“Good teaching is more a giving of the right questions than a giving of the right answers,” said Josef Albers, designer and educator. This degree provides future teachers with the tools to stimulate their students to learn and to question. The plan includes grounding in teaching methods and best practices, as well as an understanding of issues and challenges faced by today’s and tomorrow’s schools.
This program is nationally recognized by the Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute, Inc.
This program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).
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No job is more challenging, rewarding, or important than teaching small children. As an elementary educator, you'll help shape the character—and future—of every child in your classroom. It's a big responsibility. Our elementary education program will prepare you to succeed.
For more than a century, Northern Arizona University has produced leaders for America's schools. Our graduates have a 98 percent pass rate on the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment exam. The College of Education is technologically advanced, culturally responsive, and student-focused. Our small class sizes guarantee that you will receive lots of individual attention. You'll also do plenty of classroom teaching.
To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the liberal studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.
The full policy can be viewed here.
In addition to University Requirements:
Candidates in this program are required to demonstrate content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge and skills, professional knowledge, and professional dispositions to be eligible to enter student teaching or internship placements.
Content, pedagogical, and professional knowledge or skills, professional dispositions are demonstrated through candidate performance on key assessments embedded in the following course(s):
Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.
| Minimum Units for Completion | 120 |
| Major GPA | 2.5 |
| Highest Mathematics Required | MAT 155 |
| Additional Admission Requirements | Required |
| Fieldwork Experience/Internship | Required |
| Student Teaching/Supervised Teaching | Required |
| University Honors Program | Optional |
| Progression Plan Link | View Progression Plan |
Outcomes align with Standards from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, the Association for Childhood Education International, and the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium
Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
To be eligible for admission to the program, candidates must meet the following requirements:
45 units of coursework which includes:
Take the following 66 units with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 with a course grade no lower than a "C".
You may choose to complete the Early Childhood Education Certificate program instead of a concentration area. The Early Childhood Certificate leads to the Early Childhood Endorsement through the Arizona Department of Education. This certificate requires 25 units of coursework and specific student teaching requirements.
In all of our teacher education programs, you are required to complete a student teaching or internship experience. In addition, a minimum number of units of practicum is required, which involves supervised field experience with a practicing teacher.
Before being accepted to student teaching, the following criteria must be met:
In order to obtain an AZ teaching certificate, you must pass the following required Arizona Educator Exams:
Additional coursework is required if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.
You may take these remaining courses from any of the academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. You may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.
We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.
Be aware that Arizona state teacher certification requirements leading to Institutional Recommendations may change at any time, and may impact program of study requirements.
Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.