Best Bachelor's in Elementary Education Programs in Missouri

William Jewell College offers a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education leading to Missouri certification for grades 1 to 6. The program is structured in phases: Phase I school observations of culturally responsive teaching, Phase II three semesters of 40 hour fieldwork placements in varied classrooms, and Phase III a full year student teaching experience with one mentor teacher in one school. On completing certification requirements the college recommends graduates for an Initial Professional Certificate. Delivery is an on campus traditional undergraduate program. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Missouri's elementary school teachers.

Washington University in St. Louis offers an Elementary Teacher Education major, a Bachelor of Arts that prepares candidates to teach grades 1-6 in the public schools. Based in the Department of Education within the College of Arts and Sciences, the program combines a liberal arts foundation with professional preparation, so future teachers grow as scholars and as practitioners. The department is direct that completing its teacher education program qualifies a student for certification, leading to a Missouri State Department of Education teaching certificate. Students can enter the pathway as rising sophomores or as upperclassmen finishing their degrees, which leaves room to decide on teaching after arriving. Field and clinical experience runs through the program and culminates in student teaching, and all study takes place on campus. Among Missouri's 35 ranked bachelor's-level programs, this one posts the highest graduation rate at 94%. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Missouri.

College of the Ozarks offers a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education through its Teacher Education Department, delivered on campus in Point Lookout, Missouri. The major includes clinical experiences and a student teaching placement (EDU 45V Student Teaching), and graduates who complete the approved program of study are eligible for Missouri teacher certification. Optional add-ons include an Early Childhood concentration and a Middle School endorsement. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in Missouri.

Built for future elementary teachers, the Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary Education at the University of Missouri-St Louis pairs general education with a structured teacher-preparation sequence that candidates enter once admitted. What gives it shape is the chance to specialize, since students choose an emphasis in an area such as Special Education, TESOL, or Middle School, letting them tailor the roughly 123-hour degree toward the classrooms they picture. Fieldwork is a throughline rather than an afterthought, culminating in year-long, site-based practicum courses hosted in partnering Studio Schools. That hands-on grounding leads toward Missouri certification to teach grades 1 through 6. Delivered on campus in St. Louis, the program carries AAQEP accreditation through the College of Education. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

Mizzou's BS in Education in Elementary Education prepares candidates for initial Missouri certification to teach grades 1 through 6. Coursework is organized in three sequential levels, Early, Mid, and Advanced, with content-specific elementary methods courses and 60 hours per semester in classrooms during the Mid Level. The Advanced Level is the yearlong Senior Year On-Site Program (SYOSP): a minimum of three full days weekly the first semester, extending to five full days of student teaching in a single classroom the second semester. Delivered on campus. Teacher education programs are approved by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Missouri.

Rockhurst University offers a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education that leads to initial Missouri teacher certification for grades 1 to 6. Coursework combines intellectual study with field and service-learning experiences, and students complete field placements in Kansas City area public, private, and parochial schools. The program is delivered on campus. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

Drury University offers a Bachelor of Science in elementary education through its School of Education and Child Development, leading to Missouri teacher certification. Candidates build classroom readiness through practicum experiences and a full student teaching placement in local schools. The program supports future teachers with options such as TEACH Grants and Ozarks Teaching Corps scholarships, and its coursework prepares graduates to lead their own elementary classrooms across the state. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

Missouri S&T offers a Bachelor of Science in Education with an elementary emphasis, a minimum of 120 credit hours leading to Missouri grades 1 to 6 teacher certification. Students begin observing and teaching in K-12 classrooms in their second semester, complete multiple field experience courses, and finish with a 16 week full time student teaching capstone. The emphasis embeds Project Lead The Way Launch STEAM certification. Delivery is on campus in Rolla. All certification programs are approved by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and the Elementary Classroom Teacher program holds ILA National Recognition through August 2030. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Missouri.

The University of Central Missouri offers an Elementary Education BSE with a Grades 1-6 option, roughly 121 to 124 credit hours, leading to Missouri certification to teach grades 1 through 6 after graduates pass required certification exams. The program uses a block model: students complete two blocks combining coursework with extensive elementary classroom placement in the junior year, then two more in the senior year, with the final semester devoted to full student teaching alongside the same cooperating teacher. UCM is described as the longest continuously CAEP accredited public institution in Missouri. Delivered primarily on campus, with some online courses available for scheduling flexibility. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Missouri.

Evangel University's Elementary Education degree gives students a small but meaningful choice at the outset: it can be earned as a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science depending on whether foreign language coursework is completed. Whichever route candidates take, the program leads to Missouri teaching certification and is approved by the state's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. What stands out is how early students get into schools, with varied field experiences in local classrooms starting as soon as freshman year and building toward a full-time semester or year-long student teaching internship. The teaching itself leans interdisciplinary, emphasizing how to engage young learners, plan curriculum and instruction, and grow through in-depth methods courses. Those courses are led by faculty who have taught in classrooms themselves, so the guidance stays connected to real practice. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Missouri.

