Elementary Education

Bachelor's Degree Program

The bachelor’s in elementary education is a hands-on program that prepares you for high-demand teaching careers in Alaska and across the country. Numerous fieldwork experiences, including a year-long internship, complement coursework in a wide range of content areas. Our program also integrates resources, knowledge and experiences unique to Alaska—offering unique insights and training specific to the geographic and cultural context of our state.

With close connections to school districts across the Alaska, and a team of expert advisors to guide your every step, we provide the breadth of opportunities and personal support to take you where you want to go. Count on finding a job when you graduate, or even sooner. Many of our students are offered teaching positions while still in school.

You can complete the elementary education degree, including the internship, from anywhere in Alaska.

What Is Elementary Education?

Elementary education is the primary education that comes after preschool and before middle school. Grade levels taught by elementary teachers will vary by region—our program covers kindergarten through grade eight. In addition to possessing content knowledge in a broad range of subject areas, elementary education teachers must be skilled lesson planners, effective collaborators and energetic classroom leaders who can engage students with different learning styles. Elementary education majors should enjoy working with children and look forward to making a positive difference in the lives of young students and families.

Get more information

decorative divider

Department website
View the curriculum
Apply now

Quick Facts

Degree type:

  • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Availability:

  • In-Person
  • Hybrid

Accredited by:

  • Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)

 

Why Study Elementary Education at UAF?

Find out why UAF is one of the top colleges for elementary education in Alaska. These are some of the ways that earning your bachelor’s degree in elementary education at the University of Alaska Fairbanks will set you up for success.

Get a year of teaching experience before you start your job

  • We believe it’s important to understand who your students are, and where they live. A year-long capstone school internship, guided by a mentor teacher, provides experience working with different schools and different grade levels.
  • Each class of the elementary education degree also includes a fieldwork component to provide the foundation for a successful professional internship year.

Earn your bachelor’s degree from anywhere in Alaska

  • The elementary education degree is available at our main campus in Fairbanks, Alaska, in Anchorage and by distance delivery to all areas of the state.
  • Highly interactive online classes include video-based observations and real-time peer feedback.

Prepare for state and national teaching requirements

  • We are leaders in preparing educators to serve the unique cultural, linguistic and geographic factors specific to Alaska.
  • All requirements for the degree in elementary education are designed to align with the national standards of the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI).

Benefit from professional connections in the community

  • Majors in elementary education benefit from collaborative efforts with academic units at UAF and from School of Education partnerships with a wide range of Alaska’s rural and urban schools and districts.

Learn from faculty who understand elementary teaching

  • Our elementary education faculty are current or former teachers who understand the unique challenges of teaching in Alaska. Most still hold teaching licenses.

The UAF School of Education does a phenomenal job of preparing undergraduate students for classroom teaching. From day one, the School of Education ensures that students have the knowledge, skills and experience needed to smoothly transition into their future teaching career.Owen Fulton, UAF education major

 

What Can You Do With Your Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education?

Our graduates are successful teachers in rural and urban school districts across Alaska. Some also go on to teach elementary education in other parts of the country and even in international schools. Almost all of our elementary education majors find teaching jobs within a year of graduation, and many are offered positions through our internship and field placement programs.

Each state has its own unique requirements for authorization. If you are planning to seek a professional license or certificate in a state other than Alaska, please see the state listings website.

 

What Classes Are Required for Elementary Education Majors?

The bachelor’s in elementary education provides broad content knowledge in four key academic areas: math, science, language arts and social studies. Professional coursework that focuses on the application of theory, research and practice in real school environments complements concurrent field placement experiences.

View all required classes for the degree in elementary education

Programs Related to Elementary Education

 

Get Started on Your Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education

Take the next step toward earning your degree in elementary education. We have the resources to help you get started.

Talk to an Advisor

Have questions? Our expert advisors are here to guide you every step of the way. Let us know how we can help.

Transfer to UAF

Transferring to UAF? We can walk you through the process and help make sure you get the most out of the credits you’ve earned.

Apply Now and Request More Information

Earn your bachelor’s degree in elementary education at UAF. Submit your application online today.