Elementary Education Degree (K-8)

Build a Solid Foundation to Teach a Range of Ages

An elementary education degree from Montana State University-Northern prepares you for a successful teaching career that focuses on children in the early grades. Graduates of the elementary education program will be eligible to apply for K-8 teaching licensure.

  • Learn the fundamental teaching skills in MSU-Northern's elementary education program, which includes courses in pedagogy, child development and elementary school curriculum.
  • Earn a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education with a subject area of concentration.
  • Enhance personal development through an innovative Montana elementary teacher education program that incorporates extracurricular experiences and electives into the course of study.

Candidates earning MSU-Northern's elementary education degree will be recommended for a Standard Class II Educator License (grades K-8).

Bachelor's in Elementary Education: Combining Theory and Experience.

MSU-Northern's Elementary Education degree includes 50 credits of broad coursework, made up of general education requirements and elementary teacher education pre-requisites. These classes provide students with a solid academic background that promotes success in the more specialized upper division courses.

  • Select either one K-12 licensure minor (20 credits) or two non-licensure areas of concentration (at least 14 credits each).
  • Choose from the following K-12 licensure minors: Art, Traffic Education, Reading.

Candidates planning to teach upper grades (6-8) are encouraged to select a K-12 licensure minor.

Elementary Education Courses: Contemporary. In-depth.

Educational Theory – Explore the latest in educational theory and how to apply it in classroom settings. Teaching methods and best practices change over time as new child development data emerges in the field.

Education and Technology – Learn to integrate technology into an educational setting and give students the best foundation for learning in a digital society.

Core Competencies – Learn the best ways to help young minds develop an understanding of subject-specific philosophies. Even more importantly, learn to foster critical thinking skills.

Elementary Teacher Career Outlook

Earning an elementary education degree opens up many career doors for graduates. As an innovative Montana elementary teacher education program, we seek to collaborate with local communities, agencies, and schools to provide diverse learning opportunities for students. We find that there is a consistent demand for teachers graduating from the MSU-Northern elementary education program, and our placement rate for new teachers is also consistently high. Between now and 2024, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects growth in the field to keep pace with the average for all other occupations.

Advisors

Jennifer Anderson
   Office: Cowan Hall 104F
   Phone: (406) 265-3757

Joseph Todd
   Office: Cowan Hall 104E
   Phone: (406) 265-3524