Elementary Education Major: Degree in 3
A faster path to complete your BA
If you're made to teach, the Elementary Education: Degree in 3 can make your dreams happen even faster.
This on-campus, rigorous Bachelor of Arts (BA) pathway is built specifically for motivated, entering freshmen. It offers:
- A faster, more intensive pathway to teaching and leading your first classroom
- A year-round curriculum that accelerates your program, allowing completion in three years–including student teaching
- Lower costs from less time on campus and up to $5,600 in summer scholarships and student teaching stipends.
- A head start on teaching and earning that first teaching salary.
- The same quality preparation through coursework and clinical experiences that you expect from Iowa’s largest teacher education program.
This pathway requires the same 120 credit hours for completion as the traditional residential BA. Upon completion, you will also meet requirements for the literacy education minor (leading to Iowa endorsement in reading). Applications being accepted for the first cohort of 25 to 30 students for fall 2026.
UNI Students
That's how many UNI students are earning a degree to teach elementary education. It's the leading program for UNI Teacher Education.
Opportunity
With less time on campus, incentives like teaching stipends and summer scholarships, and a first-year starting salary of $50,000, graduates are a step ahead financially upon completing this program.
Placement
College of Education teaching grads are finding employment or continuing their education after graduation.
Interested in Majoring?
Tell us more and we'll send information on how you can succeed with a degree in elementary education from the University of Northern Iowa College of Education.
Contact us directly at:
Elementary Education
Department of Elementary and Middle Level Education
SEC 153
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0613
Phone: (319) 273-2167
Email: teachereducation@uni.edu
- I’m graduating high school next spring! But I do have some college credits to bring in with me. Should I enroll in the Degree in 3?
You certainly can. While this year-round program ensures high school students with no college credit can complete the degree in three years, bringing in some college credit can certainly help lighten your load, fulfill general education requirements and give you some flexibility in scheduling. You may find the overall time to graduation is still about three years due to course prerequisites and sequencing.
The number of credits you bring in may influence which path really fits your needs. Depending on how many credits you have, you still may be in great shape to complete your degree in less than four years within the traditional program.
- I am a transfer student from a community college. Should I consider this pathway?
While this pathway is intended for incoming freshmen, we’re happy to review the options that fit your needs. It could be Degree in 3, the traditional on-campus program or the online transfer program or the online Purple Pathway for Paraeducators. We suggest you send us your unofficial community college transcript for our review and counsel. You may already be on an expedited path to completing your degree in three years (like 1 in 9 students here)! We can also advise you regarding specific education classes that keep you on track toward graduating early.
- What if I start the program, but I realize it’s not for me?
No worries. You’ll be able to talk with an advisor and create an “off ramp” plan that will move you into the traditional four-year curriculum and class scheduling–and continue on to graduation!
- How do I get started?
Incoming students should fill out an application on the UNI website. Already admitted for fall 2026, but want to switch to Degree in 3? Email admissions@uni.edu to request a change to the program or complete this form.
- When will I know if I’m accepted?
Automatic program placement is based on the date you accept your offer. Simply apply for the three-year program, be accepted and accept your offer of admission at nextsteps.uni.edu. Once the program reaches capacity of up to 30 students, we’ll notify remaining applicants that it’s full.
- Can I add minors to earn additional endorsements for teaching?
One of the benefits of our newly updated curriculum is it actually made it easier to graduate on time and with room for minors leading to endorsements. Built into your study plan is coursework leading to a minor in literacy education, one of our most popular minors.
For other minors, admittedly the Degree in 3 is a more accelerated pathway which can impact the timing of access to some coursework. Part of the response is: it’s up to you and your ability to maximize your time and class schedule. But we will work with you on a plan of study and can walk through what’s possible.
- Are summer classes online or in person?
While any general education courses offered during the summer may be in person or online, all other summer coursework leading to your Degree in 3 degree are on campus.
- How does summer housing work?
Summer students generally live in one of our air-conditioned dorms. You will need to sign a separate summer housing contract. Students can contract on a week-by-week basis, which varies from $161 - $193 per week. More housing information here.
- How do I apply for the funding to offset summer tuition and student teaching?
No separate application is required. Scholarships for students enrolled in Degree in 3 are automatically awarded as follows:
- $2,000 toward first summer courses (full course load; prorated if fewer than 12 credits)
- $2,000 toward second summer courses (full course load; prorated if fewer than 12 credits)
- $1,600 scholarship for student teaching
More questions about the Degree in 3? Reach out to teacher-education@uni.edu. For general questions about admissions, check out admissions.uni.edu.
