Best Bachelor's in Elementary Education Programs in North Carolina

North Carolina State University at Raleigh gives its Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education a distinctive STEM identity, preparing candidates for K-6 licensure through the Teacher Education and Learning Sciences department. Rather than treating math and science as afterthoughts, the program requires at least 27 credit hours of STEM-focused content and pairs it with literacy, language arts, engineering methods, special education, and social studies, so future teachers are strong across the elementary curriculum. Time in real classrooms starts early, with field placements beginning in the sophomore year and building toward a full year-long senior student teaching experience. Because professional courses run during regular school hours in the junior and senior years, students spend those years living the daily rhythm of a working teacher. Candidates advance by meeting Admission to Teacher Candidacy requirements, and the degree is delivered on campus in Raleigh. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

UNC Wilmington's Watson College of Education offers the Elementary Education B.A., which leads to North Carolina teacher licensure for grades K-6. Students complete more than 500 hours in classroom settings across phases: one-on-one tutoring in the on-campus Education Lab, classroom field placements at PDS partnership and regional districts across southeastern North Carolina, and a full-time semester-long internship in the senior year. Students apply to Watson College in their second year, begin education coursework in the junior year, and pass licensing tests before applying for licensure. The program is offered both on-campus and as a fully online option for students in the southeastern North Carolina region. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in North Carolina.

Wake Forest University offers a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education through its Department of Education, with both a non-licensure option and a professional licensure pathway. Licensure candidates complete core education coursework, study of exceptional children and literacy interventions, a professional development seminar, and a student teaching internship in local K-12 schools. The licensure pathway leads to North Carolina K-6 elementary teaching licensure. The program is based on the university's campus in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Among North Carolina's 39 ranked bachelor's-level programs, this one posts the highest graduation rate at 89%. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in North Carolina.

North Carolina A&T State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education that prepares candidates to teach kindergarten through sixth grade. Students move through professional education coursework and two phases of clinical practice, beginning with field observation and progressing to a yearlong student teaching placement in local classrooms. The program is approved by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, and it leads to North Carolina K-6 teaching licensure. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in North Carolina.

Elon University's Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education prepares candidates for North Carolina K-6 licensure through the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education. The program pairs foundational content courses across the core subjects with professional education coursework, then layers in a sequence of clinical experiences in diverse school settings, from early tutoring and observation to small-group instruction. That build culminates in a full semester of student teaching in the candidate's licensure area, giving them extended time to lead a classroom before graduating. To earn licensure, candidates must pass the edTPA and the required North Carolina licensure tests. Delivered on campus, the program leaves graduates eligible for a K-6 license from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

The online TA to Teacher pathway is a subprogram of UNC Charlotte's B.A. in Elementary Education, designed for North Carolina K-5 teacher assistants who hold an associate degree. It totals 63 credit hours delivered fully online with synchronous evening courses and asynchronous work, completed in a two-year cohort. Students complete 30-hour clinical placements across the first year and a 15-credit semester of student teaching. Graduates qualify for the Initial Professional Educator's License in K-6 Elementary Education. The teacher education program is CAEP accredited. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

Appalachian State University's B.S. in Elementary Education is a 120-credit, K-6 licensure program delivered online in a part-time blended format that combines asynchronous coursework with synchronous sessions meeting two nights per week. The program requires multiple field experiences in North Carolina public schools throughout, culminating in a full-time internship during the final semester; students who work as instructional assistants in a K-6 public classroom can often complete field placements in their own school. Completers qualify for North Carolina initial teaching licensure for grades K-6. Offered through App State Online with a Fall 2026 start. It awards more bachelor's-level elementary education degrees than any of North Carolina's 39 ranked bachelor's-level programs, 177 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 North Carolina.

Queens University of Charlotte offers an elementary education program through its Cato School of Education. Students prepare to teach at the elementary level, and the path leads to teacher licensure. Based at this private university in Charlotte, North Carolina, the school's teacher preparation programs are approved by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in North Carolina.

