BA in Elementary Education
Lawrence Township, USA
BA
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
USD 61,215 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for international applicants studying in country | international applicants studying out of country: 15 june 2025
** for living on campus | living at home: 43,515 USD per year
Rider University's education students participate in mediated field experiences, have access to unique short-term study abroad experiences, and benefit from personalized attention. Small class sizes enable our faculty to personally observe and guide students every step of the way.
Why earn your teacher certification in NJ? The median salary for a teacher in New Jersey is $72,900, making New Jersey teachers some of the best paid in the country (NJ.com, 2022). New Jersey has some of the most robust certification requirements, and it is often easier to earn out-of-state certification should you choose to relocate (NJ.gov, 2022).
- 1.5M+ kindergarten and elementary teaching jobs in the US (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022)
- $61K median salary for kindergarten and elementary school teachers (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022)
- 109,000 projected job openings for kindergarten and elementary school teachers each year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022)
The four-year advantage
At Rider University, our goal is to turn aspiring educators into confident ones. Our four-year program is focused on immersing you in the teaching profession and cultivating your skills. You'll graduate with the reassurance that you've chosen the right career, saving you both time and money. Once you begin your full-time teaching career, you may be able to take advantage of school district funding or discounts through our University partnerships program to pursue graduate study.
Student teaching
Your studies are half the picture of becoming a teacher, but the other half is actually teaching. At Rider, you’ll observe and assist in classrooms, learn to use a range of teaching methods, and complete an entire semester of full-time student teaching. All field experiences are mediated, so students are never alone in the field. You'll always have a faculty mentor to help guide you.
Beyond100K
Rider is proud to partner with Beyond100K and make the commitment to help end the STEM teacher shortage. Having achieved their goal of preparing 100,000 excellent STEM teachers in 10 years, they continue to tackle the world’s most pressing problems by engaging the best and most diverse minds, especially those who have been historically marginalized. They are centered on racial diversity, equity, and belonging for their next chapter to help close gaps in STEM education, drive innovation, and deliver the most impactful solutions to move our world forward.
Scholarships for future educators.
Rider encourages students to embark on this rewarding career path by offering scholarships, ranging from $2,000 to $5,000 per year, for incoming undergraduate education majors, beginning with the fall 2024 semester.
Rider’s financial aid office works with families to ensure an undergraduate education is affordable at every income level. Scholarship and aid award offers are customized to fit your unique financial circumstances.
To get a full picture of the scholarships, grants, and other aid that you may be eligible to receive, apply to Rider and transmit your FAFSA using federal school code 002628. Merit-based scholarships and aid are automatically awarded when you apply, and once we receive your FAFSA, the Office of Financial Aid can help identify additional resources to fund your education.
Scholarships and Awards
The scholarships below are competitive and are typically awarded based on a comprehensive review of the student's academic record, including cumulative high school GPA, rigor of academic course selection, test scores, and auditions (if applicable), and other supporting credentials.
| Scholarships Awards | Award Range | Maximum value over 4 years |
|---|---|---|
| Merit-based scholarships | $14,000 - $27,000 annually | Variable based on financial aid offer. Students who meet the criteria and qualifications for a scholarship automatically receive the award upon admission to Rider. No additional scholarship application is required. |
To be considered for a merit-based academic scholarship, you must:
- Apply to Rider: Submit your completed application for admission, including official transcripts, standardized test scores (unless applying test-optional), essay, and one letter of recommendation by January 15. (Note: the final deadline is November 15th for all Musical Theatre and Acting applicants.)
- Rider offers Test-optional Admission, which means SAT/ACT scores are not required for admission and most scholarships at Rider. Test-optional applicants will be given full consideration for most merit-based scholarships.
- Are you a high achiever? Students with a 4.0 GPA and 1300+ SAT/28+ ACT score may be eligible to receive the maximum merit-based scholarship offer of $27,000. You must submit your SAT/ACT to Rider in order to qualify for this award level.
- Complete an audition, if required (audition results are a factor in scholarship awards).
- Be regularly admissible to the University as a full-time student.
- Have a minimum cumulative academic 2.7 GPA (unweighted) on a 4.0 scale.
