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Program at a Glance

Program
Online Master's
College(s)
College of Community Innovation and Education
36
Credit Hours
US News World Report Most Innovative University

Get Your Master’s in Elementary Education Online

Built for those passionate about working with children and ready to make a lasting impact in a K-6 classroom, UCF Online’s Master of Arts in Elementary Education is a clear pathway to professional teacher certification.

Designed for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree in a field other than education, this fully online program prepares aspiring and early-career educators to become effective elementary classroom teachers.

Graduates of the program earn a degree that leads to Florida K-6 Teacher Certification with ESOL and Reading Endorsements. Graduates may apply for certification reciprocity in their state or country.

Why UCF Online?

Our fully online Master of Arts in Elementary Education program is flexible for working educators. All courses are offered in an independent web-based format, with some courses delivered in a mixed virtual live format with alternate week Zoom sessions.

Built for real classrooms, our program emphasizes:

  • Foundational skills and subject-area content
  • Instructional strategies for teaching effectiveness
  • Differentiated instruction for student success
  • Teaching methodologies and best practices in K-6 settings

Students develop the knowledge and instructional skills needed to support learners across a variety of academic settings and prepare for professional certification.

Two teachers in a classroom

Highlights

Certification icon
Satisfies all criteria for Florida Professional Teaching Certification
Pay Icon
Completion of program qualifies for differential pay increase incentives in participating districts.
Transfer icon
Allows for all 15 credit hours earned in Initial Teacher Preparation Program (ITPP) graduate certificate program to be transferred towards completion of degree.

Application Deadlines

Spring
November 1
Summer
April 1
Fall
July 1

Ready to get started?

Course Overview

The Online Master of Arts in Elementary Education consists of 36 credit hours, including 65 hours of field experience and a full-time, one-semester internship totaling 6 credit hours. Students may complete their internship through a traditional classroom placement or in an On the Job Teacher of Record format.

Additionally, students completing UCF’s Initial Teacher Preparation Program may transfer up to 15 credit hours, subject to university transfer limits.

Applied Linguistics in ESOL

Examine foundational principles of language acquisition and applied linguistics in ESOL to support effective instruction for diverse learners in K-6.

Develop the ability to assess reading proficiencies and implement instructional strategies that support literacy development and differentiated instruction for student success.

Analyze social, ethical, legal, and safety issues in education while exploring pedagogical theory and its implementation into teaching practices in K-6.

Skills You'll Learn

  • Analyze the foundations and professional practices of education
  • Integrate learning theory into effective classroom instruction
  • Apply inquiry-based methods to support student engagement
  • Use experiential approaches to enhance K-6 learning outcomes
  • Develop research-informed instructional strategies
  • Plan and deliver differentiated instruction that supports varied learners
  • Address diverse academic needs across K-6 educational settings

Career Projections

61,149

Annual Job
Openings

2.6%

Job Growth
Between
2026 - 2036

$67.8K/yr

U.S. Median Earnings as of 2026

Source: Lightcast™ . 2026

Career Opportunities

  • Curriculum Designer
  • K-6 Elementary Classroom Teacher
  • K-6 Literacy or Reading Coach
  • Virtual/Blended Learning Educator
  • instructional coordinator