Are you passionate about education and working with young people? Feel like sharing your skills and knowledge to help shape the leaders of tomorrow? Hoping to make an impact in your local community and school? Then an elementary education degree is the perfect choice for you.

You may recall an educator or two who have been great influences in your life. Patience, creativity with teaching, dedication, and passion for sharing what they know are the makings of the teachers you remember fondly. Regardless of all the good things that made them cool and worth remembering, and all they have taught and shared with you, perhaps the best possible thing to describe them is that they cared.

And now, you could be thinking about following their footsteps. If so, then you might have what it takes to tackle an elementary education degree. For today’s article, we are going to discuss what you need to know about obtaining a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and the other good things that come with one.

Bachelor’s In Elementary Education: What Is It?

Simply put, a bachelor’s degree in elementary education is the most straightforward and traditional way to become an elementary school teacher. You will need to earn a bachelor’s degree, complete a student teaching program, and finally obtain a licensure before you can become an official elementary school teacher. But nowadays, some institutions provide alternate routes to obtain a certification for those interested with teaching but do not possess a background in education. A bachelor’s degree is still required, and these individuals also need to fulfill an internship program and some additional education courses.

Want to take your pursuit online? Sure, you can. Many universities nowadays offer the degree via their online platforms and you can browse various institutes listed in many educational websites with just the click of a mouse.

One Degree, Many Career Options

A bachelor’s degree in elementary education usually takes four years to complete. With this program, students are provided with the necessary skills and capabilities required to become an educator or elementary school teacher. Great jobs in the education sector can be pursued once you obtain this degree. With the ever-growing demand for educators and teachers in most places, it can be rewarding to undertake such an endeavor. Curriculum development, researching, private tutoring, school teaching, and assistant teaching are only some of the careers available that require such a qualification.

And if you are not yet on the hunt for a job once you graduate with this degree, you can go ahead and opt to attain a master’s degree in the same or similar field, boosting the prospects for your career.

What Are The Requirements?

Most of the time, these degrees require that students participate in a variety of classroom learning experiences. Student teaching experiences are also required in these programs, which are prerequisites for licensure. Other colleges also often require that one should undergo a background check – fingerprinting processes and clinical check-ups before any teaching can progress, all to comply with the institute’s requirements and to ensure the safety of the children.

So, How To Become A Teacher?

After the countless and tiring hours to complete a student teaching program, and earning that elementary education degree, you still need to obtain a license in order for you to teach. One of the most important things to consider, licensure or certification usually requires a degree, a completed student teaching experience, and that you should pass the licensure exam. Depending where you take them, these exams vary by state. And to maintain the licensure or certification, some states also require the teachers to complete professional development hours.

What Comes With The Degree?

Not only will you get to work in the field of education once you finally get your hands on a degree in elementary education, but there are other things that are included in its package: licensure and accreditation ensure that you are qualified to tackle teaching in schools and institutes and pursue any other education-related matters.

One More Thing

Once you finish all of the things required to teach, and you get to be a professional in your chosen field of expertise, the way people look at you will surely change – you will earn a lot of well-deserved respect from your colleagues, friends, and family. Not all of us are capable of teaching properly, and it takes real passion and love for the industry to make a good educator – for teaching is not an easy task, regardless of what you teach.