Elementary Education Major

As an elementary education major, you’ll gain a strong background in the foundations of learning and expand your knowledge in specific content areas. You’ll be prepared to teach all subjects in your individual classroom or teach a specialized subject to rotating classrooms. Gordon’s elementary education program is nationally recognized for graduating top-quality teachers and offering one of the best values.

Why study education at Gordon?

Gordon goes for 100. Gordon's intensely hands-on approach is just one of the reasons that 100 percent of our graduates promptly secure teaching positions if they wish. Even before your full-time student teaching in your senior year, you will spend well over 100 hours in classroom settings, connecting content and methods to real-life learning. Add in broad liberal arts exposure, a second major for content mastery, and a firm Christian foundation, and you will be holistically prepared to excel as an effective teacher.

Learn more about Gordon’s nationally recognized, award-winning program ➔

What careers can I pursue with an elementary education major?

Because of Gordon’s strong emphasis on practical classroom experience, you will be highly qualified for an initial Massachusetts teaching license (and comparable license in all 50 states and U.S. territories), and for a wide range of teaching positions across the country and around the globe, including:

• Public schools 
• Private schools
• Christian schools
• Global missions 

Learn more about jobs and internships ➔

The National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) announced that Gordon's undergraduate elementary program was one of the best in the nation in 2014. NCTQ is the nation's expert on the quality of teacher preparation programs and evaluates national teacher education against evidence-based criteria.

Go the extra mile!

As an education student, your curriculum takes you the extra mile (quite literally) for hands-on classroom experience at schools on Boston’s North Shore. And you’ll start right away. 

• First year (spring semester): assist elementary level students and their classroom teacher once a week 
• Sophomore year: learn how to assess and measure student learning as you teach lessons once a week
• Junior year: prepare and teach interactive, hands-on lessons in a local school once a week 
• Senior year (fall semester): spend 60 hours in the classroom where you’ll student-teach, getting to know the school’s culture, students and curriculum 
• Senior year (spring semester): full-time student teaching

After earning your bachelor’s degree, you may choose to continue your studies in Gordon’s Graduate Education program, which will prepare you to become a reading specialist, math specialist or educational leader.

Related Programs

Consider a second major or minor as you work toward becoming a highly qualified, well-rounded, licensed educator. Choose from the list below, or from any of Gordon’s other major and minor offerings:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• English
• French
• History
• Linguistics
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Psychology
• Spanish

After earning your bachelor’s degrees, you may choose to continue your studies in Gordon’s Graduate Education program, which will prepare you to become a reading specialist, math specialist or educational leader.