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College of Education

Online bachelor's of education degrees

Prepare to launch your teaching career 

The formative years are the most important for children’s education. You can be a part of helping inspire and guide children as they discover learning and personal growth during this critical period. Explore online bachelor’s of education degrees to prepare you for a teaching career focused on early childhood and elementary school age students. When you begin the Bachelor of Science in Education in Education/Elementary Teacher Education or Bachelor of Science in Education/Early Childhood Education programs, it allows you to develop teaching strategies specifically designed to guide students from pre-school to elementary school. Teaching-focused bachelor’s education degrees help you prepare for teaching licensure. If you live in California, the Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies program can prepare you for a multiple-subject teaching credential.   

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Find the online bachelor’s of education degree that fits you

12

The number of times a year you can start your degree based on your schedule.

120

credits*

The number of credits required to complete a bachelor’s of education degree with UOPX. 

credits*

4

years*

The program length of a bachelor’s education degree with UOPX.

years*

*Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies degree program requires 121 credits and has a published program length of 4 years and 1 month.  A student’s actual time to completion will depend on various factors specific to the individual, including transfer credits, retaking courses, and breaks from coursework.

Skills you’ll develop with core bachelor’s education degree courses

Bachelor of Science in Education/Early Childhood Education

  • Instructional practice 
  • Professionalism
  • Ethical practice
  • Learner development
  • Innovation

Bachelor of Science in Education/Elementary Education

  • Instructional practice 
  • Professionalism
  • Ethical practice
  • Learner development
  • Innovation

Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies (California ONLY)

  • Teaching
  • Professionalism
  • Leadership
  • Learning strategies
  • Innovation

Earn career-relevant skills in weeks – not years

Learning shouldn’t take years to put into practice. That’s why we’re empowering you to build career-relevant skills with every five- to six-week course.

We’ve worked with a labor market researcher Lightcast to identify in-demand skills for occupations and mapped those to our bachelor’s and master’s degree programs.

Build skills on your way to your degree

Outlook for workers with an online bachelor’s of education degree

BLS CATEGORY: Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers

JOB GROWTH: -1%

Bureau of Labor Statistics job growth for kindergarten and elementary school teachers is projected to decline 2023 and 2033.

JOB TITLES:

  • Early childhood teacher
  • Preschool teacher

BLS CATEGORY: Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers

JOB GROWTH: -1%

Bureau of Labor Statistics job growth for kindergarten and elementary school teachers is projected to decline between 2023 and 2033. 

JOB TITLE:

  • Elementary education teacher

BLS CATEGORY: Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers

JOB GROWTH: -1%

Bureau of Labor Statistics job growth for kindergarten and elementary school teachers is projected to decline between 2023 and 2033.

JOB TITLE:

  • Elementary education teacher

Bachelor’s of education degree course requirements

Bachelor of Science in Education/Elementary Education

You’ll have 20 core courses of program-specific knowledge and a full time clinical practice/student teaching component to help you build the skills, competency, and confidence to teach elementary school children. These core courses include topics like childhood development, elementary methods: reading/language arts, elementary methods: mathematics and more.

Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies (California only)

You’ll have 14 core courses of program-specific knowledge and a clinical practice/student teaching component to help you build the skills, competency, and confidence to teach children. These core courses include topics like elementary models: reading and language arts, instructional methods for English language learners, classroom management and more.  

Bachelor of Science in Education/Early Childhood Education

You’ll have 19 core courses of program-specific knowledge and a clinical practice/student teaching component to help you build the skills, competency, and confidence to teach children. These courses include subjects like foundation of early childhood education, early childhood literacy development, methods of teaching in early childhood: mathematics and more.

Why earn an online bachelor’s of education degree?

  • About 109,000 openings for kindergarten and elementary school teachers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
  • Online Bachelor of Education degrees prepare you for teaching licensure in many states. Learn more about state licensure requirements.
  • As a teacher, you can become a critical part of your community with the privilege of helping the early learning of young children. 

Why us for your online bachelor’s of education degree?

Classroom teaching experience

University of Phoenix requires  an in-person, full time student experience teaching in the classroom as part of the curriculum. It’s one of the final steps to completing your bachelor’s degree. You’ll complete a student teaching experience where you will apply your instruction and classroom management skills, full time. Working under the supervision of a teacher and a University of Phoenix faculty supervisor, you’ll develop lesson plans, teach, work with diverse student populations, and incorporate technology into the classroom. You are given the opportunity to complete your clinical hours and your student teaching in a local school district or placement. For BSED/ECH daycare or comparable learning settings are acceptable. 

Prospective student completes an online application

Ready to get started?

Start your application for free or request additional information. 

