Curriculum that ensures you’ve mastered the things elementary school students need you to know.
At WGU, we design our curriculum to be timely, relevant, and practical—all to ensure your degree is proof you really know your stuff.
Every course focuses on a set of clearly defined competencies that you must prove you’ve learned—through tests, papers, projects, or other assessments. Demonstrating mastery is how you pass a course, so learning what it takes to be outstanding in your career is at the heart of WGU’s post-baccalaureate elementary teacher-prep program’s curriculum.
That means that what you learn will be directly applicable in your elementary school classroom. It’s all about real-world applicability so every moment spent studying is time well spent.
Courses fulfilled by your associate's degree.
This is an unofficial estimate of your transferable credits. You may receive more or less credits depending upon the specific courses taken to complete your degree and other credits you may have.
Below are the anticipated courses that will be fulfilled based on your indication that you have earned an associate's degree. During the enrollment process this information will be verified.
Mathematics for Elementary Educators
Courses in this program.
This program is made up of the following courses, which you will typically complete one at a time as you make your way through your program, working with your Program Mentor each term to build your personalized Degree Plan. You’ll work through each course as quickly as you can study and learn the material. As soon as you’re ready, you’ll pass the assessment, complete the course, and move on. This means that you can finish as many courses as you're able in a term at no additional cost.
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Elementary Education Methods
Elementary Reading Methods and Interventions
Language Arts Instruction and Intervention
Elementary Science Methods
Elementary Mathematics Methods
Application of Elementary Social Studies Methods
Application of Elementary Visual and Performing Arts Methods
Application of Elementary Physical Education and Health Methods
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Pre-Clinical Experiences
Preclinical Experiences in Elementary Education
Teacher Performance Assessment in Elementary Education
Supervised Demonstration Teaching in Elementary Education, Observations 1 and 2
Supervised Demonstration Teaching in Elementary Education, Observation 3 and Midterm
Supervised Demonstration Teaching in Elementary Education, Observations 4 and 5
Supervised Demonstration Teaching in Elementary Education, Observation 6 and Final
Schools as Communities of Care
Essential Practices for Supporting Diverse Learners
Creating and Managing Engaging Learning Environments
Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
Assessing Student Learning
Using Educational Technology for Teaching and Learning
Educational Psychology and Human Development of Children and Adolescents
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Effective Teaching Practices
Elementary Disciplinary Literacy
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Teacher Education Foundations
Mathematics for Elementary Educators
Plan to work hard: Program requirements and expectations.
The post-baccalaureate program in elementary education is a mostly online program that you will complete by studying and working independently with instruction and support from WGU faculty. You will be expected to complete at least 8 competency units each 6-month term. (One course is typically 3 or 4 units.)
The first person you speak with at WGU will be your Enrollment Counselor, who can explain requirements and expectations in more detail. You can also read more about each course in the Program Guide.
Request info from an Enrollment Counselor
Download the Program Guide
State-specific licensure requirements: Each state in the U.S. has specific testing requirements that must be met or completed in addition to completing your teaching degree program at WGU. Teacher licensure requirements vary depending on state laws and may include a number of factors, such as:
- Completion of a bachelor’s degree program
- Submission of transcripts
- Completion and clearance of a background check
- Passing of required entrance exams and basic skills tests
Learn more about your path to teacher licensure
Special requirements for this program.
Preclinical Experiences. Participate in a wide range of in-classroom teaching experiences through at least 75 hours of in-classroom observation.
Demonstration Teaching. To help you prepare to work in classrooms, this program includes a student teaching component (we call it Demonstration Teaching, or DT). DT is a full-time, supervised, in-classroom experience of a minimum of 12–20 weeks during which you will be hosted by an experienced teacher and observed by a Clinical Supervisor. Your host teacher will evaluate your performance based on accepted professional standards. Learn more.
Professional Portfolio. Your portfolio will include your resume and Philosophy of Teaching Statement and serve as a way to showcase the skills you have acquired throughout your degree program and Demonstration Teaching.
A top-quality curriculum developed with guidance from education leaders and academic experts.
To ensure our teaching degrees are consistent with the expectations of today’s schools, we develop courses with input from councils composed of nationally recognized experts in education. Council members offer guidance on key competencies to be expected from successful WGU graduates.