High Point University's Stout School of Education offers a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education that prepares candidates to teach kindergarten through grade 6. The on-campus program includes an integrated practicum in elementary classrooms. Students choose a licensure track, which culminates in a semester-long student teaching placement, or a non-licensure track that substitutes an internship and electives. Only the licensure track leads to North Carolina K-6 teacher licensure. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in North Carolina.

Western Carolina University's Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary Education, offered through the College of Education and Allied Professions on the Cullowhee campus, leads to an initial North Carolina K-6 teaching license. The curriculum balances three strands, roughly 42 hours of Liberal Studies, 30 hours in a professional education sequence, and 48 hours in the major, and it can be taken full-time or part-time to fit different lives. Field experiences in area public schools run throughout rather than waiting until the end, building steadily toward a year-long culminating internship. Admission to the teacher education program is required to advance, and a residential second-degree pathway opens the same preparation to career changers. The teacher education programs hold CAEP accreditation, reported through Spring 2029. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in North Carolina.

East Carolina University's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education is designed for community college students who want a four-year K-6 teaching degree without leaving home. Through the Partnership Teach completion pathway, students spend their first two years at a partnering North Carolina community college, then transfer to ECU to finish the remaining coursework online while completing field placements near their own communities. Those placements recur every semester, so candidates stay connected to real classrooms throughout, and the senior year culminates in a full-time supervised internship in a public school. Because the model keeps students rooted where they live, it opens teacher preparation to people who cannot relocate. Based in the College of Education, the program satisfies North Carolina professional licensure requirements. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in North Carolina.

The University of Mount Olive's online Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education is built for aspiring K-6 teachers who need the flexibility of studying at a distance without giving up structure. Offered through the School of Education, the program moves students through together in a cohort with a single start each fall, so classmates progress as a supportive group from beginning to end. The curriculum is grounded in the North Carolina Professional Teaching Standards, keeping preparation aligned with what the state expects of new teachers. Every candidate caps the degree with a full-time, 16-week student teaching internship guided by a certified, experienced mentor, turning online study into real classroom readiness. A renewable Braswell Teaching Scholarship, available for up to three years, helps make the path more affordable. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in North Carolina.

Montreat College's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education prepares future teachers for grades K-6 and leads to North Carolina initial licensure. It sits as one concentration within a broader Teacher Education program that also includes Secondary English, Secondary History, and Physical Education tracks, so elementary candidates study among peers preparing for a range of classrooms. Delivered on campus, the program keeps preparation close to real practice by pairing early practicum experiences with student teaching in local schools. Its identity is shaped by Montreat's Christ-centered foundation, which threads character and compassion through the way teachers are formed. The college is approved to prepare elementary teachers by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, a state approval that clears graduates toward licensure. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in North Carolina.

Elizabeth City State University's Elementary Education (K-6) is a Bachelor of Science in Education that lets students decide how far toward the classroom they want to go, offering both an Education (Licensure Track) and a Non-Teaching Track through the Department of Education, Interdisciplinary Studies, and Creative Arts. Students set on teaching follow the licensure pathway, which prepares them for North Carolina K-6 licensure by pairing early field experiences in elementary classrooms with a supervised student teaching term. That progression moves candidates from observing to leading a room of their own. For those with other plans, the non-teaching track keeps the elementary education foundation without the certification requirements. The program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in North Carolina.

Winston-Salem State University's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education prepares candidates to teach grades K-6 and keeps classroom experience at its core, placing students in local elementary schools and offering summer work at the university's RaMS-C camp. Delivered mainly on campus, the program lets students shape their preparation by choosing one of five focus areas, including Literacy, Special Education, and STEM/STEAM, so future teachers can develop a particular strength. That mix of steady fieldwork and a chosen specialty gives the degree both breadth and direction. The program also carries a notable history: WSSU's predecessor was the first Black institution in the nation to award elementary education degrees, back in 1925. The university reports that all of its graduates are hired or admitted to graduate school, a point of pride for a program rooted in preparing teachers. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in North Carolina.