For New Jersey residents, the Rider Tuition Guarantee:
Rider guarantees free tuition for qualified in-state students! If you're a New Jersey resident with a GPA of 3.5 or above based on a 4.0 grading scale, an adjusted gross income of $50,000 or less, and are receiving both full TAG and Pell grants, you may be eligible to attend Rider University tuition-free when you apply as an undergraduate student for the fall 2025 or spring 2026 start terms. Terms and conditions apply.
Visit our website to learn more about the scholarships and aid opportunities.
As an elementary education student, you’ll tailor your learning to your goals by focusing on multidisciplinary studies, STEM studies, or choosing a second major from the College of Arts and Sciences. The program curriculum for all pathways includes general studies courses, major requirements, and field experiences, including a semester of full-time student teaching. Students also have the option to earn additional teaching certifications by choosing from a variety of minors.
Become a generalist
This option is for students who wish to be generalists (teach all subjects) at the elementary level. The curriculum includes courses in content areas, including math, history, science, and English. Students select an area of concentration from the subjects listed and take an additional two classes in that area. Students also have the option of middle school certification in that particular content area.
Major Requirements
Elementary education majors may select one of three main paths. They may select a second major in the College of Arts & Sciences or complete one of two stand-alone majors in the College of Education: Elementary Education: Multidisciplinary Studies or Elementary Education: STEM Studies. Students opting to complete a second major in the College of Arts & Sciences may complete any second major in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences or the School of Science, Technology, and Mathematics, or a second major in dance studies, music production, or theater in the School of Communication, Media & Performing Arts. Students interested in special education might consider the dual major in Elementary Education and Psychology with Special Education, although the special education minor can be added to any of the elementary education major options described above.
The fulfillment of these second major or concentration requirements, together with the general studies courses, provides a substantial liberal studies background as well as a foundation for professional development. In addition to completing these requirements, all Rider University students are required to complete the Engaged Learning requirements.
Please refer to the second major option below.
Elementary Education General Studies and Academic Major Requirements
- Seminar in Writing and Rhetoric, or Honors Seminar: Great Ideas I
- Seminar in Writing and Research, or Honors Seminar: Great Ideas II
- Mathematics for Education Majors I
- Speech Communication
- Introduction to Psychology
- First Year and Transfer Education Seminar
- Fine Arts elective
- Foreign Language elective 1
- History elective
- Literature elective
- Science elective (without lab)
- Science elective (with lab)
Social Science Elective (may be used toward a minor, including Introduction to Child Development, Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis, Psychology of Personality, Psychology of Exceptional Children, Introduction to Media and Communication)
Technology Elective (Special Education minors will take Educational Technology and Adaptive Devices)
- Contexts of Schooling
- Developmental Education Psychology
General Studies Electives (number varies according to second major; may be used towards a minor)
Requirements of a selected academic major (number of credits varies according to major)
*Some high-credit second majors are not included in the credit range above.
Professional Education
Methodology, curriculum, and instruction courses, with associated field experiences:
- Student Teaching and Seminar
- Foundations of Early Literacy, K-3
- Methods for Teaching Social Studies
- Fostering Literacy and Language Development Across Disciplines
- Literacy and the Bilingual/Bicultural Child
- Teaching Mathematics in Elementary Classrooms I
- Methods of Teaching Mathematics in Elementary Classrooms
- Methods of Teaching Science in Elementary Classrooms
- Inclusive Practices for General Education Teachers
Note: Students may be required to fulfill entrance requirements for certain second majors.
Second Major Options
The options below are for students choosing to major in Elementary Education who will earn a second major in the College of Arts and Sciences.
College of Arts and Sciences Majors
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Communication Studies
- Criminal Justice
- Dance Studies
- Earth Sciences
- English with a Literature Concentration
- English with a Writing Concentration
- Environmental Sciences
- Environmental Studies
- Film and Television
- Graphic Design
- Health Sciences
- History
- Journalism
- Mathematics
- Music Production
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Public Relations
- Radio and Podcasting
- Social Media Strategies
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Spanish
- Sports Media
- Theatre: Design and Technology Concentration
- Theatre: Theatre-Making Concentration