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College of Applied Human Sciences: School of Education

Elementary Education, BA

The Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education prepares students to earn a teaching certification in multi-subjects, grades K-6 upon graduation in addition to their degree.

We value the learning that happens not only in WVU classrooms, but also in the application of these lessons in the field. Students graduate with over 1,000 hours of practice and experience teaching in local schools alongside experienced mentors.

Our program also allows the space for students to find their individual areas of interest, for which many pursue a master's degree. They can begin working as a classroom teacher after graduation and go on to earn graduate degrees (many graduate degrees are offered online).

In addition to emphasizing experience in local schools, we are committed to high standards at the state and national levels. Our faculty work with the national accreditation standards and contribute to the profession at university, state and national levels. This work involves exploration of technology, diversity, global initiatives and culturally responsive teaching, facilitated by faculty who are leaders in research, teaching and service.

Your Degree Plan The WVU Difference Learn by Doing Careers and Outcomes Meet Your Community Frequently Asked Questions Admission Requirements Tuition and Aid Take the Next Steps

Your Degree Plan

Intro

Aerial view of Martin and Woodburn Halls

This program prepares students to earn teacher certification in multi-subjects, grades K-6 upon graduation, along with a bachelor's degree. Students become outstanding elementary educators as they gain knowledge about theory and practice on campus and real-life experience in classrooms during junior and senior years in the program. This program also affords the opportunity for students to be in classrooms as yearlong residents during their senior year.

Take advantage of special options related to this major:

  • Honors

    Expand your curiosity — and enhance your curriculum — through the WVU Honors College. Two programs are offered: Honors Foundations for first- and second-year students and Honors EXCEL for third- and fourth-year students.

    Explore Honors

The WVU Difference

What sets this program apart from its competitors?

  • Arts & Bots program. Combine artistic building skills, engineering design skills and simple computer programming and mechanics to build a 3-D art project that students animate using simple robotic components.
  • Meets all CAEP standards for national accreditation at the initial teacher preparation and advanced preparation levels.
  • Teacher-in-Residency. Spend the entire last year of your academic program in the same classroom working with the same students and alongside an experienced mentor teacher to gain deep understandings of the breadth of the school year.
  • Complete over 1,000 hours of work in schools to practice your teaching and help prepare you as you enter the teaching profession.
  • Classroom research project. Study your practice and its direct influence on student learning during your senior year.
  • Small class sizes. Each class is designed for you obtain individualized attention from instructors, closer connection with classmates and hands-on learning.
Scholarships

Over 92% of WVU freshmen receive grants or scholarships (2022-2023).

Learn more

Learn by Doing

Learning happens outside the classroom. Get involved.

  • Students are placed in local elementary schools at the start of their junior year and remain in the same school building throughout their yearlong residency. This allows students to be immersed in the school and community culture, to establish strong relationships and to be considered a vital member of the school's educational team.
  • You will complete a yearlong residency in the senior year of the program. This residency pairs you with a practicing, experienced teacher to work as a team from the beginning to the end of the academic year.

Connect with other students who share your academic interests as a member of:

View all of the student organizations you can join.

Network with professionals in your field as a student member of:

Live, study and pursue outside-the-classroom learning in a residence hall community that shares your interests:

Outside of the Evansdale Crossing building.

What you learn outside of the classroom is just as important as what you learn during class. We’ll help you follow your curiosity.

Careers and Outcomes

How does this degree prepare students for a career?

Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary School

Plan, direct or coordinate the academic, administrative or auxiliary activities of public or private elementary or secondary level schools.

May require a Graduate Degree

Median Salary: $103,460

Possible job titles include: Assistant Principal, Middle School Principal, Principal, Superintendent.

Explore Career

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education

Teach students basic academic, social and other formative skills in public or private schools at the elementary level.

Median Salary: $63,680

Possible job titles include: Classroom Teacher, Elementary Teacher, Kindergarten Teacher, Teacher.

Explore Career

Instructional Coordinators

Develop instructional material, coordinate educational content, and incorporate current technology in specialized fields that provide guidelines to educators and instructors for developing curricula and conducting courses. Includes educational consultants and specialists, and instructional material directors.

May require a Graduate Degree

Median Salary: $74,620

Possible job titles include: Curriculum Coordinator, Curriculum Director, Curriculum Specialist, Instructional Systems Specialist.

