MADISON, FL– North Florida College (NFC) is now accepting applications for its new Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education degree program, set to begin Spring 2027. The program comes as Florida school districts continue to face a shortage of qualified teachers, particularly in elementary education.
According to the Florida Department of Education, elementary education entered the 2026-27 school year with an estimated 1,591 teaching vacancies, the second-highest number among certification areas statewide. Elementary education represents nearly 25% of the 6,446 vacancies anticipated across Florida for the current school year.
For NFC, those numbers point to a need the College can help address. The new degree allows students to prepare for teaching careers while staying close to home. It also offers area school districts another source of future teachers who are familiar with the communities they serve.
"Our school districts need teachers, and we have students right here in North Florida who want to teach," said David Dunkle, NFC Vice President of Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer. "This degree gives them another option. Students can earn their degree close to home, with the flexibility of online classes and the opportunity to work directly with teachers and students in the classroom."
NFC's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education is designed to prepare students to teach kindergarten through sixth grade. Students who have completed an associate degree will take 60 credit hours of upper-division coursework, with most classes offered online.
The curriculum covers reading, mathematics, science, social studies, child development, classroom management, exceptional student education, and educational technology. The program also covers reading competencies and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), with an emphasis on classroom instruction.
Most classes will be offered online, with required field experience in elementary school classrooms. The program requires pre-internship hours in the first three semesters, followed by the 12-week minimum final internship. Some in-person workshops, seminars and orientations may also be required.
“We want our students to leave this program feeling confident and ready to walk into their own classrooms,” Dr. Baye Ballew, Elementary Education Program Instructor at North Florida College. “Teaching is something you learn by doing, so we’ve built in opportunities for students to work alongside experienced teachers while earning their degrees. There is a real need for elementary teachers in our area, and I’m excited that we can help prepare the next generation right here at NFC.”
The program will serve students throughout NFC's six-county district, which includes Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee and Taylor counties. NFC hopes the degree will encourage more area residents to consider teaching and provide an additional way for local school districts to recruit qualified educators.
Graduates will be prepared to pursue Florida Professional Teacher Certification. Teacher certification is subject to state requirements.
Applications for Spring 2027 are open. Applicants must have an associate in arts degree, a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 and a grade of C or higher in EDF 2005, Introduction to the Teaching Profession. Additional admission requirements, including eligibility for background screening, apply.
"Strong schools are essential to strong communities," said Dr. Jennifer Page, President of North Florida College. "By creating a local pathway to teacher certification, we are investing in the future of our children, our school districts and our region. This program will help develop highly skilled educators who are prepared to make an immediate impact in North Florida classrooms."
For more information about the Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education program or how to apply, visit NFC.edu or contact Dr. Baye Ballew, NFC Instructor of the B.S. in Elementary Education, at 850-973-1645 or ballewe@nfc.edu.
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