Program(s) Available: B.S.Ed.
Ready to excel in the classroom and become the elementary teacher your students will remember? Northwest Missouri State University offers an elementary education major that local school administrators consistently rank among the top for teacher effectiveness. Unlike traditional programs that save classroom experience for your senior year, you’ll be actively working with students at our on-campus laboratory school in your first semester.
Our unique approach – available nowhere else in the Midwest – gives you a powerful advantage. With our data-driven curriculum and over 500 hours of diverse classroom experiences, you’ll graduate ready to teach on day one. It’s why our bachelor’s in elementary education graduates achieve 100% job placement in a field experiencing critical teacher shortages across the region.
At Northwest, you’ll experience a teacher preparation program nationally recognized twice with the AASCU Christa McAuliffe Award for innovation and excellence in teacher education. Our program stands in the upper tier of quality throughout the U.S., with school administrators ranking Northwest #1 out of 41 programs for teacher effectiveness and preparation. When you pursue a degree in elementary education at Northwest, it’s designed around your success as a teacher and supported by faculty who are invested in your future.
School of Education
660.562.1239
kgraham@nwmissouri.edu
As an elementary education graduate, you’ll enter a job market with high demand for well-qualified teachers, especially amidst significant shortages throughout Missouri and the United States. Our 100% job placement rate for elementary education majors demonstrates the exceptional preparation you’ll receive and the respect employers have for Northwest graduates.
Specific jobs for elementary education majors include:
Your Northwest education also provides a solid foundation for future graduate studies in curriculum and instruction, educational leadership, school counseling or specialized areas like educational diagnostics. Advance your career in whatever direction your passion leads.
Our bachelor’s degree in elementary education provides several support paths for your degree journey. Access specialized School of Education scholarships, along with general academic awards and financial aid based on need. Since Northwest prioritizes affordability, you can devote your energy to building excellent teaching skills without financial distractions. Search elementary education scholarships or browse all aid below.
Our commitment to your success goes far beyond classroom walls. Within a community that feels like family, you’ll develop lasting relationships with faculty and peers who share your passion for teaching elementary students. Our dedicated professors will know you by name, celebrate your successes and support you through challenges, creating a personalized educational experience larger institutions simply can’t match.
Get involved outside of your coursework by joining education-focused groups. Student Missouri State Teachers Association (SMSTA) offers opportunities to connect with peers throughout the state. Through Kind Individuals Dedicated to Students (KIDS), you’ll develop your mentoring skills and build enriching relationships with local elementary students. Expand your global perspective through Education Around the World, or nurture your passion for literacy with BookCats. These experiences will enhance your teaching toolkit and build your professional network.
When you become a Bearcat, you'll enter a community where you instantly belong. NCAA Division II sports bring green and white spirit to campus, creating shared experiences with fellow elementary ed majors. These relationships form the foundation of your professional network, providing ongoing support throughout your teaching career.
“At Northwest, we have the unique opportunity to get hands-on experience at Horace Mann Laboratory School. This exposure to classroom settings early on in our college career helps kickstart our teacher education journeys and fuel our passion for teaching. When paired with the collaboration and community of the entire School of Education faculty, staff and students, Northwest really goes above and beyond.”
Jenna Lee Johnson | First Grade Teacher, Park Hill School District | Elementary Education (2021)
Within the education major, our talented faculty have mastered classroom instruction, implemented evidence-based teaching strategies and earned recognition for teaching excellence. You’ll learn from their wisdom and get feedback from your teaching experiences at the Horace Mann Laboratory School. At Northwest, you’ll find a supportive environment where award-winning, kind educators are genuinely committed to your success as a teacher.
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