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education leads to K-6 teacher licensure and is delivered in person through its Department of Teacher Education and Higher Education. What distinguishes it is the sheer amount of time students spend in real classrooms: through student teaching and internships, candidates accumulate more than 1,000 hours of classroom experience by graduation. They move through their professional coursework in small cohorts of about 25, so the experience stays close-knit and collaborative rather than anonymous. The program is affiliated with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and holds CAEP accreditation, grounding it in recognized standards. Students also work in the Michel Family Teaching Resources Center and the SELF Design Studio, where 3D printers, robotics, and circuitry kits let them prototype the kinds of hands-on lessons they will one day lead. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in North Carolina.

Gardner-Webb University's on-campus Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education prepares candidates to teach kindergarten through sixth grade, combining a 34-credit major with a required 27-credit Professional Education minor on top of general education and prerequisite coursework. The structure keeps subject knowledge and teaching skill developing side by side rather than in isolation. Students spend meaningful time in elementary classrooms through hands-on field experiences, building toward a final-semester student teaching placement. An optional 14-credit concentration in Exceptional Children lets candidates add preparation for supporting diverse learners, a useful edge in today's inclusive classrooms. Offered through the College of Education, which holds CAEP accreditation and North Carolina Department of Public Instruction approval, the program leaves graduates ready for a North Carolina Class A Teaching License. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in North Carolina.

Belmont Abbey College keeps its Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education small and close-knit, moving candidates through the professional sequence together as a cohort so they build the degree alongside the same peers. Offered on campus through the Sister Christine Beck Department of Education, the program prepares students to teach the K-6 grade band and leads to North Carolina initial teacher licensure. The heart of the experience arrives in the senior year, when candidates take on a full student teaching placement supervised jointly by a college mentor and a supervisor from the local district. That dual oversight gives students feedback from both the campus and the working classroom. Program approval comes from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, confirming it meets the state's standards for new teachers. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in North Carolina.

Built for students who want to teach in the early grades, Greensboro College's Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education readies candidates for K-6 classrooms and North Carolina licensure. The Department of Education weaves in-class study together with field experiences and internships from early on, so theory is tested against real classroom practice well before graduation. Everything builds toward a 16-week student teaching placement that rotates candidates across different school settings, a design that stretches their range rather than confining them to one type of classroom. Department-wide, more than 90 percent of student teachers go on to employment, and candidates have posted a 100 percent passing rate on the state's licensing exams. This is a traditional, on-campus path suited to students who value close mentorship and steady, hands-on preparation. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of North Carolina's elementary school teachers.

Campbell University's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education prepares candidates to teach the K-6 grades and earn initial elementary licensure in North Carolina. Offered on campus through the School of Education and Human Sciences, the traditional program keeps a clear focus on the fundamentals of elementary teaching. Campbell's preparation in reading instruction has drawn an A+ rating from the National Council on Teacher Quality, a signal of how seriously the program treats early literacy. Its education graduates have posted a perfect edTPA pass rate, reflecting strong readiness for the classroom assessment that anchors licensure. Students who need more flexibility can pursue an accelerated, fully online version of the degree through the university's Adult and Online Education division. Both routes lead toward the same goal of leading an elementary classroom. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

Catawba College's Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education (K-6) gives students two ways through the same major, and the flexibility to move between them, which makes it well suited to undergraduates still weighing whether the licensed classroom is their goal. Offered on campus through the Department of Teacher Education in the Goodman School of Education, the licensure pathway leads to North Carolina initial K-6 licensure, while a non-licensure pathway serves students headed for school settings that do not require a teaching credential. Those pursuing licensure complete a student teaching semester, the state licensure exams, and an edTPA portfolio, so the credential rests on demonstrated classroom performance rather than coursework alone. The dual structure lets students commit gradually rather than all at once. The Teacher Education Programs are approved by the North Carolina State Board of Education and Department of Public Instruction. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of North Carolina's elementary school teachers.

