Welcome to Elementary Education! We believe the best way to prepare our future teachers is to provide them with as much practice as possible. In our program, our teacher candidates receive multiple opportunities for classroom experiences with local student populations. Additionally, teacher candidates receive individualized attention and instruction from our expert faculty in the university classroom, as well as in the field placements in public schools.
Official Degree Name: Elementary Education
Certificate Type: Bachelor of Arts
Type of Idaho Teaching Certification: All Subjects (K-8)
Note for Students with Out-of-State Home Addresses: If considering an academic program that leads to a professional license or certification in your state, it is highly recommended that you first seek guidance from the appropriate licensing agency in your home state BEFORE beginning the academic program located outside your state, or upon changing states. Visit the Professional Licensure Disclosures website for more information.
**Do you already have an undergraduate degree and are looking for a graduate option to earn your teaching certification? Check out our Master In Teaching (MIT) programs. Most programs can be completed within 1-1.5 years and will earn both a master’s degree and teaching certification.
What can I do with this degree?
This four-year program leads to an All Subjects (K-8) teaching certificate in Idaho with an additional middle school endorsement.
Graduates with this type of certification typically teach in an elementary school grades K-6 or in middle schools in their area of endorsement.
Degree Requirements and Advising Resources
Admission Requirements
All lower division courses, including the 200-level pre-professional Teacher Education courses, must be either complete or in progress
A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and a 3.0 or higher GPA in all Teacher Education courses
Program Requirements
Once admitted to the Teacher Education program, you complete the upper division Teacher Education courses. During the Teacher Education year, you must also complete the required Praxis tests in order to apply to the Professional Year.
Before admission to Professional Year, candidates must have:
Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
Minimum 3.0 GPA in all education courses.
Passing score on Praxis.
Passing score on Praxis in your content area endorsement is needed. The State of Idaho requires a passing score for any endorsement in which you certify.
Program Admissions
The deadline to apply to the Teacher Education program is either the first Friday in February if you apply in the spring and the third Friday in September if you apply in the fall.
The admission process includes an interview which is scheduled after the application deadline.
Professional Year
The deadline to apply for Professional Year is also either the first Friday in February if you apply in the fall or the third Friday in September if you apply in the spring.
After admission to Professional Year, you complete two semesters of student teaching. One semester is in an Elementary Education classroom and the other semester is in a Special Education classroom.
Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education Requirements
To apply to the Teacher Education program, you must have the following three things completed:
All lower division courses, including the 200-level pre-professional Teacher Education courses, must be either complete or in progress
A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and a 3.0 or higher GPA in all Teacher Education courses
Application Deadline
The deadline to apply to the Teacher Education program is either the third Friday in September if you apply for spring semester, or the first Friday in February if you apply for fall semester. Interviews are in mid-March and mid-October.
After Admission to the Program
Once admitted to the Teacher Education program, you complete the upper division Teacher Education courses. During the Teacher Education year, you must also complete the required Praxis tests in order to apply to the Professional Year.
Before admission to Professional Year, candidates must have:
Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
Minimum 3.0 GPA in all education courses.
Passing score on Praxis Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching #7001. The following subtests are also required:
Reading & Language Subtest #7002/ Score: 143
Mathematics Subtest #7003Â / Score: 157
Social Studies Subtest #7005 / Score: 159
Science Subtest #7004 / Score: 155
Passing score on Praxis II in your content area endorsement is needed. The State of Idaho requires a passing score for any endorsement in which you certify.
For information, please access the Praxis website at: Praxis website
Do not proceed until you successfully complete ALL Praxis exams!
After Admission to Professional Year
During your professional year, you are a full-time student and full-time teacher.
Internship Semester –You will be in the school all day on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays.
Student Teaching Semester – You will be in the school all day M-F.
Pathway to Proficiency – Courses
Courses required for entrance into program
Advising Checklist for the Elementary Education Bachelor of Arts (select image to view larger)
All of the following courses are required for graduation and entrance into the teacher program.
FW ENGL 101 – Writing and Rhetoric I (3 credits)
FW ENGL 102 – Writing and Rhetoric II (3 credits)
UF 100 – Foundations of Intellectual Life (3 credits)
UF 200 – Foundations of Ethics and Diversity (3 credits)
FM MATH 157 – Foundations of Number and Operations (4 credits)
 MATH 158 (prerequisite: MATH 157) – Geometry and Measurement for Teachers (4 credits)
ART 321, ED-ESP 345 (spring only), COMM 390 or COUN 301 (spring only) – Art Methods for Elementary Teachers, Positive Behavior Intervention and Support, Conflict Management or Guidance and Counseling in Schools (3 credits)
KINES 355 –Â Elementary School Health and PE Curriculum and Instruction (3 credits)
Courses require admission to the Professional Year
Professional Year A – Internship
You will be in the school all day on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
ED-CIFS 460 – Professional Year 1, semester 1 (5 credits)
ED-CIFS 430 – Fundamental Frameworks for Supporting Teaching and Learning
(4 credits)
ED-LLC 442 – Integrated Disciplinary Language Arts in the Social Sciences (3 credits)
Professional Year B – Student Teaching
This is your student teaching semester and you will be in the school all day, M-F
FF ED-CIFS 400 – Professional Inquiry, Reflection and Capacity for Change (1 credit)
ED-CIFS 461 – Professional Year II (12 credits)
Costs and Scholarships
Boise State provides an affordable, quality education to improve your future. Scholarship opportunities are available for residents and nonresidents, making it even more affordable to attain a quality education.