Online Elementary Education Degree Programs

An online elementary education degree is designed to focus on the practice of working with students who are in grades K-6 (kindergarten through sixth grade) in the United States education system.

Elementary education students learn about the developmental stages of young learners or children, as well as the best practices to helping them learn most effectively. Most elementary education masters students then take an exam which gives them licensure or certification to teach as elementary school teachers. A teaching certificate or teaching license is required in all U.S. states in order to work in the public schools system. A degree in elementary education focuses on educational psychology, learning styles, classroom management among other core courses. At this level of teaching, teachers focus on developing children's basic mathematics, reading, writing, and social skills. The difference between early childhood education and elementary education is that typically early childhood education is from pre-K through the fourth grade, while elementary education runs from fourth through the eighth grade.

Elementary Education Degree Programs

Walden University

• Master's in (Elementary) Education degree program: Specializations in Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, Elementary Reading and Literacy, Literacy and Learning in the Content Areas (Grades 6-12), Mathematics (Grades K-8), Middle Level Education, Science (Grades K-8)
• M. S. in Education - Elementary Reading and Mathematics (Grades K-6)
• M. S. in Education - Mathematics (Grades K-5)
• M. S. in Education - Science (Grades K-8)

University of Phoenix

• AA in Paraprofessional Education
• Associate of Arts in Elementary Education
• BS in Education / Elementary Education
• MA in Education/Elementary Teacher Education

Liberty University

• MED Teaching and Learning-Elementary Education
• MA in Teaching - Elementary Education
• M.Ed - Elementary Education
• M.Ed - Elementary Education (TC)

Jones International University

• Master of Education in Elementary Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment: Teacher Licensure
• Masters in Education (M.Ed)in Elementary Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment degree program and a M. Ed. in Secondary Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment degree program.

Western Governors University

• Bachelor of Arts in Teaching Interdisciplinary Studies (PK-8) - Teacher Licensure
• Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Licensure Preparation Program (PK-8)

Grand Canyon University

• Master of Education (M. Ed.) in Elementary Education
• Master of Education (M. Ed.) in Elementary Education (No IR, No Cert)
• Master's of Education in Elementary Education

Capella University

• Master of Science (MS) in Education - Reading and Literacy (For Licensed K-12 Teachers)

Elementary Education Training

Courses include: classroom management, theories and models of instruction, developmental psychology, ethical and legal issues in education, instructional technology, elementary education curriculum development, assessment and evaluation, and reading and learning strategies to mention a few courses.

Elementary school teachers are required to have, at a minimum, a bachelor's degree in teaching and an elementary education teaching certificate. Some students in online elementary education masters degree programs chose to specialize in a certain areas for example math, music, science, language arts, etc.

Earning an elementary teaching certificate also requires a student teaching internship or practicum in an elementary school before graduation. The internship or practicum requirement for online elementary education degrees, including the masters in elementary education degree program is often one or two semesters long.

Elementary Education Careers

Elementary education careers are ideal for those who love working with younger children! As an elementary school teacher or counselor, you will work with young learners in their important formative years to promote self-worth, skill development, social skills as well as age-appropriate academic skills. With an online elementary education degree, your teaching responsibilities would include:

• Teaching the basics of math, English, history, science, music, art, social sciences and physical education
• Selecting required instructional materials and resources
• Creating lesson plans
• Administering and grading homework and tests
• Using computers technology, games, music art, videos, multimedia, experiments, books to motivate to learners
• Promoting the development of social skills through group interaction
• Preparing students to take standardized assessments
• Monitoring behavior and enacting discipline
• Communicating with parents

Places of employment include:

• Daycare provider
• Elementary school teacher or administrator
• Reading specialist
• School librarian

Estimated Income and Projected Career Growth

The income for teachers with an online elementary education degree varies by level of teaching, years of experience, subject area, and location. The average national annual salary for teachers in the United States is $46,000, and the range falls between $26,000 and $71,000. The median salary for a typical teacher in an elementary school in the United States is $51,828 as of 2011.

Employment of elementary school teachers is expected to grow by about 13% between 2008 and 2018 according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. With an online elementary education degree and several years of professional expedience, many students opt to return to school to earn a masters degree in teaching.