Before accepting students into the elementary education major, most colleges require candidates to have completed a number of prerequisite courses. Many schools, such as Edison State College, require prospective students to first complete their associate’s degree (or the school’s core-curriculum requirements) before they can apply to the elementary education degree program. Specific prerequisites often include multiple lower-level education courses, such as introduction to education, teaching diverse populations and technology in education. Students applying for such programs must have a GPA of at least 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale) and must pass a state-mandated general skills test. Students may also have to pass a background check.
Once accepted into an elementary education program, students enroll in upper division education courses. Required classes include classroom management, curriculum and instruction and student development and learning principals. First semester (junior year) students will usually take upper division methods courses devoted to specific elementary school subjects, such as art, music, math and reading foundations, as is the case in Saint Leo University.
Most elementary education programs have student-teaching requirements, where candidates will spend a specified amount of hours working with a certified teacher in an actual elementary classroom. The University of Southern Mississippi requires students to complete a minimum 30 hours of clinical experience, though the specific time-requirement varies from state to state. Student teaching requirements are usually fulfilled during the final year of the program. Some schools, having established an ongoing relationship with area schools, will assign these teaching internships to students, while others may require students to secure such positions on their own.
In 2010, the median annual wage of elementary school teachers was $51,660, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment for this profession is expected to grow by 17 percent between 2010 and 2020, which is about average for all professions. However, high-need areas such as low-income communities may see a larger increase in demand for elementary school teachers.