Bachelor of Science in Education: Elementary (K-6)/ Communication Arts and Literature (5-8)
Develop literacy and communication skills in elementary and middle school learners.
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Teach the Next Generation of Learners
The elementary education degree in arts and literature at North Central University will prepare you with the knowledge and hands-on experience you need to teach engaging English and communication classes and inspire student’s imagination and curiosity toward literature. Gain essential skills in curriculum development, teaching best practices and pedagogy, classroom management, literature, and communication, as well as an intensive student teaching experience. You’ll graduate ready to lead in contemporary classrooms and complete your Minnesota State teaching license with confidence.
In our uniquely experiential program, you will complete 175 hours of teaching before beginning student teaching required for teaching credentials in local schools. This is not just classroom observation but actual teaching with a university faculty supervisor who knows you well and can serve as a guide and mentor. Our diverse downtown Minneapolis location provides education students with a wide variety of schools to work in including public, private, charter, alternative, faith-based, suburban, and inner-city, preparing you for more teaching opportunities.
- On Campus: Complete this 126-credit program on campus as part of our Christian community.
- Affordable Tuition: Explore generous financial aid options available to all residential traditional undergraduate students.
- Christ-Centered Curriculum: Define and refine your faith at NCU, where classes and student life are rooted in Scripture and nurtured in community.
This program has surrounded me with classmates and now friends to run together through this rigorous curriculum, teachers who support and impart their knowledge to us, and real-life experiences in the field to exponentially grow us.”
Lilly, ’24
Secondary Education
Why Study Elementary Education in Communication Arts and Literature at NCU?
Pre-service teachers at NCU are part of a dynamic, hands-on, high-mentorship cohort in their field of licensure. We offer a fully accredited teacher preparation program that leads to licensure, where teaching is more than just a job. It is a calling that fuels your faith, creativity, and lifelong learning. The outcomes of this program are based on the standards set by Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC) and Minnesota’s Standards of Effective Practice.
Seniors pursuing the English teacher teaching degree spend an entire semester dedicated to student teaching full time in a local school where they are mentored and coached by one of their professors and a cooperating teacher. It is because of our rigorous and active learning program that NCU education graduates have very high placement rates and are sought out by local schools.
Our experiential learning-driven curriculum will prepare you to:
- Create meaningful and memorable literature and communication arts experiences for students with diverse learning styles
- Use a variety of instructional strategies to encourage the development of critical thinking, problem-solving, and academic performance
- Use individual and group motivation and behavior to create a learning environment that encourages positive social interaction, active engagement, and self-motivation
- Leverage technology to enhance interaction and engagement
- Plan effective curriculum and assess and evaluate student progress in general education and literature and communication arts
- Demonstrate a servant-leadership model of concern and service towards others
- Continue growing and finding new ways to be a better teacher as a lifelong learner
- Integrate your faith and your career as an educator
View the Academic Catalog for a full list of admission requirements and course listings.
Program Highlights
Explore Real-World Teaching Opportunities
Excel in Mentored Student Teaching
Leverage the Education Curriculum Lab
Explore Real-World Teaching Opportunities
Through local schools, you’ll get tons of classroom experience with opportunities in public, private, alternative, charter, and faith-based schools.
Excel in Mentored Student Teaching
Receive helpful coaching from experienced NCU professors and supportive on-site colleagues during student teaching.
Leverage the Education Curriculum Lab
You’ll have your own library and work area designed for education students to focus, explore pedagogy and curriculum development, and collaborate with peers.
Optional Concentrations
Global Studies
Inform your teaching theory and practice with classes in cross-cultural education, communication, or community building and world religion or crisis relief. This concentration is helpful for education students seeking to build their culturally responsive and trauma-informed teaching strategies.
Special Education
Learn appropriate ways to support students with learning disabilities and Individualized Education Plans (IEP) through evidence based academic and behavioural interventions. This concentration is especially helpful for education students who are curious about special education certification and who want to create a more inclusive and accessible learning environment.
Career Outcomes
Credentialed educators with a bachelor’s degree or higher are in demand as positions open due to retirement and career changes for current teachers. In addition to school teacher roles, trained teachers may also pursue openings in child care and school administration and school support services. Administrative and support roles are projected to grow by 0.6% in the next decade.1
Where Our Alumni Work and Intern*
- Duals Discovery School
- American Creativity Academy Kuwait
- Hope Christian Academy
- Maranatha Christian Academy
- New Life Academy
- North Heights Christian Academy
- Achieve Language Academy
- Agamim Classical Academy
- Maple Grove Senior High
- Park Center High School
- United Christian Academy
- Osseo Senior High
*This includes alumni internships of multiple Education programs at NCU.
Learn From Industry Experts
Seasoned, credentialed faculty share their expansive teaching experience and a commitment to support students as you pursue your calling in education.
Explore Related Programs
Not sure how your calling translates into a degree? These programs may interest you:
Education: Elementary (K-6)
Education: Elementary (K-6)/Mathematics (5-8)
Education: Elementary (K-6)/Social Studies (5-8)
FAQs
How do I decide which education program is right for me?
NCU offers several education programs to prepare students to teach in elementary, middle school, and high school settings. These programs include single-subject training and the same access to experiential learning ahead of full-time student teaching. We also offer an early childhood education degree in partnership with Minneapolis College for students interested in supporting early childhood development.
If you are unsure which program is right for you, please contact our Admissions team with any questions or concerns, and we will be happy to help!
Does the elementary education program include a teaching certificate?
Upon successful completion of the elementary education program, you may be recommended for a Minnesota State Teaching License in grades K-6 with a middle school endorsement in Communication Arts and Literature. You will need to complete any required steps to licensure and can look to faculty mentors and the experience you gain at NCU for support and preparation.
Am I eligible for financial aid?
Yes, 100% of residential undergraduate students receive financial aid at NCU. As an education student, you may qualify for additional scholarships and grants specific to your major and career goals. Please be sure to submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible for the year when you plan to enroll.
Citations
Source: 1Bureau of Labor Statistics, Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary, on the internet, at https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes119032.htm (viewed Nov. 18, 2025).
2Bureau of Labor Statistics, Middle School Teachers, on the internet, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/middle-school-teachers.htm (viewed Nov. 18, 2025).
3Bureau of Labor Statistics, Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary, on the internet, at https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes119032.htm (viewed Nov. 18, 2025).