Lenoir-Rhyne University offers a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education (K-6) through its Teacher Education Program. The degree leads to teacher licensure. The program is listed by name among Lenoir-Rhyne's programs accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), a national accreditor recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Accreditation was awarded initially in 2024 and runs through December 31, 2029. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of North Carolina's elementary school teachers.

Mars Hill University offers a Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Education through its Department of Education, combining Elementary Education for grades K-6 and Special Education for grades K-12 into a single licensure track. Taught on campus, the program moves candidates through the Teacher Education Program and into student teaching, and it prepares them for North Carolina initial teaching licensure. The program is accredited by AAQEP through December 31, 2027. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

Bennett College offers a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education through its educator preparation program in the Division of Arts, Humanities, and Education. The degree prepares candidates to teach grades K through 6 and leads to North Carolina teacher licensure. Students move from coursework into an internship, a clinical practicum, and a capstone seminar, spending sustained time in schools before completing the program. Classes are held on campus. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of North Carolina's elementary school teachers.

Carolina University's Bachelor of Science in Education serves as its elementary track, a four-year degree offered through the Moore School of Education in both residential and online formats. What distinguishes it is how firmly it stays rooted in practice, pairing coursework with hands-on time in real classrooms under experienced mentors, and it goes so far as to build training in AI tools like Grok and ChatGPT into lesson planning. Graduates earn Elementary Licensure from the Association of Christian Schools International, a credential recognized across private and Christian schools. For students who also want a state credential, an optional dual-enrollment pathway with Winston-Salem State University opens in the junior year, with North Carolina licensure conferred through the WSSU degree. Together these options let candidates aim at faith-based settings, public schools, or both. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in North Carolina.

Southeastern Free Will Baptist Bible College offers a Bachelor Degree in Christian Education listed under elementary education, taught through its Education Department. The program prepares students to teach children across a range of subjects in a Christian school setting. Candidates build proficiency in areas including English, mathematics, music, social studies, and science. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in North Carolina.

Chowan University's Elementary Education program leads to a Bachelor of Science through the Department of Teacher Education in the School of Education and Professional Studies. It prepares candidates to teach grades K through 6, combining coursework and lesson-planning practice with extensive classroom observation, practicums, and student teaching in nearby school districts. The program leads to North Carolina licensure, and classes are held on campus. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

The University of North Carolina at Pembroke offers a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education through its TA to Teacher Pathway, a K-6 licensure degree-completion track designed for currently employed teacher assistants who already hold an Associate of Arts or Associate in Science degree. Delivered in a hybrid format, students complete courses online and on weekends during fall and spring while attending required on-campus developmental sessions. Cohorts begin only in the fall and finish in about two years, with field experience and a semester-long student teaching internship in local schools. UNCP's Educator Preparation Program is accredited by CAEP and approved by the North Carolina State Board of Education. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in North Carolina.

Fayetteville State University's Elementary Education degree, a Bachelor of Science offered through the Department of Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle Grades, Reading, and Special Education, prepares candidates to teach grades K through 6 and leads to a North Carolina teaching license. Students enter as pre-education majors and work with an advisor to build their curriculum, then move into classroom placements and student teaching. The School of Education is accredited by CAEP. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in North Carolina.

Methodist University's Elementary Education (K-6) program leads to North Carolina teacher licensure to teach kindergarten through sixth grade. The on-campus major requires 45 credits for the major plus additional licensure coursework, with Field Experience I, II, and III building toward EDU 4210 Student Teaching, a 10 semester hour placement that meets North Carolina's minimum of ten weeks in an elementary classroom. The Teacher Education Program is approved by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, a state approval body rather than a national accreditor. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in North Carolina.

