On Campus
The Elementary Education degree program at UNK is a premier undergraduate teaching program that will prepare students to work with children through their elementary school years.
The College of Education has a reputation for educating Nebraska's best teachers, and faculty understand the importance of getting future educators into real life classroom settings early and often. UNK's close partnership with Kearney and area schools gives students numerous opportunities to interact in both early field experiences and student teaching. Award-winning faculty mentors guide students in these field experiences and throughout their collegiate career to develop quality educators who make a difference in the lives of students.
The Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators Tests are required for certification in Nebraska and are part of all undergraduate education programs at UNK. The Praxis Subject Assessments are also required for certification in Nebraska.
Nebraska’s Attracting Excellence to Teaching Program provides forgivable loans to eligible students who are working toward initial certification.
Arrangements are made for students who qualify to complete their student teaching requirement in schools located in Nebraska and other states. Most pre-student teaching and student-teaching field experiences take place in schools that are members of UNK Network of Partner Schools. UNK teacher candidates will complete 16 weeks (12 credit hours) of all-day student teaching. Some teacher candidates who pursue more than one endorsement will be required to complete more hours.
Credit Hours
General Studies requirement has been reduced to 30 credit hrs allowing more freedom and making it easier to transfer to UNK.
Degree Received
Elementary Education Teaching Field Endorsement, Bachelor of Arts in Education
Per Credit Hour
With the New Nebraskan Scholarship all undergraduate students pay in-state tuition
UNK’s new general studies curriculum requires fewer hours, eases transferring, and gives students greater flexibility in earning their degree. This reduced the general studies credit requirement from 45 hours to 30 hours. The 4-year class schedule below is a sample timeline for progress toward an Elementary Education degree at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Consult with your academic advisor.
"Both of my parents actually went to Kearney State, so that was always something I thought would be cool, to go to the same college as them. I was really involved in high school so I wanted a College that would allow me to be as involved as I was and UNK had countless of ways for me to do just that. The College of Education and UNK provided me with ample experiences that I knew prepared me for what my future was to hold. They worked extremely hard to get me into classrooms right away which was something I greatly appreciate. I truly could not imagine where I would in my teaching career without UNK. It was my home for 4 years and they were the BEST four years."
Wasmer Elementary, Grand Island, Nebraska
UNK is Nebraska’s most affordable university even BEFORE financial aid is awarded. You’ll quickly discover that no one works harder than UNK to reduce the cost of an education and provide the best value. Learn more about scholarships and financial aid for your Elementary Education Teaching Field Endorsement Degree Program
at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