An elementary teacher leads her young students through an activity

Help with your program requirements

Your dedicated education program specialist works 1:1 with you directly during your 100 required hours of clinical experience (or more if required by your state) and a minimum of 12 weeks of clinical practice (or more if required by your state). Other ways education program specialists can help include:

  • Assistance navigating your state licensure requirements and application for certification.
  • Help identify placement sites for your clinical experience and clinical practice.

Access to College of Education Central 

Support for your online bachelor’s education degree also includes helpful resources available to you on COE Central.  What you can find on COE Central:

  • Guidelines for professional expectations
  • Details on clinical experiences
  • Information on your classroom clinical practice
  • Internships guidelines
  • Access to the edTPA assessment and support system used by teacher preparation programs throughout the United States to emphasize, measure and support the skills and knowledge that all teachers need to start their careers
  • Milestone roadmaps
  • Technology and multimedia resources
  • Toolkits for your teaching degree and career

Why is teacher licensure important?

Before becoming a early childhood or elementary school teacher, you must demonstrate the skills and knowledge needed for effective classroom practice. Licensure provides the professional and public assurance that educators have met your state teaching standards and have demonstrated their readiness to teach. 

Review your state licensure requirements 

Every state is different when it comes to state licensure. Learn more about your state licensure requirements

Ways to pay — and save. Explore your options.

From scholarships to transfer credits and federal financial aid for those who qualify, there are a variety of ways to pay for school and save on tuition. 

Financial Aid

Federal Financial Aid is money from the U.S. Department of Education to help you pay for your college tuition and expenses.

Financial Aid

Transfer Credits

Your prior eligible credits could help you graduate from your bachelor's degree faster and for less.

Transfer Credits

Military or Veteran Benefits

See if you qualify to use veterans’ education benefits or tuition assistance to help pay for school.

Military or Veteran Benefits

Scholarships

Starting with your first course, every new qualifying student will be awarded one of our scholarships.

Scholarships

Employer Tuition Discounts

Check if your employer provides tuition assistance, benefits, or reimbursement programs toward your degree.

Employer Tuition Discounts

Student experience

Over 1 million alumni have earned their degrees while balancing work, school and life. So can you. 

Manage Time with Flexible Courses

Manage Time with Flexible Courses

Use Robust Student Resources

Use Robust Student Resources

Learn Online

Learn Online

How to apply for your bachelor’s education degree program

After selected your degree program, choose your start date from our calendar, apply for free and register before the deadline (usually one week before the program starts). Then you’ll speak to an enrollment representative to begin class.

  • No SAT, GMAT or essay required
  • No application fee
  • Our risk-free trial lets eligible students try out University of Phoenix for three weeks with no financial obligation
Apply for your education bachelor's degree online

Meet your college deans

Our college deans focus on developing a career-relevant curriculum. They bring industry experience to the classroom and lead a faculty of academic professionals with one goal in mind—to help you earn the skills you need to pursue your career.

Pamela Roggeman, Dean

Pamela Roggeman, EdD

Dean, College of Education

Ashley Bartley, Associate Dean

Ashley Bartley, MAEd

Associate Dean, College of Education

Lisa Ghormley, Associate Dean

Lisa Ghormley, MEd

Associate Dean, College of Education

Accreditation

Accredited for 45+ years

Since 1978, University of Phoenix has maintained institutional accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), hlcommission.org. Learn more about the value of University of Phoenix accreditation and how it benefits our students.

FAQ about bachelor's of education degrees

The published program length for an online bachelor’s in education is four years. Other factors, such as the number of eligible credits you can transfer toward your program and whether you take breaks from your program you could complete your degree in more or less time. 

  • Bachelor of Science in Education/Early Childhood Education: published program length 4 years
  • Bachelor of Science in Education/Elementary Education: published program length 4 years
  • Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies: published program length approximately 4 years and 1 month

 

 

If you want to teach early childhood/kindergarten or elementary school students in a classroom setting, a teaching degree like our Bachelor of Science in Education in Early Childhood Education or Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education will help prepare you to enter and grow in the profession. See your state’s requirements to prepare for your future as a teacher.  

Our core courses are taken online. The clinical portion of the degree, which includes field experience and student teaching, takes place in an in-person traditional classroom environment in your home state. Here’s more good news — we don’t expect you to take several courses at once. You only take one course at a time over 5-6 weeks. Our virtual learning environment is asynchronous, which allows you and your peers to engage in discussions and assignments on your own schedule. 

You can learn from faculty who are leaders in their field. They bring their experience from the real world to teach and demonstrate skills that support your career growth. 

Yes. If you’ve previously attended an accredited college, you may be able to transfer eligible credits that could apply toward your degree requirements. An enrollment representative can answer your questions about which credits may be transferred. 

There are even more ways to save time and money on your degree including scholarships, or you may be eligible for reduced tuition, tuition assistance or other benefits through your employer. Learn more with the Savings Explorer Tool.  

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