Earn an accelerated bachelor's in elementary education at Concordia University Wisconsin.
Earn an Accelerated Bachelor’s in Elementary Education online
Frequently Asked Questions with Dr. Adam Paape
If you’ve ever thought about becoming a teacher, find out why now could be the best time for you to achieve this important goal. Do you have questions? No problem. Program Director Dr. Adam Paape answered some frequently asked questions about Concordia’s new accelerated bachelor’s in elementary education.
What grades will this program train you to teach?
You’ll be licensed to teach Kindergarten to grade 9. This program is Department of Public Instruction (DPI) approved for licensure in Wisconsin.
How many hours are required for the practicum classes?
The first four semesters of practicum require 45 hours of work within the Kindergarten to grade 9 classroom. Different practicums have different requirements – special education, cultural experience, reading instruction. The fifth semester of practicum is the pre-student teaching experience. This is a more robust experience – 60 hours.
What is the schedule like?
- Each of the first 5 semesters are made up of 6 online classes. You take 2 at a time for the 3 different 8-week terms.
- There is also the 3-credit practicum during each semester. This adds up to about 21 credits (there are two 2-credit courses and one 4-credit course) for each of the first 5 semesters.
- The final semester has student teaching (12 credits), one course (3 credits), and the exit portfolio (1 credit). 104 credits of courses in semesters 1 to 5, and 16 credits during semester 6. This gets us to 120 credits.
What excites you most about this program?
I am excited that we are able to offer a very flexible and accessible program for our teacher candidates. We’ve worked hard to make our program accessible to any student in Wisconsin and across the nation.
Is this program only for Wisconsin residents?
While our program leads to a Wisconsin teaching license in Elementary Education, potential candidates shouldn’t let that hold them back if they live outside the state. It is a very common practice to transfer licensure into other states. I am also excited for CUW to serve a population of students that may not have had access to a CUW education if this program didn’t exist.
The 3-year nature of our program also moves a candidate towards licensure in an efficient manner. We need more teachers in the field.
Knowing that our amazing faculty will be raising up more quality teachers for supporting our children in K-9 schools brings me so much joy. God is good and we know He will work through this program to serve our students as they serve Christ in the church and the world.
Who is the ideal candidate for this program?
The ideal candidate for this program is someone who loves kids and wants to train up the future generation of learners for the Kingdom of God. Our program will serve any population of potential teacher well. We anticipate having students that are coming right out of high school and those with lots of life experience. This program will also draw people who have served as paraprofessionals/teacher’s aide in K-12 schools.
Do you want to know more?
Does learning about the Accelerated Bachelor’s in Elementary Education excite you? You can book a call with one of our Inquiry Support Specialists. They’re equipped to answer your questions and connect you to the information you need. This could be the right path for you as you realize your dream of becoming a teacher.
— Vanessa Lane is the Content Marketing Lead at Concordia University and can be reached at vanessa.lane@cuaa.edu. When she's not at work, she can be found playing with her kids or watching NBA basketball with her husband.
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