North Carolina Central University delivers its Elementary Education B.A. entirely online, pairing a K-6 focus with a Literacy concentration for students who need to earn a teaching credential without relocating to campus. The 120 to 124 credit program leads to an initial K-6 license in North Carolina, and it weaves field experiences through professional studies and methods courses rather than isolating them, so candidates connect coursework to classroom practice as they go. The fieldwork and student teaching still take place in North Carolina schools, keeping the hands-on core of teacher preparation intact even in an online format. The track has roots in a pathway originally created to move returning instructional assistants into full teaching roles. Today it is open to anyone pursuing elementary licensure, offering a flexible route into the profession. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

Lees-McRae College builds its Elementary Education degree around getting students into K-6 classrooms early and often, and offers it on campus as either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science. The two tracks diverge in their reinforcement: the B.A. adds three semesters of Spanish, while the B.S. adds six to eight hours of math and science, letting students lean toward their strengths. Fieldwork forms a clear progression, opening with 50 hours of K-6 observation in the first two semesters, expanding to a 150-hour internship in the third, and closing with student teaching in the final semester. The program earns state approval from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and organizes its work around a Reflective Practitioner Framework. Graduates can add further certification areas by passing additional sections of the Pearson licensure exam. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in North Carolina.

St. Andrews University in Laurinburg, North Carolina, offered a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education leading to K-6 teacher licensure. The hybrid program combined coursework with supervised field experience for students preparing to teach in elementary classrooms. The university announced it would cease operations after the Spring 2025 semester, closing on May 5, 2025, so this program is no longer available to new students. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in North Carolina.

William Peace University's Elementary Education B.A. prepares candidates for K-6 licensure and offers an optional Dual Licensure track that combines Elementary Education with Special Education K-12 General Curriculum. Students engage in immersive field experiences every semester, bridging coursework and real-world teaching, and finish with a senior-year course on classroom management and diverse classroom dynamics. Courses follow the university's four-credit-hour structure. The education major is crafted in collaboration with the Wake County Public School System, and all faculty and instructors have taught in North Carolina public schools. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in North Carolina.

Barton College offers a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education that prepares candidates to teach kindergarten through grade 6. The curriculum develops the teaching skills and content knowledge needed to lead an elementary classroom. Barton appears on the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction's list of approved educator preparation institutions, and the program leads to state teacher licensure. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

Wingate University offers a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education for grades K through 6, delivered fully online through the Thayer School of Education. The online track carries the same requirements and diploma as the on-campus program and is often taught by the same faculty. Introductory courses use virtual field experiences, while specialty field experiences take place in person in schools. The program leads to K-6 teacher licensure. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in North Carolina.

North Carolina Wesleyan University offers a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education through its School of Education and Social Science, preparing teachers for licensure in grades K through 6. Students study on campus and complete an educational practicum in school settings. The teacher education program holds approval from the state of North Carolina and full accreditation from the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation, which runs through June 2029. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of North Carolina's elementary school teachers.

Shaw University's Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education is the licensure track offered through its Department of Education and Child Development, and it points graduates toward a North Carolina teaching license. The major is substantial, with 73 credit hours specific to education, and it builds field experience directly into those requirements so classroom exposure comes as part of the coursework rather than as an afterthought. To stay on track, students must be formally admitted to the program before advancing. That structure keeps the pathway focused and its standards clear for candidates preparing to lead elementary classrooms. The emphasis on early school experience gives the degree a practical, grounded character. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of North Carolina's elementary school teachers.

Rounding out Pfeiffer University's teaching degrees, the Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education prepares candidates to teach grades K through 6 and can be completed in four years on the Misenheimer campus. Fieldwork is a throughline, as required practicum courses place students in local public elementary schools spread across six surrounding counties. The program also asks candidates to build a portfolio that demonstrates mastery of North Carolina's teacher candidate expectations. At a minimum of 120 semester hours, it balances classroom preparation with steady school experience. The program is NCATE accredited and approved by the state Department of Public Instruction, and it leads to licensure. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.