are required to include a student-teaching internship portion, which can take a few weeks or nearly six months, depending on how many hours are required by the program and state and the duration with which the hours are divided up.
Require skills go beyond expertise in subjects; prospective teachers will also learn classroom management skills and how to create a learning environment where students will stay motivated and focused. Furthermore, classes will cover interpersonal and communication skills, as teachers are also responsible for working with parents both to make sure homework gets done and also to make sure their students have a healthy, learning environment.
Students who major in something other than education for their bachelor's degree are required to take a teacher preparation and certification program. These certification programs usually take one year, but this can be reduced in the case of summer intensive training, or extended as long as two years and coupled with a master's degree. Most of these preparation programs also include a student-teaching segment for hands-on experience. (BLS-Teachers)
Every state mandates that public elementary school teachers be licensed. The exact methods for certification and licensure vary slightly from state to state, but there are a few steps that are almost guaranteed to be requirements.
- Completed bachelor's degree.
- Basic skills tests that determine competency in reading, writing, and math. Teachers of a particular subject are expected to demonstrate fluency in that subject.
- If the bachelor's degree was not in education, the prospective teacher must complete a teacher preparation program and a set number of student-teaching hours.
- Renewal and/or extension of license after a certain number of years or changing state or subject.
The certification programs can be a part of a degree program or a separate program of about a year. Frequently, prospective teachers will also have to pass a criminal background check. Certification and licensure is often granted by age and subject. Elementary school teachers are frequently certified in K-3 or 1-6. (BLS-Teachers)
Salary Information
Regardless of the undergraduate major chosen by the teacher or whether or not the teacher holds a master's degree, starting salary for elementary educators can be as low as $23K - $26K, but the upper salary level changes based on degree type. The current salary range is estimated below:
- B.A. or B.S. in Education: $25,860 - $58,315
- Bachelor's of Arts: $23,131 - $55,960
- B.A. or B.S. in Early-Childhood Education: $24,292 - $66,987
- B.A. in Elementary Education: $25,826 - $48,567
- M.A. in Education: $25,607 - $60,810 (Payscale-Teacher Salaries)
Salary for elementary school teachers changes substantially based on years of experience and location.
National median for starting teachers is $34,746, but after 20 years, the median annual salary is $57,878. (Payscale-Starting Salary for a Teacher) Whereas the nation as a whole experiences a mean annual wage of $54,330, Alaska features a mean annual wage of $69,130, and the mean annual wage in Montana is as low as $37,340. (BLS-Elementary School Teachers)
Job Outlook
Teacher employment is expected to grow about 13 percent between 2008-2018, which is consistent with the national average. The number of teachers needed for each school is dependent on the size of the school and the amount of state funding each school receives. In the coming years, many teachers are expected to retire as the majority of the baby boom generation reaches 65. This should open job prospects in all levels of teaching.
Population is growing fastest among ethnic minorities, and it is causing a greater need for the comparably small pool of minority teachers. Bilingual educators qualified to teach math and science and who are either Hispanic or African-American are in the highest demand. (BLS-Teachers, National Center for Education Statistics-Fast Facts)
Related Careers
Careers related to elementary education include administrative and educational research positions, as well as other levels of education and available student services.
Principals, assistant principals, secretaries, and superintendents keep the schools running smoothly. Support staff like counselors, nurses, and custodians provide necessary services for the safety of students at every elementary school. People who research testing methods, provide reading materials, and propose new strategies make sure that education stays up to date, conforms to standards like NCLB, and remains effective.
Librarians also often have opportunities to educate and interact with students--for example, reading books for children during designated times or hosting creative writing sessions.
