Best Bachelor's in Elementary Education Programs in Tennessee

Vanderbilt's Peabody College offers a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education through its Department of Teaching and Learning, leading to Tennessee licensure for kindergarten through fifth grade. The curriculum is fieldwork-intensive and substantial, asking for at least 120 semester hours spread across a liberal education core, a professional core, and an area of specialization, and it stands out for requiring students to complete a second, non-education major alongside their teaching preparation. That structure reflects the program's emphasis on understanding how children think and develop across both school and non-school settings, not just how to run a classroom. On completion and faculty recommendation, graduates are recommended for a Tennessee license, with reciprocity available in other states. Peabody's initial programs hold CAEP accreditation for the 2024-2031 term. Among Tennessee's 23 ranked bachelor's-level programs, this one posts the highest graduation rate at 94%. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

Freed-Hardeman University, a private nonprofit institution in Henderson, Tennessee, offers an undergraduate program in elementary education. The bachelor's degree prepares students who plan to teach in elementary classrooms. Coursework leads to a bachelor's degree in the field for those pursuing careers in elementary school teaching. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Tennessee's elementary school teachers.

The Teaching and Learning major prepares candidates to teach elementary-age students and leads to initial licensure with the elementary K-5 endorsement. Students must also complete a second major in Interdisciplinary Studies for the necessary elementary content, plus a professional education minor. The program includes a year-long internship (Internship I in fall, Internship II in spring) that replaces traditional student teaching, with university coaches and school-based mentors. An optional dual endorsement in Early Childhood PreK-3 is available. Offered on the Jackson campus. Union University's Educator Preparation Program is accredited by CAEP. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Tennessee's elementary school teachers.

Lipscomb University's Bachelor's in Elementary Education, covering kindergarten through grade five, points candidates squarely toward an initial Tennessee teaching license for the K-5 classroom. What sets it apart is the choice built into the catalog, since students can pair the core K-5 preparation with an English Language Learner endorsement or with Special Education licensure, finishing with either a B.A. or a B.S. depending on the path they choose. The College of Education delivers the whole sequence on campus, keeping candidates close to faculty and to the field placements that shape early teachers. Lipscomb states that its teacher education programs are fully accredited by the Tennessee State Board of Education and CAEP, so the license carries recognized backing. For students who want to teach young learners while widening whom they can serve, the dual-endorsement options are the real draw. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

Johnson University's Interdisciplinary Studies major with an Elementary Education concentration for grades K-5 prepares students for entry-level work in the elementary classroom, delivered through the Templar School of Education. What shapes the experience most is Johnson's dual-major model, since every four-year student pairs this field with a second major in Bible and Theology, giving the degree a distinct faith foundation. Fieldwork builds in careful stages, moving from school observations and tutoring into team teaching, a Day in School practicum, a Christian School practicum, and senior practicums in both general teaching and reading. Admission is deliberate, requiring prior approval from the dean before students enroll. The result is an elementary preparation that treats classroom readiness and Christian formation as parts of the same education. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Tennessee.

Middle Tennessee State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education through its College of Education, a 120-credit degree that leads to teacher licensure. Student teaching sits at the heart of the program, reflecting an emphasis on learning the job by doing it rather than only studying it. The delivery is unusually flexible for a licensure track, with on-campus, online, and hybrid options that let students fit preparation around work and family. Coursework and clinical practice together give candidates the academic grounding and the classroom footing they need to step into an elementary room with confidence. Personalized faculty support runs alongside the hands-on training. The program is CAEP-accredited. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

Tennessee Tech's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education prepares candidates to teach grades K-5, building teaching skills grounded in current instructional theory alongside the broad content knowledge needed at the elementary level. The degree is offered in a traditional on-campus format and through a 2+2 partnership with regional community colleges that lets students finish coursework closer to home before completing the licensure program. The Elementary Education K-5 program is listed among the college's CAEP-accredited initial educator preparation programs. Students use resources including the VISION Virtual Learning Lab, Jeffers Learning Resources Center, and Millard Oakley STEM Center. It awards more bachelor's-level elementary education degrees than any of Tennessee's 23 ranked bachelor's-level programs, 101 in the most recent year. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Tennessee's elementary school teachers.

