Our bachelor’s degree program in elementary education prepares you for a rewarding teaching career in grades 1-6. In our undergraduate education programs, you’ll start building your resume from day one. You’ll begin meaningful fieldwork experiences in area schools the first semester of your freshman year.
Our class sizes are small, and students receive plenty of individual mentoring from our experienced faculty, who are very well connected with area schools. With an extensive network of partner schools, you’ll apply skills learned in the classroom to real-world settings and gain the expertise to excel in your career.
As an elementary education student, you will complete a subject major and may select any discipline offered by the University of Hartford or an interdisciplinary behavioral studies major. Your principal preparation, however, is the professional core comprising two full semesters of integrated professional practicum experience and one full semester of student teaching in public school settings.
Students who successfully complete the elementary education undergraduate program and the specified Praxis II examination(s) are eligible, on recommendation of the University, for Connecticut certification to teach first grade through sixth grade.
Students preparing for certification in elementary education have the option to enroll in our program integrating a special education core, leading to a dual certificate. This would be recommended in order to include special education students in a regular classroom.
Career Outlook
Job growth for kindergarten and elementary school teachers is expected to grow 7 percent from 2016 to 2026 according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, so the demand for teachers will remain strong.
Alumni of our education programs are employed at every level of the education system, from early childhood centers to public and private schools, higher education institutions, and at the highest levels of education administration.