Southeast Missouri State University makes early, sustained classroom time the signature of its Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. Students step into real classrooms during their very first semester and draw on five professional centers located on campus, so hands-on practice starts long before student teaching. That practical grounding is paired with a technology focus, as the university's EDvolution initiative is integrated across the curriculum to prepare candidates for modern classrooms. Offered through the Department of Elementary, Early, and Special Education, the program leads to teacher licensure and holds AAQEP accreditation. The university describes itself as a statewide leader in preparing teachers who are ready on their first day on the job. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

Cottey College's Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education prepares teachers for grades 1-6 and leads to Missouri initial teacher certification. Field experiences build progressively, from EDU 290 (30 hours) and EDU 390 (45 hours) to a culminating EDU 490 student teaching placement of at least 12 weeks with a master teacher, totaling a minimum of 75 field visit hours beforehand. Students choose a Certification Track toward licensure or a Non-Certification Education Studies track. Programs are aligned with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education requirements, which is state program approval. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Missouri.

Missouri State University's Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary Education prepares candidates to teach grades 1-6 and, by the university's account, is the largest elementary education program in the state. Offered through the School of Teaching, Learning and Developmental Sciences, it gives students a choice in how they gain classroom experience, either through traditional student teaching or the program's Internship Academy as an alternative fieldwork pathway. That flexibility lets candidates match their preparation to how they learn best. Looking ahead, the program notes accelerated master's routes in areas such as Early Childhood and Family Development, Educational Technology, and Literacy, so students can start building toward graduate study while still undergraduates. The program is CAEP accredited, a signal of its standing among educator preparation programs. It awards more bachelor's-level elementary education degrees than any of Missouri's 35 ranked bachelor's-level programs, 134 in the most recent year. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Missouri.

Southwest Baptist University's Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education prepares candidates to teach grades 1 through 6 and leads to Missouri certification. Offered through the College of Professional Programs, it eases students into the profession with early field experiences before building toward an intensive junior-year methods block and a senior year devoted to student teaching. What makes the program adaptable is its room to grow, since students can add certification in Early Childhood or Special Education and take coursework in middle school content areas and English as a Second Language. That flexibility lets future teachers widen the range of classrooms and learners they are ready to serve. The degree is offered on campus at the Bolivar, Salem, and Mountain View locations. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

Maryville University of Saint Louis anchors its Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in real classrooms from the start, a grades 1 through 6 licensure program accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation. Fieldwork is the backbone of the experience, beginning in the sophomore year with an eight-hour weekly practicum each semester and rotating students through at least three different school settings before they graduate. Those placements are far from generic, drawing on standing partnerships with five St. Louis-area districts including Parkway, Ritenour, Lindbergh, and Hazelwood. Small classes reinforce the personal feel, with an average size of just 14, and the university's School of Education backs students through its Center for Access and Achievement. The result is a program that keeps candidates close to practice and closely supported. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Missouri.

This Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education requires a minimum of 120 credit hours and prepares candidates for Missouri certification to teach grades 1 through 6. The educator preparation program subscribes to the Missouri Standards for the Preparation of Educators, with the Teacher Education Professional Program comprising the final two years. All teacher education programs require at least a semester-long student teaching experience under a cooperating mentor teacher, with required weekly seminars. Certification depends on completing degree requirements and state assessments through the Missouri DESE. The initial teacher preparation programs are nationally accredited by CAEP (2025-2032). Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

Central Methodist University's Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary Education prepares candidates for Missouri Teaching Certification in grades 1 through 6, with a curriculum that pairs classroom study and hands-on practice. Along the way students take on observational and field experiences and internships, building comfort in schools before they lead their own classroom. The degree also offers room to specialize, with concentrations in areas such as mathematics, reading and writing, and creative arts that let candidates lean into a strength. Its standing rests on institutional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission and approval by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, which functions as state approval rather than programmatic accreditation. Access is broad as well, since the program runs on the Fayette campus, online, and statewide through extended-studies centers in communities such as Columbia, Sedalia, and St. Louis. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Missouri.

Northwest Missouri State University treats classroom time as the heart of its Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary Education, and it shows. Candidates begin logging experience in their very first semester at the university's on-campus Horace Mann Laboratory School, accumulating more than 500 hours before a seventh-semester Residency Practicum in which they design and deliver instruction shaped by student assessment data. The curriculum covers the core teaching subjects, from language arts and mathematics to science and social studies, and students can stretch the standard 120 hours to 132 by adding a Cross-Categorical Special Education major. Housed in the School of Education, the program prepares candidates for grades 1-6 licensure. It has held national accreditation since 1954, most recently through AAQEP, and has twice earned the AASCU Christa McAuliffe Award. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Missouri.

