2023 Best Online Master's Degrees in Elementary Education

The Pennsylvania State University (PennState), a large, public institution, offers an online Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction totaling 30 credit hours. The program has six concentrations for students to choose from. The Elementary Education concentration exposes students to modern teaching methods. The program's core courses include Colloquium, Teaching as Inquiry, and Theories of Childhood.

PennState uses Canvas to deliver online coursework, which can be completed asynchronously. In addition, students can access online academic support through the institution. PennState’s admission requirements include a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, an equivalent tertiary degree, and a submitted application.

City University of Seattle (CityU) is a small, private nonprofit offering two online master's degrees in Education: (1) Master in Teaching and (2) Master of Education in Leadership. The Master in Teaching is between 54 to 75 credit hours, while the Master of Education in Leadership has 45 credit hours. The Master in Teaching requires students to meet in person for some coursework and the internship. Both programs prepare students for careers in primary and secondary education. Coursework for the programs covers a range of topics, such as conflict management, leadership, and special education.

At CityU, students complete coursework synchronously on Brightspace. CityU’s student support includes career services and an online library. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university is required for admission.

American University (AU) is a medium, private nonprofit institution offering an online Master of Arts in Teaching Elementary Education program. The program, which totals 33 credit hours, can be completed in two years at a full-time pace. It requires students to undertake 600 classroom hours at a local site near the student’s residence. Sample coursework includes Foundations of Education, Teaching Science in the Elementary School, and Student Teaching Seminar in Professional Practice.

Canvas is AU’s online learning platform for students, with courses delivered both asynchronously and synchronously. In addition, online students can access academic advising, tutoring, writing, counseling, and health education. AU’s admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree and online application submission.

California State University - Fullerton (CSUF), a large, public institution, offers an online Master of Science in Curriculum & Instruction with seven concentrations for students to choose from. The Elementary Curriculum and Instruction concentration totals 30 credit hours and provides students with the knowledge needed to exceed in the classroom. Sample coursework includes Survey of Educational Research, Curriculum Theory and Development, and Graduate Studies: Learning Theory for Classroom Use.

CSUF uses Canvas, a digital learning platform, to deliver online coursework. Online students receive support through resource centers and academic services. CSUF’s admission requirements include teaching experience, 24 approved major credits, an approved study plan, and a minimum 3.0 GPA in the prior 60 units.

Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is a medium, private nonprofit institution offering an online Master of Science in Elementary Education. Students must complete 40 credit hours in order to graduate. In this program, students gain the skills they need to deliver lessons to children at the K-6 levels. Assessment in Reading, Applied Professional Experience in Elementary Education, and Teaching Visual Arts and Music in the Elementary School are a few core courses in the curriculum.

At NSU, online students complete work asynchronously via Canvas, meaning that they work at their own pace. Student support at NSU includes career counseling, technology services, and more. Admission requirements involve completing an admission application packet and submitting official transcripts that indicate the completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university.

McDaniel College (McDaniel) is a small, private nonprofit institution offering an online Master of Science in Elementary Education that requires the completion of 33 credit hours. The program is designed for licensed teachers seeking to expand their field knowledge. In addition, students have the option to add the following endorsements to their degree: (1) Administrator I Certification, (2) Elementary Math Instructional Leader, (3) Gifted and Talented Education Specialist (GATES), and (4) STEM Instructional Leadership.

At McDaniel, students can complete online coursework asynchronously on Blackboard. Online student support includes academic advising, writing, career services, and more. Admission requirements include official transcripts, two letters of recommendation, 33 credit hours with a minimum 3.0 GPA, and the completion of a project or thesis.

The University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) is a public, Hispanic-serving institution offering an online Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction - Elementary Math and Science Education that does not require previous teaching experience. This online degree program helps prepare graduate students for career advancement in various educational settings, culminating in a final math and science education project. Graduating requires completing 120 credits, which generally takes full-time students less than a year due to its accelerated 7-week course format.

UTRGV distance learners access Blackboard for online course content. Those enrolled in the online Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction take courses such as Models and Methods in Science Education; Foundation of Learning, Cognition, and Human Development; and Introduction to Historical and Sociocultural Foundations of Education and Curriculum Problems and Processes. Some fieldwork may be required.

