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 school administrators consistently rank #1 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.
A four-year degree in elementary education at Northwest prepares you to teach students in grades 1-6 with comprehensive knowledge of child development, curriculum design and effective teaching strategies. Our elementary education major emphasizes profession-based learning experiences in real classroom settings from your first semester.
The B.S.ED. in elementary education requires a minimum of 120 credit hours, including courses in:
Choose from concentrations in language arts, social studies, science, mathematics, physical education, special education, technology or other content areas.
Northwest’s teacher preparation program culminates with our seventh-semester Residency Practicum, where you’ll design and implement instruction based on student assessment data. It prepares you for teacher certification in Missouri and positions you for success in neighboring states through our extensive district partnerships.
Many education majors choose to simultaneously earn a special education cross-categorical dual major, which certifies you for grades 1-6 in elementary education and K-12 for special education. This high-demand combination can be completed within four years with strategic planning. It provides two distinct teaching certifications, enhancing your employability in the education market.
The special education cross-categorical dual major requires 132 hours, including courses in:
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.
Don’t wait until your senior year to gain experience in the classroom. At Northwest, you’ll teach elementary students by the end of your first semester. Our on-campus Horace Mann Laboratory School provides unmatched opportunities to observe master teachers, practice your skills and receive immediate feedback. This early and continuous clinical experience helps affirm your career choice and builds confidence long before you begin student teaching.
Choose a program that leads the way in using education data to boost student learning. Our innovative seventh-semester Residency Practicum lets you design and implement instruction based on assessment data, preparing you for the realities of today’s data-focused classrooms. You’ll graduate knowing how to analyze student performance and adjust your teaching strategies to maximize learning outcomes. This skillset will make you immediately valuable to school districts facing accountability demands.
Learn from faculty who bring deep experience and advanced degrees to every course while maintaining a genuine commitment to your success. Our professors are chosen not only for their knowledge but for their caring approach to teaching elementary education. They’ll challenge you to become the best educator possible while providing personalized support every step of the way. With full assistance from advising, certification, student teaching and assessment experts, you’ll never have to navigate your education alone.
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
Finding teaching jobs in Missouri is easy with the right teacher preparation program, particularly since the state and country are experiencing a significant teacher shortage. Elementary educators are in particularly high demand, which contributes to a 100% job placement rate for Northwest graduates. Missouri schools are actively recruiting qualified teachers, with many districts offering signing bonuses, student loan forgiveness and additional incentives to attract talented educators.
Northwest's strong reputation for teacher preparation and connections with over 85 school districts often lead to our elementary education graduates receiving multiple job offers before completing student teaching.
Elementary education focuses on teaching children from first through sixth grade (ages 6-12), providing foundational knowledge in core subjects like reading, writing, mathematics, science and social studies.
As an elementary educator, you’ll not only teach these essential subjects but also foster critical thinking, problem-solving and social-emotional development during a pivotal period in children’s lives. Elementary teachers typically work with the same group of students throughout the school day, allowing them to build meaningful relationships and connect learning experiences across subjects. This is a teaching approach you’ll master through Northwest’s hands-on program.
The Praxis exams for elementary education are challenging but manageable with the right preparation, especially for Northwest students. Our curriculum is specifically designed to align with the knowledge and skills Praxis assesses, and our faculty provides targeted support to help you succeed.
Northwest offers dedicated Praxis preparation resources, study groups and personalized coaching to address any areas where you might need additional support. Our consistently high pass rates demonstrate that while the Praxis requires serious preparation, Northwest’s comprehensive teacher preparation program equips you with everything you need to excel on these important certification exams.
In addition to traditional classroom teaching, a bachelor’s in elementary education from Northwest provides diverse career paths. While most graduates become elementary classroom teachers (grades 1-6), others pursue roles as reading specialists, curriculum developers, after-school program coordinators, educational resource creators or professional tutors. The analytical, organizational and interpersonal skills you’ll develop are highly transferable to many fields.
Northwest’s elementary education major is rigorous but incredibly rewarding. It requires dedication to mastering multiple subject areas, developing effective teaching strategies for all learners and completing more than 550 hours of clinical experiences.
Our supportive learning environment makes this challenge more manageable. Northwest’s faculty provides personalized guidance throughout the program, and you’ll meet a community of peers aspiring to become elementary teachers. Additionally, the immediate classroom experiences starting your first semester will help theory make sense through practical application.
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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