Program Overview

Program Overview

The Online Bachelor of Arts in Education in Elementary Education is designed to prepare students for a career in teaching elementary-aged children. This program focuses on developing foundational academic, critical thinking, and decision-making skills in students.

Program Details

• The program consists of 33 classes, with each class lasting 7.5-15 weeks.
• The total credit hours required for the program are 120.
• The program is designed to meet Arizona's requirements for teacher certification.
• Students will gain expertise in teaching reading, writing, math, science, and social studies, as well as supporting children's personal development.

Curriculum

The curriculum emphasizes:

• Designing lesson plans that engage whole-group, small-group, and intervention learners.
• Effectively managing an elementary classroom.
• Implementing student-centered teaching methods and structured literacy approaches.
• Understanding how children learn and develop.

Coursework

• The program includes a series of in-person internships to apply skills in real learning environments.
• The final semester includes a full-time student teaching experience under the guidance of a certified mentor teacher.
• Some of the courses included in the program are:
  • TEL 310: Instructional Design and Planning: Instructional Thought and Action
  • TEL 317: Instructional Thought and Action: Learning Environment and Management
  • TEL 318: Instructional Thought and Action: Assessment for Learning
  • TEL 340: Families, Communities and Cultures: Cultivating Networks of Culturally Responsive Relationships
  • TEL 370: Professional Educator Series: Building a Professional Network
  • TEL 371: Professional Educator Series: Educational Policies
  • TEL 331: Foundations of Literacy: The Science of Reading
  • TEL 470: Professional Educator Series: Career Growth and Planning

Admission Requirements

• To be admitted to the program, students must hold a high school diploma or equivalent and have completed at least 14 of the required courses.
• The required courses include:
  • Four years of math
  • Four years of English (non-ESL/ELL courses)
  • Three years of lab sciences (one year each from biology, chemistry, earth science, integrated sciences, or physics)
  • Two years of social sciences (including one year of American history)
  • Two years of the same second language
  • One year of fine arts or career and technical education
• Applicants must meet at least one of the following:
  • Top 25% in their high school graduating class
  • 3.00 GPA in competency courses (4.00 = A)
  • ACT score of 22 for Arizona residents (24 nonresidents) or SAT Reasoning score of 1120 for Arizona residents (1180 nonresidents)

Career Opportunities

• The program prepares students for a career as a certified teacher in grades K-8.
• Other potential career paths include:
  • Instructional specialist
  • Reading specialist
  • Instructional designer
  • Tutor
  • Preschool director
  • Principal

Faculty

• The Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation draws from a range of academic disciplines, including cognitive science, psychology, and economics.
• The faculty is committed to connecting research to schools and other learning environments, ensuring that teacher and leadership preparation programs combine scholarly rigor with practical application.

Accreditation

• The program is designed to meet Arizona's requirements for teacher certification.
• Completing the program may not fulfill educational requirements for licensure or certification in other states.

Tuition

• The tuition fees for the program can be estimated using the tuition calculator.
• Most students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.