Elementary Education

Most teachers would agree there is nothing more rewarding than watching your students learn, grow and succeed. For the Christian educator, there is the added joy of sharing Jesus' love by encouraging each student to recognize his or her potential. Northwestern's "teacher as servant" philosophy will help you to identify your students as God's children, bringing Christ to the center of your work in the classroom.

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

Why NWC?

Northwestern's education faculty have experience with diverse grade levels and disciplines in both public and private school settings. They will support you throughout your journey to becoming a teacher, from applying to the teacher education program during your sophomore year to applying for licensure as a senior.

Whatever you hope to teach, your adviser will help you create a customized course schedule to achieve certification in your area of interest. We offer endorsements in:

Basic science
Birth through grade 3 special education
Coaching
Early childhood
English
History
Math
Middle school
Reading
Social studies
Special education
TESL (teaching English as a second language)

CONTACT

Dr. Carrie ThonstadDepartment Chair

CONNECT WITH US

100% GRAD PLACEMENT 100% of elementary ed majors find a job or enroll in graduate school within six months of graduation.

#1 FOR EDUCATION IN IOWA Niche.com ranks us as the best college for education majors in the state of Iowa.

ACCREDITED PROGRAM by the Iowa Department of Education and Higher Learning Commission

ACEI RECOGNITION Our program has earned national recognition from the Association for Childhood Education International.

Outcomes

Northwestern grads have high graduate placement rates for a reason—their dedication to giving students a Christ-centered education stands out, and they have the experience and bank of effective program plans to prove it.

Join our standout elementary education alumni in roles such as:

Lead teacher, Head Start

Sibley, IA

Sixth grade math teacher, Vista Peak Elementary School

Aurora, CO

Special education teacher, Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial School District

Lake Crystal, MN

#RaidersStandOut

STUDENTS

**Lane** As a Raider pole vaulter, Lane knows the importance of committing without hesitation to each vault—and applies that same “all-in” approach to life.

ALUMNI

**Whitney** Whitney had over 100 hours of classroom experience before she graduated from NWC—and the example of her professors for how to invest in her students.

FACULTY

**Angila** With teaching experience ranging from elementary school to graduate courses, Dr. DeJong brings a wealth of strategies, resources and stories of hope to her students.

FACULTY

**Carrie** Dr. Thonstad’s passion for serving—and for preparing students to serve—makes her a valuable resource in the education department.

Experience

100+ classroom hours

Student teaching

Mission + service opportunities

Bachelor's + beyond

As an education major at Northwestern, you won’t have to wait until your senior year to begin work in the classroom. Nearly every education class includes a field experience with students in area K–12 schools, so by the time you're given a student-teaching assignment, you'll have spent more than 100 hours working with students.