Central Methodist University's Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary Education, offered through its College of Graduate and Extended Studies, prepares candidates for Missouri certification to teach grades 1 through 6. The program balances classroom study with steady hands-on work, moving students through projects, observational and field experiences, and internships so theory stays connected to practice. Coursework reaches across the elementary curriculum, touching areas such as mathematics, reading and writing, children's literature, and creative arts. Flexibility is a real strength here, with delivery at the residential campus in Fayette, online, and through extended-education centers in communities from Columbia and Sedalia to St. Louis and the Lake of the Ozarks. The program is state-approved by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and the university holds Higher Learning Commission accreditation. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Missouri.

Calvary University's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education prepares candidates to teach grades 1 through 6 and meets Missouri teacher licensure requirements. Offered through the Education Department across 132 credit hours, it begins field experience in K-12 settings as early as freshman year. Seniors finish coursework and pass the state licensure exam before student teaching in their final semester. An English Language Learners Educator Certificate is available as a K-12 add-on. Courses run on campus or online, though internships, practicums, and student teaching cannot. Calvary reports a 92% pass rate on Missouri assessments and has offered certification since 2010. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

Drury University's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education is shaped around adults who need to study on their own schedule, delivered through Drury GO, the university's evening and online program, and leading to Missouri initial certification for grades 1-6. Rather than saving practice for the end, the 124-credit curriculum puts students in schools early, with introductory and literacy practica in the first year and a supervised student teaching placement later on. The coursework moves through foundations, methods, clinical and field experiences, and elementary education requirements, giving a clear arc from theory into classroom skill. Students who want to broaden their reach can add optional certification in Mild/Moderate Cross Categorical Disabilities. Classes run fully online or as evening seated and virtual synchronous sessions across five Missouri campuses, so the program bends to fit working lives. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Missouri.

Taught in Springfield over traditional 15-week semesters, Mission University's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with Early Childhood Emphasis is a fully seated, on-campus degree for students who prefer face-to-face learning. The 148-hour program is approved by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for grades 1 through 6, with the option to add Missouri certification for birth to grade 3. Fieldwork deepens across three decision points and culminates in a 12-hour student teaching placement, so candidates build classroom hours steadily rather than all at once. A 9-hour Early Childhood Education emphasis rounds out the degree with integrated teaching strategies, assessment, and program collaboration. Transfer students have room to move, since up to 75 percent of the degree may come from transfer credit, and the institution holds HLC and ABHE accreditation. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Missouri.

Grounded in the School of Teacher Education, Missouri Baptist University's Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary Education prepares candidates for Grades 1-6 licensure with a clearly marked route to the classroom. Along the way, students assemble a Professional Development Folio the semester before student teaching, then complete a Missouri Educator Evaluation System summative evaluation during the student teaching capstone. The major is also built to expand, combining with early childhood and early childhood special education for a Birth-Grade 3 credential or with cross-categorical special education for a K-12 credential, so students can widen the ages they are qualified to teach. This on-campus track carries AAQEP accreditation at the initial-licensure level, effective from June 2024 through June 2029. The design keeps clinical practice and state expectations closely aligned. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Missouri.

Missouri Western State University's Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary Education is a structured, guided path for students set on teaching young learners. Beyond the elementary core, candidates choose a concentration in areas such as early childhood education, special reading, or English language learners, and four of these tracks add a Missouri DESE teaching endorsement that widens what a graduate is qualified to teach. The major totals 72 credit hours alongside general studies within a 120-hour degree, culminating in a senior-year student teaching experience paired with a seminar once a content assessment is passed. Admission is deliberately selective, expecting solid GPAs across professional and content coursework. Approved as a Missouri educator preparation program, the degree leads to state teaching licensure. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Missouri's elementary school teachers.

Harris-Stowe State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education through its College of Education in Saint Louis, Missouri. Students prepare to teach across the elementary grades, building a foundation in child development, curriculum, and classroom instruction for the grades 1 to 6 band. The program is taught on campus and leads to Missouri teacher licensure for graduates who complete the requirements. It carries the lowest in-state tuition among Missouri's 35 ranked bachelor's-level programs, at $5,808. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in Missouri.

Westminster College's Elementary Education program, offered on campus through the Department of Education, prepares candidates to teach grades 1-6 through a traditional certification track. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education recognizes it as an approved educator preparation program leading to licensure. Candidates can pursue additional endorsements, including early childhood certification for birth through third grade and subject certifications in mathematics, science, social science, and language arts. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Missouri.

Hannibal-LaGrange University offers a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education through its Teacher Education program in Hannibal, Missouri. The degree prepares candidates to teach across the elementary grades. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education recognizes it as an approved, traditional educator-preparation program that leads to certification for grades 1-6. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in Missouri.

