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Elementary Education K-6 License

License

With an Elementary Education K-6 License, you'll prepare to lead your own classroom and earn your teaching license—without completing a full master’s degree.

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At a glance

Delivery

Online

Finish in as few as

24 months

Estimated tuition

$25,564

Learn more about the cost of attendance.

Discover what’s next. In Bethel’s Elementary Education K-6 license-only program, you’ll meet the requirements to seek initial Minnesota teacher licensure and gain the confidence to lead your own classroom. Designed for adults who already hold a bachelor’s degree, this flexible program blends online coursework with multiple field experiences and student teaching. You’ll learn from experienced faculty, collaborate with a mentor teacher, and apply what you’re learning in real time—so you’re ready to make a lasting impact on students, families, and communities. If you want to earn a full master’s degree in addition to your teaching license, Bethel also offers an M.A. in Elementary Education K-6 program with extended coursework.

Program details

This license-only program is designed for adults with a bachelor’s degree who want to earn their initial Minnesota teaching license—without pursuing a full graduate degree. You’ll complete evidence-based online courses that integrate learning with real-world experience. Integrated seminar intensives throughout the program give you opportunities to reflect, build skills, and grow alongside your peers and faculty.

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Program highlights

Real classroom experience


The Elementary Education K-6 License option is designed for adults working in school settings. You’ll apply what you’re learning directly in elementary classrooms as part of your daily work. Some students participate in Bethel’s yearlong residency program, teaching alongside a mentor teacher. Bethel’s residency model is uniquely approved by the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, providing a strong foundation for licensure.

Learning you can apply right away


Your coursework aligns directly with what’s happening in the classroom. You’ll plan lessons, support students, and apply new strategies in real time—with feedback from both faculty and your mentor teacher.

Teacher resilience and well-being


Through Bethel’s Charting Hope series, you’ll explore twelve practical habits that strengthen teacher resilience, well-being, and long-term success in the profession. Grounded in research on hope theory and enriched by faith-informed practices, this distinctive element helps you flourish as an educator and leader.

Integrated residency seminars


Three required seminar intensives—in the first, fourth, and fifth semesters—bring together residents, mentor teachers, and Bethel faculty for reflection, feedback, and hands-on learning. Topics include classroom management, trauma-informed practices, and professional dispositions.

Faith-informed preparation


Your coursework and residency experiences are guided by a Christian perspective that values compassion, integrity, and service. You’ll explore how your beliefs and values shape the way you teach, lead, and serve, grounding your work in purpose that lasts.

License-ready structure


This program meets the requirements to seek an initial Tier 3 Minnesota elementary education K-6 teaching license. You’ll graduate prepared to step into your own K-6 classroom with the skills, experience, and confidence of a well-trained educator.

Grow Your Own funding support


Some partner schools offer external scholarships or Grow Your Own funding to support students while they complete the program. These funds come directly from participating school districts and can help reduce the cost of your education while you work in your local school community.

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Upcoming Events

JUNE 18 2026

Camp Hope 2026

Lissner Hall

Camp Hope is a 3-day retreat designed to provide emotional and spiritual restoration for P-12 educators- come join us!

JUNE 19 2026

Camp Hope 2026

Lissner Hall

Camp Hope is a 3-day retreat designed to provide emotional and spiritual restoration for P-12 educators- come join us!

JUNE 20 2026

Camp Hope 2026

Lissner Hall

Camp Hope is a 3-day retreat designed to provide emotional and spiritual restoration for P-12 educators- come join us!

Grow as a resilient, hope-filled teacher and leader

A smiling college student talks with a peer in a classroom setting, both working on laptops during a collaborative learning session.

Bethel’s Elementary Education K-6 License helps you grow into a teacher who leads with purpose, compassion, and resilience. You’ll explore how your beliefs, values, and sense of calling can sustain you in a challenging yet deeply rewarding profession. Through Bethel’s program, every semester will provide you with hands-on opportunities to apply what you learn in real time. You’ll also develop practices of well-being and hope that strengthen both your teaching and your faith—equipping you to create classrooms grounded in care, curiosity, and confidence.

Students have won a national composition prize and a statewide vocal competition.

14

goals scored by Jordan Ross, the most by a Bethel player in a single season since 1999

Career Outcomes

Outcomes

Our Elementary Education K-6 License program prepares non-traditional students to achieve initial licensure and gain the skills needed to be a confident teacher prepared to serve students, families, and communities.

Careers

Wondering what you can do with an M.A. in Elementary Education K-16? You'll be equipped with skills that apply to growing careers, including:

  • Licensed K-6 classroom teacher
  • Children’s ministry leader
  • Community education instructor
  • Youth and family program coordinator (YMCA, nonprofits, and more)

Skills

This program prepares you to grow as a teacher—and a leader—through an integrated curriculum and a full-year residency. You’ll be ready to:

  • Teach with confidence. Build strong foundations in academic content and instructional best practices.
  • Reflect and improve. Use assessment and reflection to continuously grow your impact.
  • Lead effectively. Plan and deliver standards-based instruction and manage your classroom with clarity and care.
  • Stay resilient. Practice proven strategies to support your well-being and long-term success as an educator.
  • Model compassion. Serve with integrity, guided by a Christian perspective that values each student.
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