What Degree Is Best for Elementary Education?
While there are a few different degree options available, the majority of elementary school teachers choose to earn a bachelor's degree in elementary education.
Elementary school teachers work with students from kindergarten through 5th or 6th grade. Some teach core subjects, while others focus on content areas like art or music. Regardless of what type of elementary school teacher you want to become, most states require a teaching degree to earn a teaching license.
There are a few degree options to become an elementary school teacher, but some options are better than others. Keep reading to discover what degree is best for elementary education.
What Is the Best Bachelor's Degree for an Elementary School Teacher?
The best bachelor's degree for an elementary school teacher is an elementary education degree. Depending on your school of education, these may be a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Science, or a Bachelor of Education degree. Bachelor's degrees are undergraduate degrees that take about four years of full-time study to complete.
Many bachelor's degrees in education double as teacher preparation programs, meaning they fulfill coursework and student teaching requirements needed to earn a teaching license.
Coursework for elementary education programs covers topics like classroom management and curriculum development. If you're teaching general education, you'll also cover how to teach content areas like reading, writing, and math.
If you want to teach a specific subject area, like art, music, or physical education, your degree program will include courses on how to teach that concentration.
You'll complete your elementary education degree program with field experience in an elementary classroom. This student teaching experience is hands-on, providing you with classroom experience to prepare you for your teaching career.
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Alternatives to a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education
While a bachelor's degree in elementary education is the primary way that elementary teachers earn their licenses, there are a few other alternative bachelor's degree programs you can pursue. We've explored a few below.
Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education
Bachelor's degrees in early childhood education are typically geared toward those who want to work in daycares and preschool settings. These programs often span an age range from infancy through third grade.
Early childhood education courses usually cover topics like child development and strategies for teaching smaller children. Some may include special education courses.
Note that not all early childhood education degrees lead to teaching licensure. You may have to pursue a master's program or complete a teacher education program to earn your license.
Bachelor's Degree in Special Education
Special education teachers work with students with developmental delays, learning disabilities, or behavioral disorders. This requires a skill set that's slightly different than general education.
Some special education degree programs train future teachers to work with kindergarten through 12th-grade students, but many schools offer programs specifically in elementary special education.
Bachelor's Degree in Education with Elementary Licensure
Bachelor's degrees in education typically offer a broader overview of teaching and education. They aren't designed to lead to one specific teaching license.
How you earn your elementary education license with an education degree depends on your state. Some states simply require you to pass the elementary teaching exams, while others may require you to complete an endorsement program in elementary education first.
Not all education degrees lead to teacher certification. Check with your college to learn if you can pursue certification with the degree.
Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education With a STEM Emphasis
Many schools are pushing to increase education in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. As a result, teachers can choose an emphasis or concentration in STEM education.
A bachelor's degree in elementary education with a STEM specialization is similar to a typical teaching degree but will include more coursework that covers how to teach STEM fields. Teachers with this degree can pursue teaching jobs in STEM magnet schools or roles teaching content areas like computer science.
What Is the Best Master's Degree for an Elementary School Teacher?
The best master's degree for an elementary school teacher is a master's in elementary education. Master's degrees are graduate degrees that usually take about two years to complete.
Some of these students are already teachers but want to further their education. These master's programs are commonly offered as online programs, allowing teachers to continue teaching while earning their master's degree.
Others are entry-to-teaching degrees for those who do not currently hold a teaching credential. These types of master's degrees are often teacher preparation programs, designed to prepare education majors for licensure.
Alternatives to a Master's Degree in Elementary Education
There are a few alternative options to earning a master's degree in elementary education. We've broken a couple of these down below.
Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education
Similar to bachelor's degrees in early childhood education, master's degrees in early childhood education focus on infants through third graders. Not all of these programs lead to teacher licensure.
While these degrees are primarily for those wanting to move into leadership roles within daycare or preschool learning environments, they can also be for those wanting to teach elementary school. Check with your state's board of education to see if you can earn a teaching license with this degree.
Master's Degree in Educational Leadership
Educational leadership degrees focus on leadership and administration within educational settings. They can be found as on-campus degrees and online programs.
A degree in educational leadership does not usually lead to teacher licensure. However, it can be a great way for a current elementary school teacher to work their way into a leadership role, like that of a vice principal.
FAQs About the Best Degrees for Elementary Education
Below, we've answered a few frequently asked questions about the best degrees for elementary education.
What Degree Do Most Elementary Teachers Have?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, most elementary school teachers have a bachelor's degree in education. This is usually the minimum required to earn a certificate and teach in a public school, although private schools may have different standards.
Do I Need a Master's Degree To Teach Elementary School?
Most teachers do not need a master's degree to teach elementary school. According to O*NET, only 22% of elementary teaching positions in the U.S. require a master's degree.
Some school districts may require you to earn a master's degree within a certain amount of time, often five years, of starting as a teacher. Others do not require a master's degree but pay teachers who hold master's degrees more and offer them better benefits.
What Type of Teacher Is in Highest Demand?
The type of teacher in highest demand depends heavily on what part of the country you're in. Some commonly reported fields where teachers are in demand include:
- math
- special education
- science
- foreign language
- English as a second language
However, this doesn't mean there isn't a demand for elementary school teachers. According to the U.S. Department of Education, 23 states plus Washington D.C. reported a shortage of K-6 general education teachers for the 2024-2025 school year.
Is an Elementary Major Worth It?
For many, an elementary major is worth it. Those who have a passion for elementary education have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the next generation of learners. It's also a field that's consistently in demand and has a fairly regular schedule.
