North Florida College Launches Elementary Education Degree
The new Bachelor of Science program begins in Spring 2027 and is mostly online, aimed at teacher shortages across the state.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Primary Education
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North Florida College has launched a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, mostly delivered online and preparing students to teach kindergarten through sixth grade. The program begins in Spring 2027, and the NFC Foundation is offering a $500 scholarship to the first 20 eligible students who enroll.
Why it matters
Elementary education entered the 2026-27 school year with an estimated 1,591 vacancies, and the college hopes a local pathway into teaching will encourage residents of its six-county district to enter the profession.
The program requires 60 credit hours of upper-division coursework and a final internship of at least 12 weeks, with a 2.5 minimum cumulative GPA for applicants. Elementary education accounts for nearly 25% of the 6,446 anticipated teaching vacancies across Florida this school year.
The players
North Florida College
A public college in Madison County, Florida, serving a six-county district and now offering a bachelor's degree in elementary education.
NFC Foundation
The fundraising arm of North Florida College, which is funding the $500 scholarship for the first 20 eligible enrollees.
The details
Students who hold an associate degree complete most of the coursework online and spend time in elementary classrooms during pre-internship field experience in the first three semesters and a final internship. Graduates will be prepared to pursue Florida Professional Teacher Certification, subject to state certification requirements.
Timeline
Applications for the new degree opened on November 10, 2026.
The program begins in Spring 2027.
The 2026-27 school year started with an estimated 1,591 elementary education vacancies.
Teacher Pipeline
The program responds directly to Florida's 2026-27 projections of 6,446 teaching vacancies, of which elementary education accounts for nearly 25%. It adds a local, mostly online pathway for residents of North Florida to fill that gap.
Prospective students who have completed an associate degree can apply to the online program, which requires 60 upper-division credit hours and a 2.5 minimum GPA. Students should plan for field experience in elementary classrooms during the first three semesters and a final internship of at least 12 weeks.
The takeaway
Residents of Florida interested in teaching can consider the new online pathway, especially if they already hold an associate degree and want to teach kindergarten through sixth grade. Checking state certification requirements early will help plan the path to a classroom.
What happens next
The program begins in Spring 2027, when the first cohort of students and the $500 scholarship recipients are expected to start.
Further reading
Explore more on Primary Education in Florida for context on how teacher preparation is evolving across the state.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WTXL ABC 27 Tallahassee News.
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