William Woods University offers an on-campus Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education leading to Missouri grades 1-6 certification, based in the Education Department. The degree requires 122 total credit hours, including 71 major credits. Clinical work builds progressively through a Beginning Clinical Experience of at least 30 hours, an Intermediate Clinical Experience of at least 45 hours, intensive individual tutoring in reading and writing, and a 14-week Supervised Teaching placement using a co-teaching model with at least six weeks as lead teacher. Candidates must pass the Missouri Educator Evaluation System. An optional Early Childhood Certification Concentration of 13 credits adds preparation for infancy through third grade. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Missouri.

Park University's Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary Education prepares candidates to lead 1st through 6th grade classrooms through its College of Education and Health Professions. The 120-hour degree asks students to complete a core of major coursework and a full semester of student teaching in an accredited elementary school, guided by a certified mentor teacher who models the daily craft. What gives the program its character is an emphasis on inquiry-based learning, drawing on Project Lead the Way and STEAM approaches so future teachers can spark hands-on curiosity in young students. Delivered on campus with online course options for flexibility, the program is state-approved and prepares graduates for Missouri certification and their first elementary classrooms. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Missouri's elementary school teachers.

Lincoln University's Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary Education prepares candidates to teach grades 1 through 6 and is taught on campus through the School of Education. Students accumulate classroom experience in several forms, from practicums and internships to student teaching placements and campus-based observation opportunities, which gives the program a practical, applied character. The degree is approved by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, a state program approval rather than programmatic accreditation. The School of Education is a member in good standing of the Association for Advancing Quality Educator Preparation and has been working toward its accreditation, with a Quality Assurance Review anticipated but the accreditation not yet finalized. For prospective students, it offers a licensure-focused, hands-on route into elementary teaching. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Missouri.

Missouri Valley College's Elementary Education major is a flexible 61 credit hour path to Missouri licensure for grades 1-6, available both on campus and fully online so students can study in whichever way fits their lives. Offered through the School of Education and Social Sciences, it lets candidates shape the degree by choosing a certification area within the major, whether Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Special Education, or Cross Categorical Special Education across K-12. The field component is built to grow with the student, moving from an early elementary practicum through a clinical experience to a full student teaching placement, so classroom time deepens as readiness does. Teacher education programs here are approved by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and the college is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

Fontbonne University's Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, offered through the Education and Special Education Department, leads to Missouri certification for grades 1 through 6 and keeps students in real schools throughout. Early, mid-level, and final clinical experiences place candidates in public, private, and parochial classrooms across metropolitan St. Louis, including districts such as Hazelwood and Kirkwood and St. Louis Public Schools. One of the program's strengths is how easily it combines with related fields, since students may pursue Elementary Education on its own or pair it with Special Education, Early Childhood, or Early Childhood Special Education. Coursework is delivered on campus, giving the degree a hands-on, in-person feel. Fontbonne is an AAQEP member institution recognized by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for its educator preparation programs. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Missouri.

Avila University's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education is a hands-on, placement-rich path to Missouri licensure for grades 1-6, and its clearest strength is how much time candidates spend in real classrooms. The 120 credit hour curriculum, offered on campus through the School of Education, layers field-based and clinical experiences across urban, rural, suburban, private, and parochial schools around Kansas City, including districts such as Lee's Summit, Blue Valley, and Center. Because students take on more responsibility with each successive placement, they grow into the role gradually rather than all at once in a final semester. The program holds full AAQEP accreditation through December 31, 2030 and is approved by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. A separate online Master of Arts in Teaching is also available. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Missouri.

Missouri Southern State University's Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary Education prepares candidates for grades 1-6 licensure through the Teacher Education Department. This is the traditional on-campus route, and students who prefer a different rhythm can instead take a fully online, fall-cohort version of the same degree. What sets the base program apart is room to specialize: candidates can layer on one of three optional add-on pathways, in Special Education, English Language Learner, or Early Childhood Education for birth through grade 3, to widen the classrooms they are ready to serve. The program is approved by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and accredited by CAEP, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, so its preparation is externally reviewed. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in Missouri.

Culver-Stockton College's on-campus Elementary Education major prepares students to teach grades 1 through 6 and is listed as a Traditional educator preparation pathway on the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education directory. What stands out is how early and how often students are in front of learners: classroom observations begin freshman year and continue annually, a sophomore field experience adds at least 30 hours teaching lessons to K-12 students, and senior year brings a 15-week student teaching placement. A simulated on-campus classroom serving area school children gives even more practice in a supported setting. Students can broaden their reach with an optional Middle School Certification for grades 5 through 9 in subjects such as mathematics, science, or language arts. A 3+2 option also lets ambitious students begin a Master of Education as early as junior year. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Missouri's elementary school teachers.