Elementary & Early Education Online

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Wilkes University is proud to offer one of the only fully online pathways designed for working adults who have completed 55 credits or an associate degree to earn an Elementary and Early Childhood Education bachelor of arts completion degree with certification in Pennsylvania.

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Flexible & Affordable Elementary & Early Childhood Program

Would you like to continue your college education and attain a bachelor’s degree but your schedule doesn’t allow for attending traditional daytime classes? The 100% online Elementary and Early Childhood Education completion program at Wilkes University is designed specifically for you! Our program offers all of the advantages of a traditional degree with educational certification and the flexibility of completing your coursework online.

Graduates of our program are prepared to pursue careers in school districts or early childhood settings and learn essential skills in classroom management, child development and meeting the unique needs of diverse learners.

Scholarship & Grant Support

You may be eligible for a scholarship or additional financial support that covers nearly all tuition costs and applicable university fees, plus paid time off to complete field experiences. The T.E.A.C.H. scholarship and additional funding allows students to complete their early childhood education degree while working full time.

Learn about Scholarship & Grant Opportunities

What Our Students Say

“I took a break from school and during that time I found a full time job that I love. I struggled to find a program that would allow me to work and go to school at the same time so I could advance my career. I am so thankful for Wilkes University’s online pathway program for allowing me to continue to pursue my dream of becoming a teacher!”
-Chelsea H.

"This program has definitely allowed me to further my education. When you work full time, going to classes during the day is simply not an option. If this program were not available, my choices would be to stop my professional growth or stop teaching in order to pursue professional growth. I am so thankful for this opportunity and highly encourage everyone I work with to take advantage of it!"
-Donna K.

Interested in this program?

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Scholarship & Grant Opportunities

If you have any questions about the below opportunities, please contact:

Associate Professor/Chair
Undergraduate Education

charles.smargiassi@wilkes.edu email link

T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship

Wilkes University has partnered with the Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA) external website, administrator of the state-funded grant known as the T.E.A.C.H. (Teacher Education And Compensation Helps) Early Childhood Pennsylvania Scholarship external website.

This program offers financial assistance to early childcare professionals, teachers, and assistant teachers working in Keystone STARS external website facilities who have completed at least 55 credits in an accredited Early Childhood Education or equivalent teacher preparation program.

T.E.A.C.H. covers:

Partial tuition
Applicable university fees
Paid release time for course completion (if applicable)

To apply for T.E.A.C.H.:

Grow PA Scholarship Grant Program

This program helps in-state students pay for school and builds the workforce in PA for in-demand occupations. The Grow PA Grant Program external website provides grants (maximum award $5,000 per year) to students who meet the qualifying criteria. A student can receive a Grow PA Grant for a maximum of 4 academic years. After graduation, you must commit to live and work in Pennsylvania, within an in-demand occupation (.pdf) for a number of years equal to the number of years in which you received the grant. That means your total years of Grow PA Grant funding must equal your total years of qualifying employment in the state—up to 4 years.

PA Student Teacher Support Program

This program provides financial support to students enrolled in a PA Department of Education approved teacher preparation program and who are completing their student teaching requirements. The PA Student Teacher Support Program external website is designed to address the financial strain caused by student teaching requirements, incentivize completion at Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and non-public schools that struggle to attract educators, and to reduce teacher shortages in Pennsylvania. Student teachers who meet the program requirements receive up to $10,000. After graduation, you must commit to work in Pennsylvania as a teacher at an LEA or non-public school for 3 years.

Job Outlook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of preschool and elementary teachers will grow seven percent over the next 10 years due to a continued focus on the importance of early childhood education. The number of students enrolling in prekindergarten and elementary schools is expected to increase over the coming decade, as will the number of teachers and classes needed to accommodate them. Median pay in the United States for early childhood and elementary education teachers is $55,490 per year.

2 Year Articulation Agreements

The following institutions have 2 Year Articulation Agreements:

Harrisburg Area Community College
Lackawanna College
Lehigh Carbon Community College
Luzerne County Community College
Montgomery County Community College
Northampton Community College

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