Master's in Elementary Education | GSEHD

Student Success Begins With Yours at GW

As teaching and learning practices constantly evolve to better cater to students' needs, our program provides an innovative experience to prepare you to adapt and to become an effective teacher and leader in your field.

The one- or two-year intensive master's program, accredited by CAEP, results in eligibility for licensure in teaching elementary school (grades 1-6).

The program's conceptual framework consists of an integrated set of three themes, detailed below, that are reflected in all aspects of program coursework and related clinical experiences.

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Knowledge

Good teachers know the subject matter they teach; exceptional teachers understand the process of its construction and its impact in life. This extended comprehension establishes a base for meaningful classroom instruction to help students understand their own thought processes and how the lesson applies to their daily lives. Understanding these principles of knowledge allows teachers to help students effectively think, communicate and participate in the real world.

Individuality

Based on their rich array of experiential and cultural backgrounds, students bring a diverse set of personal, social, and academic expectations to the classroom. Effective teachers are attentive to students as individuals and are sensitive to the broader cultural context that gives shape to diversity. This awareness helps design meaningful programs of study that maximize the development of each student’s potential.

Social Responsibility

Teaching is a socially significant profession that requires a wider moral vision extending beyond the narrowness of personal gain and intellectual development. The education of today’s youth is connected to many crucial issues confronting the larger social order. Good teachers recognize, reflect, and actively explore these important connections that link school and society, classroom and community.

What better place to examine education history, reform, and methods than in the policymaking capital of our nation? Benefit from our unique location and connections to government agencies and leading educational organizations. Plus, you'll receive a wealth of hands-on experiential learning and career opportunities at nearby urban and suburban public, charter and private schools.

Program at a Glance

Master of Education (M.Ed.) in the Field of Elementary Education
(Licensure Eligible)

Curriculum and Pedagogy

Foggy Bottom Campus

Summer (Full-Time: 1-Year Cohort)

Fall (Part-Time: First Year Only, 2-Year Cohort)

Our Mission

The mission of the program, grounded in GSEHD's bridging concepts — Research and Scholarship, Reflective Practice, Community Service, and Educational Leadership, is to prepare teachers who are:

Knowledgeable in the research and scholarship of curriculum and methods of instruction.
Reflective practitioners in the integration of theory and practice.
Actively dedicated to teaching and learning in a pluralistic democracy.
Eager to contribute to the national conversation about the reform of American schools and society.

Curriculum Requirements

The following requirements must be fulfilled: 33 credits in required courses, successful completion of a master's comprehensive examination, and completion of the relevant teacher licensure assessments (see below).

Code	Title
Required:
Foundations
CPED 6604	Perspectives in American Education
CPED 6606	Theories of Learning and Development
CPED 6608	Development and Diversity
SPED 6290	Affective Development and Behavior Management for Teaching Students with Disabilities
Methodology
CPED 6410	Reading Children’s Literature across the Curriculum
CPED 6412	Elementary School Curriculum and Methods (Math)
CPED 6412	Elementary School Curriculum and Methods (Science)
CPED 6412	Elementary School Curriculum and Methods (Language Arts)
CPED 6412	Elementary School Curriculum and Methods (Social Studies)
CPED 6623	Foundations of Reading Development
EDUC 6114	Introduction to Quantitative Research
Internship
CPED 6635*	Professional Internship in Elementary Education (taken for 6 credits)
Successful completion of comprehensive examination
Completion of the relevant teacher licensure assessments (i.e., PRAXIS) required by the District of Columbia Educator Licensure Services Office

Download Program Plans for the 1- and 2-year options (2025-2027) >

*The M.Ed. in Elementary Education can be completed as a one-year program or a two-year program. CPED 6635 Professional Internship in Elementary Education is required for both the one-year and two-year programs and is taken for a total of 6 credits over two semesters.

Students who chose the one-year program start in the summer semester and register full-time throughout the program. Students pursuing the one-year program take CPED 6635 for 3 credits in their second semester of the program with an internship commitment of 25 hours per week; CPED 6635 is taken for an additional 3 credits in the third semester with an internship commitment of 35 hours per week.
Students who chose the two-year program start in the fall semester and take CPED 6635 for 3 credits in the fourth semester of the program with an internship commitment of 25 hours per week; CPED 6635 is taken for an additional 3 credits in the fifth semester with an internship commitment of 35 hours per week for students in the two-year program.

Licensure

Licensure Eligible: A one-year or two-year, intensive 33 credit program, the Elementary Education model leads to eligibility for licensure in grades 1-6. The program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) which includes state-approval under the District of Columbia -- Office of State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) a partnership state with CAEP.

Requirements:

Candidates for admission must have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a major other than Education or Elementary Education.
Other preparation is required for elementary licensure requirements:
- A minimum of two college-level courses in each of the following areas: English composition, Science (one course with laboratory experience), Literature, History (one course must be in U.S. History, Mathematics, Social Science (one course must be in Geography)
- A minimum of one college-level course in the foundations of each of the following areas: Art, Music, Health, Physical Education

Internship Opportunities

Course work strengthens the program's clinical practice in partner elementary schools in the Washington DC, Virginia and Maryland districts.
The number of our area partner schools continues to grow along with an increasing number of program graduates who teach in these schools. These long-standing partner schools continue to be actively involved in the program’s semester-long internships for our teacher candidates and have consistently hired our program graduates to teach in their schools.

