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Elementary Education

Also offered as: Graduate with Initial Licensure

Turn your interest in helping children learn into a career in the classroom. EIU’s Elementary Education program prepares you to teach grades 1-6 through research-based coursework, extensive classroom experience and a full semester of student teaching.

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Elementary Education

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Degree Level
Bachelor of Science in Education
Delivery
In Person
Time to Degree
8 Semesters
Credit Hours
127 Total, 66 in Major
Careers
Postsecondary, Teachers

Why Study Elementary Education at EIU?

  • Get into real classrooms before student teaching: Build experience working with elementary students as your education coursework progresses.
  • Learn in smaller classes: Work closely with faculty who can get to know you, your strengths and the kind of teacher you want to become.
  • Prepare to teach the whole classroom: Develop the skills to teach reading, writing, mathematics, science, social studies and more.
  • Follow a direct path to teacher licensure: The program is designed to prepare you for Illinois Elementary Education licensure for grades 1-6.
  • Join a university built on teacher preparation: EIU has been preparing educators since its founding as a teachers college in 1895.
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"I chose EIU because of the great opportunities it gave me. By attending Eastern, I was able to stay close to home, graduate a semester earlier, and gain great experience in my field while going through the elementary education program. ... I have had an amazing first year at EIU and am so excited for the rest of my time here!"
Adeline Lockart
Elementary Education | Class of 2029
Adeline Lockart, Elementary Education at EIU

Hands-On Experience

  • Gain classroom experience throughout the program: Connect what you learn at EIU with experiences in elementary schools before your final student-teaching semester.
  • Complete a full semester of student teaching: Put your preparation into practice alongside an experienced classroom teacher.
  • Plan and teach real lessons: Practice designing instruction, working with students and adapting your teaching to different learning needs.
  • Learn through integrated field experiences: Coursework, observation, reflection and classroom practice come together as you prepare to teach independently.
  • Grow through professional experiences: Take advantage of opportunities including workshops, student organizations, research and other experiences that expand your preparation as an educator.
Hands-On Experience, Elementary Education students at EIU

What You'll Learn

The B.S. in Elementary Education prepares you to teach grades 1 through 6. Great elementary teachers do much more than know the subjects they teach, so you will learn how children develop and learn, how to design engaging instruction and how to build a classroom where students with different strengths, backgrounds and needs can succeed. It is a fit if you enjoy working with children, explaining ideas and adapting to what students need.

View in Catalog
$43,190
Median Salary for These CareersMedian salaryThe median is the middle value: half of the people counted earn more and half earn less. It is an estimate for a typical graduate, not a promise of what you will earn. Pay varies by employer, location, experience and the specific job.

Career OutcomesCareer outcomesThese are example careers that graduates of this program often pursue, taken from the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET occupation list. They are examples, not job guarantees, and many graduates work in other fields.Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor

  • Education Teachers, Postsecondary
  • Elementary School Teachers

Career Insights

Job Outlook ★ Bright Outlook Bright OutlookBright Outlook careers are ones with a promising future. They're expected to grow quickly, to have lots of job openings, or to be brand new and emerging. A career earns the label if it meets any one of these: projected growth of 5% or more, at least 75,000 projected openings, or New & Emerging status.
Openings: Employers are expected to need at least 75,000 people for this career over the next several years. That count includes new jobs created by growth and spots opened when workers move on.Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor Openings
Preparation Needed Extensive (5/5)Job Zone 5: Extensive preparationMost of these careers require graduate school, and many also call for more than five years of experience.Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor
Personality Fit SocialSocial interest typeYou like helping people. This work centers on supporting others by helping, teaching, advising or serving them.Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor

Connect With Us

Kiran Padmaraju
Professor, Assistant Chair (TLF)
kpadmaraju@eiu.edu
2174 Buzzard Hall
217-581-5728
Kiran Padmaraju Message Kiran

Message Kiran

or email kpadmaraju@eiu.edu directly
Julie Viertel
Senior Academic Advisor (TLF)
jviertel@eiu.edu
2170
217-581-7893
Julie Viertel Message Julie

Message Julie

or email jviertel@eiu.edu directly
Billy Panther
Head of Panther Pride
Old Main
217-581-2223
Billy the Panther Message Billy

Message Billy

or email billy@eiu.edu directly

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