Midwestern Concordia University - Chicago (CUC) is a Hispanic-serving, private, Lutheran Church-faith-based institution offering an online Master of Arts in Teaching - Elementary Education that helps prepare graduate candidates for a Professional Educator License, with an Illinois elementary endorsement for grades 1 through 6. This 39-credit program takes full-time students about two years to complete. To graduate, an elementary grade student teaching internship and a portfolio completion are both required.

Blackboard delivers online programming to CUC’s online students. The elementary education curriculum includes courses such as Characteristics and Instruction of Exceptional Learners; Integrating and Assessing Learning in Diverse Classrooms; Teaching English Language Arts: Content; and Teaching Science: Content, Methods, and Assessment.

Thomas University (TU) in Georgia is a private, nonprofit institution hosting an online Master of Education in Elementary Education, which features concentrations in mathematics and reading. Graduate candidates must have a Georgia induction of higher teaching certificate in early childhood education. An admission advisor can help determine if similar certificates from other states are accepted. Students complete 34 credits through a cohort model and eight-week courses. TU accepts up to 6 transfer credits for admission into this online graduate program.

TU delivers online coursework and instruction via Canvas. Depending on the concentration, elementary education distance learners take courses such as Developing Algebraic Concepts, Concepts and Application of Probability and Statistics, Foundations of Literacy and Assessment, and Enhancing Literacy with Literature.

Chaminade University of Honolulu (CUH), a small, private nonprofit institution, offers an online Master of Arts in Teaching. Totaling 39 credit hours, the program can be completed in just 18 months. The program has five concentrations, including Elementary Education (K-6). Some example courses from this concentration include History and the Profession of Education, Diverse Learners, and Elementary Math Methods.

CUH uses Canvas to deliver online coursework to students in a synchronous format. The institution’s online resources include IT help, counseling, and academic support. CUH’s admission requirements are a bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited university, English proficiency, official transcripts, and an application.

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is a public institution offering an online Master of Science in Elementary Education emphasizing diversity and culturally responsive teaching, community engagement, and the ability to design engaging and authentic instruction that meets the unique needs of today’s students. Concentrations include Children’s Literature and Education and Human Development - Contemporary Implications for Teaching and Learning. Graduating requires completing 36 credits, typically taking two years of full-time attendance. This program does not lead to teaching certification.

UNO provides distance learners with access to Canvas for online curriculum delivery. Online elementary education courses include English as a Second Language Strategies for PK-12 Educators, Teaching Students with Exceptionalities, Anti-Racism Education: Principles and Practices, and Trauma Informed Education. This online education program culminates in a capstone project.

At the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS), a small, public institution, students can pursue an online Master of Arts in Teaching Elementary Education. The program, which takes 36 to 39 credit hours, requires students to complete weekly practicum assignments and a semester of student teaching in a K-6 school. Sample coursework includes Health in the K-8 Curriculum, The Learner and the Learning Process, and Curriculum Development.

At UAS, online students complete coursework synchronously on the online learning platform Blackboard. Online student support services include academic advising, career services, and counseling. UAS’s admission requirements are a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, application, official transcripts, two letters of recommendation, and more.

The University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) is a medium, public institution offering an online Master of Arts in Education. The program requires students to complete 36 credit hours, and it provides eleven concentration areas to choose from. The elementary-focused concentrations are Elementary Education and Montessori - Early Elementary, which each provide students with the expertise to excel in K-6 classrooms.

UNK utilizes Canvas to deliver online coursework to students, which can be completed in a synchronous or asynchronous format. The institution’s online resources include IT, an online library, and disability services. UNK’s admission requirements are meeting the minimum GPA, submitting GRE scores, and having a professional biography.

The College of Saint Scholastica (CSS) is a medium, private nonprofit institution offering an online Master of Education program. The program, which totals 33 credit hours, can be completed within two years. The program provides seven concentration options students can choose from. The curriculum covers technology integration, action research, and promoting student learning.

At CSS, online students complete coursework synchronously on the Blackboard platform. In addition, CSS’s online student support includes academic advising, counseling, and career services. The program’s minimum admission requirements are a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university and a minimum 2.8 GPA.

