The Queens College undergraduate program in Elementary Education prepares students for the New York State Initial Certificate in Childhood Education, 1-6. The program can only be taken as a co-major; students must also complete a co-major in one of the liberal arts and science programs. 

Before being formally admitted to the program, students who are interested in teacher education take courses in topics such as child development, schooling in diverse communities, literacy, math, and music. Following these introductory courses, students apply for admission. 

Upon acceptance, students complete 3 semesters of intensive work. In the first semester, students take the first 2 courses in the professional sequence along with their remaining co-major courses. The next semester, students take upper level curricular courses as well as a practicum in which students work in a local school over a period of several weeks. In the final semester, students complete a six-credit practicum in student teaching accompanied by a senior seminar that links theory and practice.