Lee University's elementary education program prepares candidates for a Tennessee teaching license through an Interdisciplinary Studies, K-5 endorsement, based at the Helen DeVos College of Education in Cleveland, Tennessee. Instruction happens on campus in technology-rich classrooms, and field experiences are coordinated centrally through the Teacher Education office so placements stay organized. A notable strength is the faculty, which includes former superintendents, principals, and teachers who bring the realities of school leadership and the classroom into their courses. Candidates also take on hands-on projects in the surrounding community, testing their skills outside the lecture hall. All of the university's undergraduate teacher license programs carry state approval. For future K-5 teachers who value mentors with genuine school experience, it is a practical, grounded choice. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

Lincoln Memorial University's Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary Education prepares candidates for K-5 licensure and folds in an English Language Learners endorsement, a nod to the multilingual classrooms many new teachers will face. Clinical work builds gradually, moving from field experiences alongside practicing teachers to a culminating Clinical Practice Experience in the Carter & Moyers School of Education. Traditional students follow a full-time, on-campus route, while a 2+2 pathway welcomes associate degree holders through a hybrid schedule of evening and Saturday classes. That flexible option accepts AS or AA degrees from accredited community colleges in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia, opening the door to students transferring in. The initial programs, Elementary Education among them, hold CAEP accreditation from 2020 through 2027. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

Bryan College's Elementary Education (B.S.), part of its liberal arts curriculum, is offered on campus through the Education Department. The program is approved by the Tennessee State Board of Education for teacher education and licensure, and coursework covers the content areas needed for the classroom within a biblical understanding of teaching and learning. Graduates who complete the program earn a Tennessee teaching license along with a professional teaching certificate from the Association of Christian Schools International. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Tennessee.

Belmont University's Elementary Education: Interdisciplinary Studies in Education, offered as a B.A. or B.S. through the College of Education, prepares candidates for K-5 licensure with an unusually classroom-anchored design. Every education course is embedded in a school setting or paired with direct field experience, and student teaching unfolds through partnerships with Metro Nashville Public Schools, Williamson County Schools, and other local districts, so candidates learn the work by doing it. Running through the program is a clear commitment to advocacy for children and families from underserved communities, reinforced by service-learning ties to organizations such as Best Buddies and the Homework Hotline. Students who want to keep going can move directly into Belmont's Master of Arts in Teaching through a 4+1 accelerated pathway. The program is approved by the Tennessee Department of Education and CAEP accredited. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

Southern Adventist University's bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, offered through the School of Education, Psychology, and Counseling, keeps candidates in real classrooms from the very beginning. Field experiences start with a student's first education course and build toward a full semester of student teaching alongside mentors in local public and Seventh-day Adventist schools. A campus Teaching Materials Center backs the coursework, giving candidates curriculum resources to draw on as they plan lessons. The program leads to teacher licensure and is approved by the Tennessee State Board of Education. It is also accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Tennessee.

Maryville College's Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education takes a steady, practice-rich approach to preparing K-5 teachers, with 79 credit hours of major and major-related coursework anchoring the degree. Candidates move through the Division of Education by way of a sequence of field experiences, including Field Experience II and III, that leads into two clinical placements and finally a semester-long student teaching term. Because the college wants candidates fully invested, students seeking the licensure degree must already be enrolled at Maryville before applying for entry into the Educator Preparation Program. The classroom time accumulates throughout, so candidates are rarely far from real students. Delivered on campus, the program readies graduates for Tennessee K-5 teacher licensure. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Tennessee's elementary school teachers.

Trevecca Nazarene University packs two credentials into one degree with its Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies, which carries dual endorsements in Elementary Education for grades K-5 and English as a Second Language for K-12. Run on campus through the School of Education, the traditional program is unusually fieldwork-heavy, staging well over 100 hours of experience in settings that range from language and literacy work to ESL classrooms and diverse, low-income schools. Methods coursework across social studies, math, and science ties that classroom time back to how each subject is actually taught. Candidates finish with a 15-week Enhanced Student Teaching placement split between K-2 and 3-5, and clinical partnerships with Wilson County Schools and Metro Nashville Public Schools keep the placements varied. Coursework prepares candidates for the edTPA, and the programs hold CAEP accreditation. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Tennessee.

Bethel University's Interdisciplinary Elementary Education (B.S.) prepares candidates to teach grades K-5 and rounds out the degree with a companion minor in Professional Education, giving future teachers both breadth and pedagogy. Offered on campus through the Division of Education in the College of Arts and Sciences, the program builds in extensive field experiences that culminate in a full semester of student teaching under experienced mentor educators, so classroom judgment develops well before graduation. Because Bethel is an approved Educator Preparation Provider recommended by the Tennessee State Board of Education and the Tennessee Department of Education, the pathway leads cleanly to teacher licensure. The result is a grounded, practice-rich route into an elementary classroom. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Tennessee.

