Program Overview

Elementary Education Program

The bachelor's in elementary education is a hands-on program that prepares students 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. The program integrates resources, knowledge, and experiences unique to Alaska, offering unique insights and training specific to the geographic and cultural context of the state.

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, with the program covering 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.

Program Details

• The program provides broad content knowledge in four key academic areas: math, science, language arts, and social studies.
• Professional coursework focuses on the application of theory, research, and practice in real school environments, complemented by concurrent field placement experiences.
• 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 includes a fieldwork component to provide the foundation for a successful professional internship year.

Why Study Elementary Education

Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education at the University of Alaska Fairbanks will set students up for success. The program offers:

• A year of teaching experience before starting a job, through a year-long capstone school internship.
• The opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree from anywhere in Alaska, with highly interactive online classes including video-based observations and real-time peer feedback.
• Preparation for state and national teaching requirements, with all requirements 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, through collaborative efforts with academic units and partnerships with a wide range of Alaska's rural and urban schools and districts.
• The chance to learn from faculty who understand elementary teaching, with current or former teachers who understand the unique challenges of teaching in Alaska.

Career Opportunities

Graduates are successful teachers in rural and urban school districts across Alaska, with some also teaching elementary education in other parts of the country and international schools. Almost all elementary education majors find teaching jobs within a year of graduation, and many are offered positions through the internship and field placement programs.

Related Programs

• Secondary Education (Bachelor of Arts)
• Music Education (Bachelor of Music)
• Elementary Education (Master of Education)
• Secondary Education (Master of Education)

Accreditation

The program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

Degree Type and Availability

• Degree type: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
• Availability: In-Person, Hybrid