B.Ed. in Elementary Education Degree

Why Study Elementary Education at ORU?

Love working with kids? Want to inspire a lifelong love of learning? ORU’s Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) in Elementary Education prepares you to teach and lead in grades 1–8 across most subject areas—whether in your local community or around the world.

In just four years, you can graduate with dual or single certification, depending on your concentration:

Dual Certification: Early Childhood, English Language Learners (ELL), or Special Education
Single Certification: International Teaching or Multidisciplinary Education

You’ll gain hands-on classroom experience, develop strong teaching skills, and grow as a Spirit-empowered educator ready to make a difference.

Start your journey in elementary education at ORU today!

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Flexible Study Options

ON CAMPUS

Experience hands-on learning, face-to-face interaction, and vibrant community life at our main campus.

ORU FLEX

Join live, scheduled classes online with real-time interaction and a structured learning environment.

ONLINE

Access coursework anytime, anywhere—perfect for self-paced learning and flexible schedules.

When you serve, you have to be careful not to exhaust the people at the expense of actually serving them. At ORU, we focus so much on meeting the needs of those we serve and leaving them better than we found them.

Gabe Frohlich

California

Concentrations

Early Childhood

The additional certification in Early Childhood allows you to teach Pre-K through third grade and work in infant/toddler settings.

English Language Learners

The additional certification in English Language Learners allows you to teach ELL students at all grade levels in the U.S. and internationally.

Special Education

The additional certification in Special Education allows you to teach students with mild to moderate disabilities at all grade levels.

International Teaching

With a focus on cross-cultural communication and global education practices for grades 1-8, this concentration prepares you to teach in international and multicultural settings around the world.

Multidisciplinary Education

This concentration prepares you to teach a broad range of core subjects by integrating content across disciplines. Aligned with state and national standards, it equips teacher candidates with the knowledge and skills to create engaging, well-rounded learning experiences for diverse 1–8 classrooms.

The additional certification in Early Childhood allows you to teach Pre-K through third grade and work in infant/toddler settings.

The additional certification in English Language Learners allows you to teach ELL students at all grade levels in the U.S. and internationally.

The additional certification in Special Education allows you to teach students with mild to moderate disabilities at all grade levels.

With a focus on cross-cultural communication and global education practices for grades 1-8, this concentration prepares you to teach in international and multicultural settings around the world.

Elementary Education Courses Offered

As an ORU elementary education teacher candidate, you’ll gain expertise in key areas of the field, including:

Whole Child Education
Classroom Leadership
Inclusion & Individualization
Integrated Instructional Methods
Educational Assessment

Early Literacy Instruction & Intervention
Literacy Methods & Materials
Multiple Pre-Clinical Courses
Two Student Teaching Placements
Plus, specialty courses for your concentration

Degree Path

View your Degree Path For Elementary Education

Tuition and Scholarships

Nearly 100% of our full-time, undergraduate residential students receive ORU grants and scholarships through academic achievement and through ORU’s premier Quest Whole Leader Scholarship. To learn about general scholarships and financial aid information, visit our financial aid page. The College of Education also offers scholarships every spring, and you can earn up to $5,000 each year. Ask your Admissions Representative how to apply!

Explore Tuition & Aid Inspire to Teach Grant

Careers with an Elementary Education degree

Elementary Education Careers Example Image

As an ORU elementary education teacher candidate, you’ll enjoy careers such as:

Elementary Classroom Teacher (1–8)
Early Childhood Educator (Pre-K–3)
ELL Instructor (K-12)
Special Education Teacher (K-12)
International School Teacher
Curriculum Developer

Educational Consultant
After-School Program Director
Children’s Ministry Leader
Christian or Private School Teacher
Homeschool Education Coordinator
Infant or Toddler Caregiver

Program Features

Each of our concentrations align with state and national standards. Upon completion of the program, graduates have the opportunity to apply for certification. Applicants must complete the program, all key assessments and benchmarks included in the program, be admitted to the Professional Education Program, and pass the designated certification exams required by the state of Oklahoma. Because Oklahoma participates in the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement, candidates are eligible to transfer their teaching certificate to other member states, pending that state’s specific requirements.

Candidates in the College of Education gain hands-on experience through pre-clinical placements in local schools, which is incorporated into their curriculum. These pre-clinicals allow future educators to apply their training in real classrooms under the guidance of experienced teachers. Most teacher candidates are enrolled in at least one pre-clinical each semester during the matriculation of their degree, and can earn anywhere from 90 to 155 hours before student teaching!

Candidates experience hands-on learning in our simulated early childhood and elementary classrooms, where future teachers practice real-world instructional strategies in a supportive, state-of-the-art environment. Our innovative Zoom Room is designed for interactive teaching, collaboration, and virtual field experiences that prepare you for today’s connected classrooms.

Candidates complete two student teaching placements, or clinicals, at two different schools in two different grades. One clinical is an elementary placement in a first through sixth grade classroom. The other clinical is aligned to the concentration, including early childhood, ELL, special education, international teaching, or multidisciplinary education. These final clinical experiences build confidence and often lead directly to job offers after graduation!

Candidates complete a 16-week micro-credential aligned with Oklahoma’s Strong Readers Act (SB 362) focusing on the science of reading: phonemic awareness, decoding, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Candidates use screening tools, analyze data, design interventions, and apply strategies in classrooms. Completion earns a Credly badge for K–3 literacy instruction expertise. For more information, click here.

The Fifth-Year Mentoring Program, founded by Dr. Charlene Martin, provides continued support for our graduates during their first and second years in the classroom (the fifth year)...at no cost. Each new teacher is paired with a dedicated mentor, a former faculty member who offers both academic support and emotional guidance. Through social gatherings and professional development sessions, the program fosters positive self-efficacy, resilience, and success in the early years of teaching.

ORU's Fast Track program offers the opportunity to complete up to 12 hours of graduate course work as an undergraduate student…with no additional cost!

Fast Track program

The College of Education is nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and by the Oklahoma Office of Educational Quality and Accountability (OEQA). It is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (AACTE).

MEET YOUR FACULTY

At ORU, you’ll learn from experienced, faith-driven educators who are passionate about shaping the next generation of transformed educators. Our faculty brings years of classroom expertise and a heart for Whole Person Education, mentoring you academically, spiritually, and professionally. They’re committed to preparing you to teach with excellence, lead with compassion, and make a lasting impact in diverse educational settings around the world.

Get to know your faculty

Bachelor of Education inElementary Education

Why Study Elementary Education at ORU?