Explore Career

Classroom Teacher, Education Consultant, Curriculum Designer, Workshop Facilitator or Trainer

Suggested WVU Minors for students seeking this career:

Required Certifications for this career
  • West Virginia Department of Education, Teacher Certification, Multi-subject K-6
Suggested Experiences and Résumé Builders
  • Kappa Delta Pi
  • Yearlong residency program in the senior year (250 hours in fall, full-time in spring)
  • Volunteer through iServe or at The Shack Neighborhood House.
Related Professional Organizations Alumni

Further your education

WVU graduate programs to consider:

Where some of our graduates are studying:

  • MA, Educational Policy, Vanderbilt Peabody College
  • MEd, School Counseling, University of Virginia
  • MA, Literacy Education, West Virginia University

Meet Your Community

The Elementary Education family will inspire and support you.

  • “WVU provided me with the academic knowledge and classroom experience for me to be prepared for my first year as a teacher. Throughout my time at WVU, I have had the privilege of working with some of the best professors on campus. They went the extra mile to create relationships with me and my classmates — they honestly made it feel like a little family. The elementary education program has a built-in student teaching experience that has helped me take knowledge from my courses and put it into practice in the classroom.”
    Taylor Bleigh
  • “This program, in comparison to others, does a great job of getting you in the field to get experience. We get to make some mistakes and learn while we’re in the field, which is really important because you’re going to make mistakes. Also, the faculty here have great, practical experience and are willing to work with students. Our classes are small, and we can have discussions about the material rather than just being lectured.”
    Zane Collings
  • “I come from a long line of educators. My parents are both involved in the education world to varying degrees, my grandmother was a teacher, and my great-grandfather was an administrator. The profession has surrounded me my entire life. Both of my parents and grandparents graduated from WVU, so applying here felt natural and like the right next step. Not only that, but WVU is a leader in a lot of ground-breaking research, which makes it a great institution to learn from and experience amazing opportunities.”
    Karoline Colucci
  • “I think this program is extremely special simply because of the great professors. I’ve gotten to know several professors on such a genuine and authentic level, and it’s made learning so much more fun and special. The professors who are a part of this program have taught me so much, even outside the classroom.”
    Rachel Ratliff
  • Johnna Bolyard

    Johnna Bolyard

    Professional highlights:

    • Outstanding Teaching Award, College of Human Resources and Education, WVU, 2021
    • Mathematics Teacher of the Year - College Level, West Virginia Council of Teachers of Mathematics, 2015
    • Outstanding Teaching Award, College of Human Resources and Education, WVU, 2010
  • Portrait of Carla Brigandi taken outside Allen Hall

    Carla Brigandi

    Professional highlights:

    • Early Scholar Award, National Association for Gifted Children, 2021
    • Principal Investigator, Project Appalachian Coders, U.S. Department of Education Jacob K. Javits Gifted Education Award, 2019-2024
    • Chair elect, the National Association for Gifted Children Research and Evaluation Network, 2022-2024
  • Matthew Campbell

    Matthew Campbell

    Professional highlights:

    • Research emphasis on teacher education, teacher recruitment and retention, and teacher leadership
    • Principal Investigator, Mountaineer Mathematics Master Teachers (M3T)
    • President, West Virginia Council of Teachers of Mathematics (WVCTM), 2022-2024
    • Associate Vice President, AMTE STaR Fundraising Committee, 2023-2026
    • Editorial Panel Chair, Mathematics Teacher Educator, 2021-2022

  • Jeffrey Carver

    Professional highlights:

    • 20 years' experience in the educational field
    • Directs STEM Education Initiatives at the College of Applied Human Services
    • Research interests focus on the improvement of teaching and learning in the STEM disciplines at all levels (p-20)

  • Sharon Hayes

    Professional highlights:

    • Coordinator of Action Research Faculty, 2008-2020
    • WVU National Writing Project, 2008-2011
    • Program Coordinator, 5 Year Teacher Education Program, 2020-2021
    • Program Coordinator, Elementary Math Specialist Master’s, 2021-2023
    • Licensed teacher in New Jersey: Elementary Education, Middle School
    • 10 years public school experience (K-8)
    • Former preschool teacher and childcare provider

  • Melissa Luna

    Professional highlights:

    • Journal of the Learning Sciences Reviewer of the Year, 2022-2023
    • CAHS Associate Dean for Research and Engagement, 2022-2023
    • CEHS Associate Dean for Research, 2019-2022
    • WVU CEHS Outstanding Researcher Award, 2018
    • National Science Foundation CAREER Award, 2016
  • Sarah Selmer

