About The Program
Complete your undergraduate degree in only 120 credit hours!
As an elementary education major at Northern, you’ll learn to create lessons that actively involve your students, and how to best address a wide variety of learning styles.
You’ll be encouraged to enhance your employability by earning endorsements in birth through preschool education, kindergarten education, middle level education, and coaching.
Northern also offers the following minors to enhance the value of your degree:
- E-Learning
- English as a new language
- Coaching
- Reading
- Early childhood
- Special education
- Music minor for education
- Physical education
In our elementary education program, you'll receive a free iPad in your sophomore or junior year, and learn to use it and other technology tools effectively as a teacher. Through a partnership with the Aberdeen School District, several of your elementary education classes will take place at the new Mike Miller Elementary school, where each student has access to an iPad. To further enhance your educational technology skills, the Creation Lab at Northern's Williams Library offers open access to a 3D printer, 3Doodler Pen, Chromebooks, SMARTboard and AppleTV.
Our partnership with local schools and the community extends beyond the classroom, with recognized student organizations focusing on education, and extracurricular activities involving K-12 students.
You’ll also have the unique opportunity to provide reading and writing instruction to K-8 students through the NSU Reading Clinic.
Northern’s B.S. in elementary education program prepares you to make an impact in the teaching field. Graduates can pursue careers as elementary teachers or paraprofessionals, or apply to graduate school.
NSU offers academic advising throughout your college experience, as well as focused career planning. For more information on careers in your major or help choosing a major, contact Career Services.
Students gain valuable hands-on experience during their sophomore field experience and two residencies. NSU’s extensive field experiences, under the supervision of our caring university faculty, prepare you to make an impact in the lives of elementary students.
Due to the generosity of Millicent Atkins, who earned a teaching degree from Northern State in 1940 and believed in the true impact of educating children, we are able to offer every incoming Elementary Education major an annual scholarship.
Scholarship awards start at $500 a year and are provided annually for up to four years. Please contact admissions@northern.edu to find out your scholarship level.
Additional School of Education scholarships are available to incoming freshmen and upperclassmen. For details, call the School of Education at 605-626-2415.
For more information about this degree, contact Justin Bartel or call 605-626-2429. Or, contact NSU Admissions at 605-626-2544 or admissions@northern.edu.
Our Faculty
I have been working as an advisor at Northern since 2015. First, I served as a JumpStart Advisor to support American Indian and low-income students throughout their college career. From 2016 to 2020, I served as a professional advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences – working mainly with students in history and social sciences and students in secondary education programs. In 2020, I moved to the Millicent Atkins School of Education, where I advise all students in teacher education programs. I earned my bachelor of science degree in geography and geographic information sciences and my master of science degree in school counseling from South Dakota State University.
Ed. D., M.Ed., University of Nevada, Las Vegas
B.S., Valley City State University
Dr. Timothy Houge has been an NSU faculty member since 2000 and is director of the NSU Reading Clinic. He has Ed.D. and M.Ed. degrees in instructional and curricular studies from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a bachelor's degree in elementary education with a reading minor from Valley City State University, Valley City, N.D.
Ph.D. Curriculum & Instruction (Mathematics Education), Montana State University, 2022
M.S.Ed. Educational Studies, Northern State University, 2018
B.S.Ed. Secondary Mathematics Education, Northern State University, 2016
Dr. Monte Meyerink joined NSU’s faculty in 2022 as a specialist in mathematics education. He earned a Ph.D. from Montana State University and master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Northern State University. Dr. Meyerink’s general research interests revolve around the preparation of teachers of mathematics. His primary research interest is preservice teachers’ ability to use technological resources to enhance K-12 students’ understanding of mathematics concepts.
Courses Taught
ELED 330 K-8 Math Methods
EDER 761 Graduate Research & Design
EDFN 102 Introduction to Education
…
Dr. Anna Schwan joined Northern’s faculty in 2018 after 16 years in public K-12 education, serving as a high school teacher and secondary school administrator. She currently serves as interim dean of the Millicent Atkins School of Education. Previously, she was department chair of Teacher Education and graduate faculty coordinator of the Educational Studies and Leadership and Administration programs.
Research…
University of South Dakota, Ed.D. Special Education Administration, 2021
Black Hills State University, Endorsement, Early Childhood Special Education, 2013
Southwest Minnesota State University, M.S., Emotional & Behavioral Disorders, 2009
Northern State University, B.S., K-12 Special Education, 2006
Dr. Jessica Vogel joined the NSU School of Education faculty in 2016 after being a special educator for more than 10 years. She has experience as an EBD teacher, self-contained special education teacher, and early childhood teacher. Her undergraduate degree in special education is from Northern State University. Dr. Vogel serves on various committees on campus and community boards.
Dr. Vogel also serves as the graduate coordinator for the MSEd in Teaching and Learning…
Ph.D. Learning, Literacies, and Technologies, Arizona State University, 2021
M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction: Emphasis in English as a Second Language, Utah Valley University, 2010
B.S. Elementary Education, Brigham Young University, 2001
Dr. Wendy Wakefield joined the NSU School of Education faculty in 2021. She specializes in preparing NSU teacher candidates to implement science and engineering instruction and to integrate assessment in meaningful, engaging, and inclusive ways in their future classrooms. She also focuses on designing teacher education and professional development opportunities that foster agency, identity, and success across teachers’ careers.
Dr. Wakefield was an elementary school classroom teacher for 14 years. She then spent two years working with student teachers, interns, and new teachers at an elementary school…