Baltimore’s Goucher College is a private, nonprofit institution offering an online Master of Arts in Teaching - Elementary Education (Grades 1-6) for students who want to enter the teaching profession but who don’t have adequate preparation. Students complete 40 credits, which may take up to three years of full-time enrollment. Graduating also requires a year-long internship or supervised teaching experience to help prepare for certification.

GC’s distance learners use Canvas to participate in class and receive instruction remotely. Those enrolled in the online elementary education program take courses such as Teaching Reading Through Text; Survey of Advanced Methods and Strategies in Reading Instruction; Acquiring, Extending, and Using Knowledge in Science; and Acquiring, Extending, and Using Knowledge in Mathematics.

The University of North Dakota (UND) in Grand Forks is a public institution offering an online Master of Education in Elementary Education so graduate candidates can advance their practice and knowledge in teaching, assessment, curriculum development, and diversity. Specialties include General Elementary Education and Indigenous Teacher Education. This is a 30-credit program typically taking two years of full-time attendance. Students can choose between completing a scholarly project or independent study at the end of the program in addition to the required thesis.

Blackboard is UMD’s learning management system for online curriculum delivery. Depending on the specialization, courses in the online elementary education program include Curriculum and Pedagogy in Indigenous Education, Foundations of Environmental Education, History of American Education Policy and Reform, and Educational Equity and Social Change in Schooling.

Georgia’s Valdosta State University (VSU) is a public institution offering an online Master of Education in Elementary Education designed to help graduate candidates build skills and knowledge in research, learning, educational assessments, education, and law so they can help create equitable environments for all learners. VSU’s programming is based on the ideals of social justice. Students can choose between pursuing a Gifted or an ESOL Endorsement. Graduating requires completing 36 credits and generally takes two years of full-time study.

VSU uses Brightspace to deliver its online programming. Elementary education distance learners take courses such as Curriculum for Children Who Are Talented and Gifted, Integrating Creativity and Critical Thinking in Elementary Education, Curriculum and Instructional Strategies, and Cultural Perspectives for ESOL Teachers.

Capella University (CU), based in Minneapolis, is a private, for-profit institution offering an online Master of Science in Education with eight specializations, such as Curriculum and Instruction, English Language Learning and Teaching, and Reading and Literacy. Depending on the specialty, students complete approximately 30 credits, which takes about two years if attending full time. CU also offers an online Master of Education in Teaching and Learning, which is available as a FlexPath program. It is self-paced, enabling some full-time students to finish in a year.

CU delivers its online coursework and instruction via Blackboard. Depending on the specialty, online master’s in education courses may include Collaborative Learning Environments, Exceptional Children in the Early Childhood Setting, Sociocultural Context of Reading Instruction, and Digital Citizenship and Technology Applications.

Georgia’s Brenau University (BU) is a women-only, private, nonprofit institution offering an online Master of Education in Elementary Education with program options in Elementary, Middle Grades, and Special Education. There are also five endorsement opportunities available, including Autism (K-12), Math (K-5), and Reading (K-12). Graduating requires completing approximately 31 credits, depending on the program option. This generally takes full-time students about a year. Similarly, BU offers an online Master of Arts in Teaching.

BU’s online students use Canvas to access coursework and instruction. Depending on the program option and endorsement, online master’s degree students studying elementary education participate in classes such as Education Issues and Policies, Leadership in Education, Special Education Law, and Language Acquisition for Teaching ESOL.

The University of West Georgia (UWG) is a public institution offering an online Master of Education in Elementary Education for graduate candidates with bachelor’s degrees in Early Childhood or Elementary Education who are eligible for or have a certificate in Elementary Education. This is a 36-credit program that takes approximately two years to complete if attending full-time. It includes five professional specializations in math, science, language, social studies, and early childhood education.

UWG uses the Desire2Learn (D2L) learning management system for online program content delivery. Depending on the specialization, online elementary education graduate program courses include Investigating Methods and Materials in Mathematics, Parent Education for Teachers and Child Care Workers, Literature for the Young Child, and Investigating Methods and Materials in Science.