    Sarah Selmer

    Professional highlights:

    • Research emphasis: responsive noticing of student mathematical thinking
    • Completed a Fulbright specialist program in Lesotho, Africa (Summer 2023)
    • Department Editor for Mathematics Teacher: Learning and Teaching PK-12

  • Melissa Sherfinski

    Professional highlights:

    • Chair, American Educational Research Association (AERA) Early Education and Child Development Special Interest Group
    • Board Member, Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education and Journal of Research in Childhood Education
    • Licensed teacher in West Virginia and Wisconsin, areas: Elementary Education, Early Childhood-PK-K Special Needs, Intellectual Disabilities, Autism
    • 6 years public school experience (K-5)
    • Former preschool teacher and childcare provider

  • Courtney Shimek

    Professional highlights:

    • Research interests: confluence between play and literacy, multimodal responses to literature, use of nonfiction in elementary classrooms and literacy teacher preparation

  • Yuanhua Wang

    Professional highlights:

    • Areas of expertise: Science teacher education and computational thinking
    • Research interests: Science inquiry and inquiry teaching, teacher's knowledge in STEM education and computational thinking in science teacher education

  • My coursework from my methods and inquiry classes have influenced my classroom practice by giving me multiple perspectives to help relate to my students.

    Laura Brock stands outside Allen Hall on the WVU campus.
    Laura Brock
     BA, Elementary Education, 2022
    “My coursework from my methods and inquiry classes have influenced my classroom practice by giving me multiple perspectives to help relate to my students. I have found that my relationship with the entire class has flourished as I apply strategies taught by our professors, in and outside of the classroom.”

  • I am so grateful for my students, colleagues and mentors who have supported me and ignited my passion for mathematics education.

    Joni Jones
     BS, Management; MA, Elementary Education More About Joni's Presidential Award
    “It is an honor to receive this award, especially during a unique school year. This proves that great teaching and authentic learning can happen in any setting. This award validates the importance of student inquiry in the classroom and creating a positive learning environment where students can feel confident in their mathematical ability. I am so grateful for my students, colleagues and mentors who have supported me and ignited my passion for mathematics education.”

    • FAQs

    Common questions and answers about Elementary Education.

    1. No. Once students earn their West Virginia license, they can transfer that license to other states. We have graduates who are teaching in Arizona, Colorado, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and beyond.

    2. Yes. One example is the Underwood-Smith Scholarship, which provides $10,000 each year for four years.

      There are also University scholarships and CAHS scholarships to support your studies on campus.

    Admission Requirements

    To be admitted to WVU's Elementary Education major, first-time freshmen must meet WVU's first-time freshman admission requirements. They also must meet one of the following admission requirements. Interested in transferring? Review the transfer admission requirements.

    Tuition and Aid

    How much does Elementary Education at WVU cost? And how can you save?

    Tuition and Fees

    Estimated rates are available on our tuition website. Anyone who is not a current West Virginia resident, including international students, will be charged non-resident rates.

    View Tuition and Fees

    Scholarships

    Estimate your eligibility for merit scholarships at WVU Morgantown.

    Find Scholarships

    Net Price Calculator

    Estimate your cost of attendance and eligibility for financial aid and scholarships at any WVU System campus.

    Visit the Net Price Calculator

    Ways to Save

    Here are a few ways for you to save on the cost of attending WVU in addition to university scholarships.

    Financial Aid

    The most important step toward funding your future with financial aid for the Elementary Education major is submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.

    How to Complete the FAFSA

    Ohio Tuition Reciprocity

    As the result of a special agreement, students from Ohio who are fully admitted to Elementary Education can enroll at WVU and pay in-state tuition rates. Students must be admitted to both the University and this major.

    Learn More

    Start at Another WVU Campus

    In addition to our transfer articulation agreements, you can start your career with WVU at another campus and transfer to WVU Morgantown.

    Transfer Articulation Agreements

    To simplify the transfer process, we have formal agreements with certain institutions. These agreements outline the courses you should take to prepare for transferring to WVU.

    Review the full list of transfer articulation agreements to see if your institution is listed.

    Learn How to Transfer Course Credits

    Ready to take the next step?

    Learn how to join the WVU family.

    Request Info

    Want to know more about Elementary Education at WVU? Fill out our request form to receive more information.

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