Accelerated Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education

Entrance requirements

• Provide an official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions you attended
• If your undergraduate GPA is less than 3.0, an essay is required
• If you have less than 60 transferable undergraduate credits, an official high school transcript or proof of GED must also be submitted
  • If your high school GPA is less than 3.0, an essay is required

Admissions process

Complete an online application here: www.cuw.edu/apply (select the "Online Undergraduate" option).

When your application is complete, the file is forwarded to the Admission Committee for review.

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After acceptance

• An official acceptance letter will be emailed to you that will include your Student ID (F00) number
• An email from your Admission Counselor will be sent to you with next-step details
• Password information will be sent separately from the Information Technology office which will provide you access to: Canvas, your Concordia email account, and the student portal
• Schedule to meet with your Academic & Career Advisor who will review your degree plan, discuss orientation steps, the student portal, and assist with registering for classes
• Check if you qualify and complete an Uncommon Scholarship application here

Please note: ACT and SAT scores are not required.

For additional information contact Admissions at admission@cuw.edu or 262-243-4300.

Online - All of the program courses are online. Practicums (in-classroom experience) and student teaching (leading a classroom as a student teacher) must be done in-person at a school.

Accelerated format - Students take three successive 8-week sessions within each semester. Students that want to complete the program in three years will need to take two courses at the same time during an 8-week session. This would be a total of six credits as each course is three credits. The first seven weeks of a course are content-heavy, and the eighth week is designed for you to complete your practicum, or as a low-volume week before the next courses kick off. 

Courses - Curriculum was developed in view of the traditional undergraduate program. Within coursework, there are highly-collaborative education courses. There are also non-education courses such as math, science, communications, English, etc. These courses are more self-paced.

Start dates - You have the opportunity to begin this program at the start of any 8-week session once you are accepted. Students begin with the Foundations of Education course.

Field experiences in schools - Semesters one through five have required field experiences. You will participate in a minimum of two, multi-week pre-student teaching experiences. Some teaching programs will require additional pre-student teaching experiences beyond the minimum. The final year of the program has more leadership classroom experience with the final semester being student teaching. 

A background check is required at the beginning of field experiences and also prior to student teaching. Students need to have a cooperating teacher in a regular school and the teacher needs a valid teaching license, at least 3 years experience, and been in their current building for a year. Concordia is happy to discuss practicum and field work with you.

License - This program leads to Wisconsin teaching licensure in K-9th grade. Applicants from out-of-state should check with their departments of education to see how courses translate to other states. Concordia will help you with a program course review.

Credit opportunities - Students may transfer up to 84 credits. Applicants may apply for life and work experience credit toward practicum coursework up to six credits.

LTD opportunity - Do you want to get your Lutheran Teacher Diploma? You can take an additional nine credits of theology and education courses to qualify.

Financial opportunity - Uncommon scholarships are available. The TEACH grant qualifies. This program is offered at the accelerated tuition rate.

Add on licenses - Once you complete our program, you are eligible to engage in opportunities for any of the add-on licenses listed below:

• Alternative Education License - 6 credits - DPI license #1952
• Cross-categorical Special Education License - 16 credits - DPI license #2801

Recorded in November 2024:

Archived webinars

April 2024

With only 18 credits, you can earn a Lutheran Teacher Diploma (LTD) with your bachelor's in education. This add-on option will give you the opportunity to serve within the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS). You need to be a confirmed member of the LCMS to earn this Lutheran Teacher Diploma.

With your LTD, you will become eligible to receive Calls as Commissioned Ministers of the Gospel, as our program's six courses are tailored to provide the necessary theological training. These courses are taught in collaboration with Concordia's Theology department:

• New Testament
• Old Testament
• Biblical Theology
• Lutheran Confessions
• Faith and Life Elective
• Teaching the Faith