Bachelor in Elementary Education and Teaching (Bachelor's)

Tuition is Tuition and fees are subject to change. Additional course fees apply for practicum and student teaching experiences..

Graduates are qualified to teach kindergarten through fifth grade in public or private schools. The programme combines coursework with structured field experiences in real classrooms to build teaching skills. Students develop lesson plans, manage classrooms, and assess student progress using state standards. Emphasis is placed on literacy, mathematics, science, and child development instruction.

Focus areas include Literacy instruction, Mathematics education, Science teaching methods, Social studies instruction, Classroom management, Educational technology.

The programme requires 120 credit hours, including pre-professional, professional, and advanced blocks. Students complete 200 hours of field experience across multiple semesters, culminating in a 12-credit supervised student teaching placement.

Graduates enter careers as certified elementary school teachers in kindergarten through fifth grade classrooms.

A minimum 2.0 GPA is required for admission. Applicants must complete a 2.75 GPA in pre-professional and professional coursework and maintain a 2.75 GPA in all education curriculum subsections. Admission to the Teacher Education Program is required before advanced courses.

The programme totals about 120 credit hours. On-campus, full-time, typically four years. For international students, tuition is around the median for US programmes. The institution admits about 55% of applicants.

Union College's identity is captured in its name: things come together. Liberal arts, engineering and entrepreneurship share the same academic setting, creating opportunities for students to explore different interests and combine areas of study. The college offers more than 62 areas of study, with academic work extending beyond the classroom through research alongside faculty.

Research is part of the experience across majors. Students work with faculty in laboratories, archives, studios and field settings. This hands-on approach applies to a broad range of subjects and gives students opportunities to develop questions, investigate ideas and connect academic learning with practical work. Union also prepares students for life after college through its focus on career outcomes.

The campus is in Schenectady, a New York city with restaurants and cafes, shops and boutiques, theaters and events. Hiking, biking and skiing are available minutes from campus, giving students access to outdoor activities as well as city amenities. More than 130 clubs and organizations cover interests from beekeeping and off-road racing to music festivals and movie nights. International students joining Union enter a community where academic exploration, research, student activities and the surrounding city all form part of daily life.