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UF Online, College of Education Launch New Elementary Education Degree Program to Help Address Florida’s Teacher Shortage
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Florida is proud to launch a new online Bachelor of Arts in Education in Elementary Education program developed by the College of Education to prepare Floridians to become teachers through a hands-on curriculum delivered via UF Online. Made possible by a state grant, this innovative program aims to address Florida’s workforce needs by making high-quality teacher preparation accessible across the state.
We have an extreme teacher shortage in Florida, and as a land-grant institution, I believe we are responsible for supporting solutions. This online program will accommodate students around the state of Florida, expanding UF’s reach beyond our campus-based program
– Alyson Adams, Director of the School of Teaching and Learning at the College of Education
“The Elementary Education program will make meaningful impacts to teacher education in the state of Florida, and UF Online is truly excited to offer this degree in partnership with the College of Education,” said Rhiannon Pollard, interim director of UF Online.
The new Elementary Education program prioritizes mentorship and hands-on classroom experience, ensuring students receive real-world training under the guidance of experienced educators. Adams and her colleagues developed the program specifically for Florida residents who can be consistently involved in elementary school classrooms throughout their studies.
With a grant from the Florida Department of Education’s Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant Grow Your Own Teacher Apprentice Program, Adams and her colleagues created four new courses and reimagined the program for online delivery, basing their work on best practices researched and developed at UF. Coursework is structured around real-world learning experiences, allowing students to increase their responsibilities as they gain skills. Students will engage in lesson planning, guided discussions with mentor teachers, and gradually transition to more independent teaching experiences.
“Our program at UF is focused on learning by doing, and learning alongside a master teacher so that content learned in their courses is immediately useful in the classroom,” said Adams.
Following the successful launch of the online Early Childhood Education program last year, the Elementary Education program offers an additional pathway for aspiring educators. While the Early Childhood Education program focuses on certification from ages 3 to third grade, the new program leads to certification for kindergarten through sixth grade and emphasizes curriculum and instruction in various content areas. Students who complete the program are eligible professional teaching certification in Elementary Education and endorsements in Reading and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).
Our goal is to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to become highly qualified teachers who can effectively address Florida’s teacher shortage and promote quality learning in elementary schools.
– Alyson Adams, Director of the School of Teaching and Learning at the College of Education
The new Elementary Education program will admit students each fall, with the inaugural cohort set to begin in Fall 2025. The Fall application deadline is Monday, April 28. In addition to the new Bachelor of Arts in Education in Elementary Education and the Early Childhood Education degree, the College of Education offers a B.A. in Education Sciences through UF Online. Students can further enrich their studies with online minors in Disabilities in Society, Early Childhood Studies, and Educational Technology.
For more information about UF Online’s new Elementary Education major, visit ufonline.ufl.edu/degrees/undergraduate/elementary-education/