Elementary Education

About the Major

As an elementary education major, you will learn the methods of teaching and learning with children from kindergarten through sixth grade. This program will teach you how to make the most of challenges and opportunities in an urban school environment. You will get out into the field early during your studies and start learning in the classroom. Students are immersed in programs of study that challenge them intellectually with new models of instruction and explorations of diversity. At the conclusion of the program, you will be fully equipped to teach your own class of diverse students in any urban, suburban, or rural school.

Skills and abilities this major develops include: cultural competency, teaching, problem solving, lesson planning, and inclusivity (IUPUI School of Education, 2019).

Engaged Learning Experiences

Regardless of your major or future career, engaged learning is vital to your present and future. It makes you more marketable for jobs and professional schools upon graduation, it enables you to build deeper connections with faculty and staff in your field of study, and it makes your learning personal by connecting your interests and values with the curriculum from your classes. Check out the three ideas below for places to get started, or learn more at IUPUI’s Institute for Engaged Learning website.

Student Organizations

Students interested in education tend to be a passionate bunch. We are home to a number of organizations dedicated to different facets of teaching and education.

Service Learning

You can add to your built-in student teaching experience through community engagement. From service projects to conferences, you get a head start on lifelong learning.

Study Abroad

Study abroad is much more than a trip—it’s an intellectual and cultural adventure that will change the way you see the world, other people, and yourself.

Opportunities After Graduation

According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook (2018), employment of elementary school teachers is projected to grow 7% from 2016 to 2026, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Indianapolis, specifically the Indianapolis Public School district, is experiencing a teacher shortage and IUPUI elementary education graduates are in high demand. However, employment opportunities will vary by region and school setting.

The average starting salary for IUPUI School of Education graduates was $40,411, and the median salary was $41,000, for the May 2019 graduating cohort. The median salary of an elementary school teacher in Indiana was $59,420 (Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2019).

(This section is intended for information purposes, not prediction of actual salary.)

Education majors often pursue advanced degrees in the following areas: administration, English language and literature, law, reading, special education, business, school counseling, psychology, and bilingual education.

Quick Facts

Sample Coursework

Field experience
Diversity and learning: teaching children
Methods of teaching reading
Teaching students with special needs
Social studies in elementary education
Student teaching

Possible Careers

Career counselor*
Library consultant
Nonprofit program coordinator
School counselor*
Social worker*

*These career options require additional training or education.

Where could I work?

Community and social services
Community Health Network
Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS)
Media and communications
Nonprofits

Complementing Interests

SSocial

EEnterprising

AArtistic

Get your interest code

Where to Get More Information

School of Education

Elementary Urban Educators

American Federation of Teachers

Arts, Humanities, and Human Services Cluster

This major is part of the Arts, Humanities, and Human Services (AHHS) cluster. The AHHS cluster is the academic home of University College students pursuing majors in art and design, education, general studies, journalism, liberal arts, and social work. The AHHS cluster partners with students on their academic advising and career plans to guide them into their degree-granting schools.

Learn about the AHHS cluster

Learn about other clusters

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