Partnership Schools

Alexandria City
James Polk*
Samuel Tucker*

Arlington County
Arlington Science Focus School
Glebe
Long Branch
Tuckahoe

District of Columbia Public Schools
Eaton NW
Hyde-Addison NW
Janney NW
Key NW
Lafayette NW
Langley NE
Watkins SE

District of Columbia Public Charter Schools
DC Bilingual Public Charter NE
Washington Yu Ying Public Charter NE

Fairfax County
Great Falls
Spring Hill

Falls Church City
Oak Street

Montgomery County
Somerset*

Independent Schools
Concord Hill School (Montgomery County)
Georgetown Day School (DC)
Norwood School (Montgomery County)
Our Savior Lutheran School (Arlington County)
Washington International School (DC)

*Past Partnership Schools

Program Outcomes

Coursework is in educational foundations, elementary school curriculum and methodology, and a series of integrated field experiences at different grade levels in public schools. Key features of the program include:
- Coursework in the cultural, historical, and social/psychological foundations of education
- Opportunities to design, produce, and evaluate research
- Multiple experiences with master teachers in elementary schools, including multiculturally diverse and/or inclusive classroom settings
- Practice and feedback in using a variety of instructional strategies, including direct instruction, team teaching, inquiry-based instruction, cooperative learning, and problem solving
- Field placements in a variety of select inner-city, urban, urban-fringe, and suburban schools designed to provide a graduated, incremental introduction to teaching

Apply Now

GSEHD’s Office of Admissions invites you to apply for a spot in our program. Please review the following admission and financial information.

Ready to take the next step in your career? Review our step-by-step guide to applying to GSEHD >

To learn more about the program, admission process, and upcoming events, please connect with the GSEHD Admissions Team at teachinfogwu [dot] edu (teachinfo[at]gwu[dot]edu) or 202-994-9283.

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Schedule Consultation with Admissions Coach

To be considered for admission, applicants must submit the online application form as well as the following required supporting documents. There is no application fee.

Prerequisite: Bachelor's Degree (To be eligible for licensure, candidates must have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a major other than Education or Elementary Education.)
Resume
Transcripts from all previously attended colleges or universities
Statement of Purpose
One Letter of Recommendation

*Additional application requirements may exist for international applicants.

View more details about requirements

Applications are now being accepted for Fall 2025. We encourage you to apply as early as possible.

Application Timeline	Summer	Fall
Priority Deadline	Nov 1	Nov 1
Round 1 Deadline	Dec 15	Dec 15
Round 2 Deadline	Jan 15	Jan 15
Round 3 Deadline	March 1	March 1
Round 4 Deadline	May 1	May 1
Round 5 Deadline	N/A	June 15
Round 6 Deadline	N/A	Aug 1

For more information or to inquire about the next admissions cycle, contact the GSEHD Admissions Team at teachinfogwu [dot] edu (teachinfo[at]gwu[dot]edu) or 202-994-9283.

We know embarking upon graduate school is a big decision - due in part to the costs of attending. At GW, we understand the time and thought behind making graduate school work for you. Please take a moment to learn more about the options and opportunities available to help fund your graduate education.

Students have been offered an average of 25-50% tuition support upon committing to the Elementary Education program. In 2022, merit fellowships of 50% of the total program tuition were awarded to new students.

In addition to dedicated program awards, two endowments are available annually to Elementary Education students -- the Beck Endowment and the John Horrworth Children's Book Award. Learn more about these awards from past recipients >

Learn more about scholarships, grants & financial aid

Graduate tuition is charged per credit hour, unless otherwise noted. Rates vary by program and location.

The tuition rate* for the Master's in Elementary Education program is $1,960 per credit hour.

This program requires 33 credits.

Please note: Additional fees may apply for international students, late fees, etc. Current tuition rates may be updated during the year.

*Summer 2025, Fall 2025 and Spring 2026

View the current fee chart

Scholarships are available to eligible admitted students. Review eligibility requirements and learn more about funding your education >

My time in this program has offered me so many opportunities and experiences for which I will be forever grateful. Thank you to the program faculty for teaching me to be the best teacher I can be and for supporting me through this program and my teaching endeavors. I know that I would not be the teacher, or person, that I am today without this program, the amazing faculty, and my incredible classmates. The level of dedication and hard work that it takes to dive into this profession is daunting, and this program made it feel much more possible than I could have imagined. I cannot wait to begin my career as a teacher.

ELLA FLUDZINSKI
(M.Ed. '22, Elementary Education)

Career Outlook

In the last 5 years, 100% of Elementary Education program participants have been employed following graduation. Our Elementary Education graduates are teaching throughout the Washington, DC metropolitan area and the country.

Elementary Education Career Opportunities

educational admin high fives a student across their desk

In addition to teachers, graduates of this program have become:

Teacher Mentors
Cooperating Teachers
Gifted Resource Teachers
Advanced Academic Program Teachers
Reading Specialists
Early Childhood Specialists
School Based Technology Specialists
Instructional, Literacy or Mathematics Coaches

I have been in the Master's in Elementary Education for a year now, and I can genuinely say that I look forward to every class that I attend. The professors are engaging and want all students to succeed. I knew I wanted to enroll in GSEHD at GW because of the professors, smaller cohorts, and the internship program where graduate students can work at partner schools in the area.

VIRGINIA MEAD (Current Student)