Your journey to teach in Degree in 3
YEAR 1*
Fall 2026 (pre-admission internship if needed)
Spring 2027
Summer 2027 (Up to two 6-week sessions)
*Winter break classes dependent on incoming college credit.
YEAR 2*
Fall 2027: Includes Internship 1/ Methods 1
Spring 2028
Summer 2028 (Up to two 6-week sessions)
*Winter break classes dependent on incoming college credit.
YEAR 3*
Fall 2028: Includes Internship 2/ Methods 2
Spring 2029: Student teaching
Courses & Careers
Courses
The Degree in 3 format includes a carefully planned sequence of courses that follow a year-round curriculum schedule. This includes the Internship 1 and 2 clinical experiences in the field which are paired with a methods, or "how to teach" course. Other coursework is a mix of Educator Essentials foundational classes and content coursework. Among courses commonly selected:
- Mathematical Reasoning for Elementary Teachers
- Inquiry into Life Science
- Children’s Literature
- Classroom Management K-8
- Teaching Methods II: Teaching Elementary Science
- Teaching Methods II: Teaching Elementary Social Studies
- Teaching Mathematics in Elementary School
- Methods of Teaching Early Literacy
- Educator Essentials
Careers
Teaching in an elementary classroom is likely your first foray into education. It also could lead to other roles, like school administrator. Or informal education, as in a museum. Some career options to ponder:
- Teacher
- Principal
- School psychologist
- Counselor
- Instructional coach
- Teacher leader
- Curriculum design
- Assessment specialist
- Teacher librarian
- Informal education specialist (museums, historical sites, etc.)
- Afterschool programs
- Edu-business
- Edutainment
More elementary education BA pathways
Minors and Endorsements
Adding a minor is another way to qualify for a teaching endorsement in specific subject areas. Built into the Degree in 3 is coursework that will can leaad to a minor in literacy education, qualifying you for the Iowa reading endorsement. Depending on course load and availability, other minors such as social and emotional learning may fit within your schedule. Your advisors will work with you on a plan of study.
Beyond the Classroom
Apply Your Knowledge
At UNI, you get into the classroom early and often--including in the Degree in 3 program. That means:
- Immersing yourself in a classroom for two internships of 35 or more hours to focus on and apply teaching methods
- Gaining additional on-site experience built within your coursework, depending on minors
- Choosing from a variety of classroom settings and locales (including international) to complete your student teaching
You'll apply theory to practice, gain constructive feedback, learn to reflect and grow from the culmination of experiences in the field.
Get Involved
Join a student organization or an honors society to get connected with other students who share your interests!
Student organizations:
- Student Elementary and Early Childhood Association (SEECA)
- Student Literacy Association (SLA)
- Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
- America Reads
Honor societies:
- Kappa Delta Pi
Finding Funding
As an elementary education major, you can apply through the universal scholarship application for consideration for more than 100 donor-funded and other general scholarships for incoming undergraduates in elementary education.
In addition, for Degree in 3, you'll also find support of up to $5,600 for:
College of Education scholarships up to $2,000 for expenses each summer (up to $4,000 total)
College of Education student teaching stipends (equivalent of $100/week, or $1,600)
No separate application is required; simply ensure you fill out the universal scholarship application.
Apply Your Knowledge
At UNI, you get into the classroom early and often--including in the Degree in 3 program. That means:
- Immersing yourself in a classroom for two internships of 35 or more hours to focus on and apply teaching methods
- Gaining additional on-site experience built within your coursework, depending on minors
- Choosing from a variety of classroom settings and locales (including international) to complete your student teaching
You'll apply theory to practice, gain constructive feedback, learn to reflect and grow from the culmination of experiences in the field.
Get Involved
Join a student organization or an honors society to get connected with other students who share your interests!
Student organizations:
- Student Elementary and Early Childhood Association (SEECA)
- Student Literacy Association (SLA)
- Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
- America Reads
Honor societies:
- Kappa Delta Pi
Finding Funding
As an elementary education major, you can apply through the universal scholarship application for consideration for more than 100 donor-funded and other general scholarships for incoming undergraduates in elementary education.
In addition, for Degree in 3, you'll also find support of up to $5,600 for:
College of Education scholarships up to $2,000 for expenses each summer (up to $4,000 total)
College of Education student teaching stipends (equivalent of $100/week, or $1,600)
No separate application is required; simply ensure you fill out the universal scholarship application.