South College offers a Bachelor of Science in Teacher Education Elementary (K-5), delivered on-ground and hybrid and approved by the Tennessee Department of Education for state licensure. Candidates complete two student teaching placements, one in grades K-3 and one in grades 4-5, totaling 16 weeks of full-time student teaching, plus additional field experiences and professional development workshops. The curriculum aligns to InTASC Standards 1-10. A separate BS in Elementary Education (K-5) with a Concentration in ESL is also available for students seeking that focus. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Tennessee.

The Bachelor of Science in Child Growth and Learning at Cumberland University is the elementary education (K-5) licensure track within the Millard and J.J. Oakley School of Humanities, Education, and the Arts. Graduation requires at least 120 hours, including a 36-hour professional education core. Candidates complete Instructional Assistance I and II and Enhanced Student Teaching with a seminar, and must be admitted to the Steps Through Educator Preparation Program (STEPP) to become licensure candidates. Endorsements in PreK-K or PreK-3 are available. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Tennessee.

Carson-Newman University offers a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education for the K-5 grade band through its Education Department, leading to a Tennessee teaching license. Students complete practicum experiences with local educators and a full-time semester of student teaching in regional districts. Dual-licensure options pair elementary education with special education or with TESOL certification. The educator preparation program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. The program is delivered on campus. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Tennessee's elementary school teachers.

Tennessee State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with a K-5 teaching certificate, based in the Department of Education Practice and Leadership within the College of Education. Students combine elementary teaching coursework with a student teaching residency that qualifies graduates to teach in Tennessee public schools. An ESL endorsement add-on is available, and a 2+2 pathway supports transfer from community colleges. The program is delivered on campus. It carries the lowest in-state tuition among Tennessee's 23 ranked bachelor's-level programs, at $7,368. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Tennessee.

Tennessee Wesleyan University offers a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education through its Educator Preparation Program, preparing candidates to teach kindergarten through 5th grade in Tennessee. The program is approved by the Tennessee State Board of Education. Required student teaching is supported by more than 17 state-recognized partnership agreements with regional school districts. Drawing on the university's century-plus history in education, the program also positions graduates to pursue administrative and leadership roles or specialized positions such as instructional coach. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in Tennessee.

The University of Tennessee Southern's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education prepares candidates for K-5 licensure on its Pulaski campus through the Grace G. Grissom School of Education. Because it is a professional program, students formally apply and gain admission to the licensure track, a gate that signals readiness before the serious clinical work begins. That work includes fifteen weeks of practice across two placements within 50 miles of campus, and candidates join the Student Tennessee Education Association before starting field experiences. The degree is easy to customize, offering a Special Education endorsement through five added courses, a Driver's Education endorsement, and a coaching minor. For students who prefer not to pursue licensure, a non-licensure track is available with upper-division study in areas such as English, sociology, or psychology. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Tennessee.

King University reaches K-5 licensure through a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies, a broad academic base that leads to Tennessee elementary teaching certification via the School of Education. Fieldwork threads through the whole program rather than waiting until the end, supported by placements in local school systems that put candidates in real classrooms early. Students who want a wider credential can pursue a dual licensure option pairing Elementary Education with Special Education Interventionist for grades K-8, and endorsement paths add English as a Second Language and Physical Education across the K-12 range. The on-campus version runs four years, or two for transfer students who arrive with credits in hand. A separate, fully online elementary option is available through King's Adult and Graduate Studies division for students who need more flexibility. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in Tennessee.

Le Moyne-Owen College offers a Bachelor's in Elementary Education for grades K-5 through its Division of Education, standing alongside tracks in Integrated Early Childhood Education and Special Education. The degree requires 120 credit hours, with courses listed as either synchronous or in-person, a structure that keeps students connected to instructors and one another. It is important for applicants to understand the current status, because this is a non-licensure program at present, so graduates earn a degree in Education but cannot yet be recommended for Tennessee teaching licensure. That limitation is tied to timing rather than design, as the Division of Education completes the accreditation process required to enable licensure recommendation. Students considering it should weigh that pathway against their own timeline for entering the classroom. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Tennessee.