208.467.8753
educationinfo@nnu.edu
ELEMENTARY OR SECONDARY EDUCATION
- Start dates are flexible with new classes beginning every eight weeks
- Fully accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
- Transfer your AA into NNU’s accelerated or traditional on-campus Bachelor Degree programs
About Elementary or Secondary Education
Through NNU Online, you now have the opportunity to earn your two-year associate’s degree in Elementary or Secondary Education completely online. If you are interested in becoming a teacher, obtaining your AA degree can be a first step in completing the process. Many Idaho school districts recommend that their paraprofessionals have an AA degree.
All classes for the AA will be completed online in either an 8-week or 5-week format. Students entering the program with no existing credits can complete the degree in two years; students with existing credits may complete the program sooner. You must complete a minimum of 63 semester credits to meet the degree requirements, and 32 of those credits must be taken at NNU. Complete degree requirements and class descriptions can be found online in the NNU Catalog.
degree details
Associate of Arts
Offered Online
$425 per credit, $150 per semester technology fee
Additional Information
TRANSFERRING YOUR AA
After completing your AA in Elementary Education or Secondary Education through NNU Online, you can transfer into NNU’s accelerated or traditional on-campus Bachelor of Arts degree programs in education.
The Accelerated Certification in Education Program (ACE) offers a BA in Elementary Education, which meets the Idaho requirements for Teacher Certification in All Subjects ( in grades K-8) and includes one Middle School content (5-9) endorsement. This program is also fully online to accommodate the schedules of students with other responsibilities during the day. Through this program, you can complete your degree and earn your teaching certificate in as few as 16 months.
The traditional on-campus program offers several different areas of study, including Elementary Education and Secondary Education, which are not available online. Classes are taken on-campus during the day in a traditional college environment. The time required to complete your degree will depend on the program-specific requirements.
Notice to Out-of-State Students
Since this bachelor’s degree in elementary education leads to professional licensure, prospective students should review important information about NNU’s participation in the National Council of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) and Professional Licensure. Individual states often have different expectations for professional licensure, so it is in a prospective student’s best interest to investigate whether NNU’s degree program will help them achieve licensure in their home state.
CAEP Accredited Provider
Northwest Nazarene University’s College of Education meets the requirements for accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
Colleges of Distinction
Northwest Nazarene University received the 2023-2024 Colleges of Distinction Award in Education.
career paths
Metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area occupational employment and wage estimates for the Boise area are sourced from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Meet Our Faculty
Lori Sanchez, PH.D.
Dean, College of Education; Professor of Education
Holly Ripley, ED.S.
Associate Professor of Education; Undergraduate Chair
Heidi Curtis, PH.D.
Associate Professor of Graduate Education; Graduate Chair
Whitney Ward, ED.S.
Associate Professor of Education; Director of Clinical Practice
Robin Gilbert, ED.S.
Associate Professor of Education; Educational Leadership Program Director
Lisa Amundson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Education; Exceptional Child Program Director
Lauren Pastoor
Program Coordinator, Accelerated Certification in Education (ACE)
L. Michelle Rowley, MA
Assistant Professor of Education; Elementary Math and Science
Jennifer Hill, ED.D.
Associate Professor of Education, Secondary Education Coordinator
Jennifer Cornell, PH.D.
Associate Professor of Education; Director of Student Teaching
Jackie Schober, BA
Program Coordinator, Educational Leadership Programs
Related Programs & Degrees
Elementary Education (ACE)
Bachelor of Arts
Secondary Education
Bachelor of Arts
Music Education
Bachelor of Arts
