Educational Studies: Elementary Education Option
The Educational Studies Major: Elementary Education Option prepares students to become certified teachers in Washington state elementary schools. Upon completion of this highly structured, two-year course of study, students meet all the requirements to be recommended for Washington State Residency teacher certification.
During the program, students also complete a 20 credit concentration in either English To Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) or Special Education (SPED). Both concentrations will qualify teacher candidates to be recommended to add these endorsements to an elementary education endorsement.
COVID-19 Admissions Update
Because many Washington school districts will start the 2020-21 school year with remote learning, the School of Educational Studies is waiving the 20 hours of classroom experience application requirement for all teacher certification programs for the 2020-21 application cycle. Elementary Education and Secondary & Middle Level certification applicants are instead encouraged to submit documentation of any experience with children or adolescents they may have had in the last two years, including classroom, youth programming, daycare or volunteer experiences. Applicants may reflect on these experiences when answering application essay questions. Additionally, applicants may substitute their School-Based Recommendation with an additional Academic or Employer Recommendation.
UW Bothell Teacher Certification Pathways
The Elementary Education Option is an undergraduate pathway to Washington state elementary teacher certification. If you already have a bachelor's degree or are interested in teaching middle or high school, you can learn more about our other teacher certification programs: