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Student ID:__________________________ Student Name:_______________________ Adviser Name:_______________________ Bulletin: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Bulletin Program: Elementary Education Major, B.A./ B.S. Minimum Credits Required:__________________

Elementary Education Major, B.A./ B.S.

Pott College of Science, Engineering and Education >> Teacher Education department 

The program in Elementary Education will successfully prepare candidates with concentration in both professional education and pedagogy and content area expertise. Building upon the general education provided in the Core 39, candidates will be given the opportunity to learn and demonstrate developmentally appropriate literacy practices; differentiated instructional practices with special attention to English as a New Language and exceptional needs; classroom and behavior management processes; data-based curriculum, instruction, and assessment strategies; and developmentally and culturally responsive practices that utilize a variety of instructional technologies. The candidate who desires to become an elementary school educator will complete the following program requirements resulting in a Bachelor of Science. (Note: A Bachelor of Arts degree is available but the number of credits may exceed 120 hours.)

Teaching Major Grade & GPA Requirement

Students completing a teaching major must earn at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA, a 2.75 major GPA, and a grade of C or better in all courses applied toward degree requirements.

Elementary Education Core 39 Requirements: BS (40 hours) or BA (43 hours)

Within Core 39, elementary education majors are required to complete specific courses as indicated in the chart below to meet content requirements for licensure in the elementary school setting (K-6).

Foundations (14 hours)
Composition I ENG 101 - Rhetoric and Composition I: Literacy and the Self 
Composition II ENG 201 - Rhetoric and Composition II: Literacy and the World 
Communication (choose one) CMST 101 - Introduction to Public Speaking or
CMST 107 - Introduction to Interpersonal Communication 
Mathematics Any Core 39 approved Foundations Mathematics course
Physical Activity and Wellness KIN 192 - Concepts in Wellness and Fitness 
First Year Experience USI 101 - Soar to Success 

Civic and Cultural Awareness (12 hours) - 4 Categories of Ways of Knowing
Historical Inquiry HIST 203 - History for Educators 
Scientific & Mathematical Inquiry MATH 233 - Mathematics for Elementary Teachers III  
(Note: MATH 223 is a prerequisite)
Social Inquiry EDUC 221 - Access and Opportunity in Education 
Creative & Aesthetic Expression
or World Languages & Culture		 Choose one course from either category
(must be a unique prefix)

Bachelor of Science (14 hours) or Bachelor of Arts (17 hours)
World Language & Culture GEOG 330 - World Geography 
Natural Science with Lab BIOL 108 - Biology for Educators AND
CHEM 108 - Chemistry for Educators AND
GEOL 108 - Earth-Space Science for Educators AND
PHYS 108 - Physics for Educators 
Social Science Choose one course
Students may pursue a BA degree by completing modern language courses (ARAB/CHIN/FREN/GERM/JPN/LATN/SPAN) 101, 102, 203, and 204. For the BA degree, the social science elective may be omitted. However, GEOG 330 and the 8 hours of science are still required.

Embedded Experiences (may be core, major and/or elective courses)
Diversity EDUC 221 - Access and Opportunity in Education 
Global EDUC 381 - Language, Literacy, and Culture 
Writing
 		 EDUC 221 - Access and Opportunity in Education  AND
EDUC 458 - Seminar in Professional Education 
 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

Other Content Requirements (5 hours)

In addition to Core 39, candidates are required to complete the following content courses for licensure in the elementary school setting (K-6).

Course NameCredits:Term TakenGradeGen Ed
PET 287 - Physical Education and the Elementary School Classroom Teacher
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring		 Credits: 2
MATH 103 - Mathematics for Elementary Teachers I
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring		 Credits: 3

Elementary Education Requirements - 63 hours

In addition to Core 39 and content requirements, candidates are required to complete the following professional education courses for licensure in the elementary school setting (K-6).

Course NameCredits:Term TakenGradeGen Ed
EDUC 203 - Introduction to Children’s Literature
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring		 Credits: 3
EDUC 206 - Introduction to Exceptionalities
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer		 Credits: 3
EDUC 214 - Instructional Technology in Education
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring		 Credits: 3
MATH 223 - Mathematics for Elementary Teachers II
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer		 Credits: 3
EDUC 246 - Foundations of Literacy
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring		 Credits: 3
EDUC 292 - Explorations in Elementary Education
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring		 Credits: 3
EDUC 354 - Practicum in Elementary Education
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring		 Credits: 3
EDUC 373 - Teaching Science in the Elementary School
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring		 Credits: 3
EDUC 378 - Introduction to Phonemic Awareness
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring		 Credits: 3
EDUC 381 - Language, Literacy, and Culture

USI Core 39: Embedded Experience-Global


Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring		 Credits: 3
EDUC 382 - Elementary Analysis of Curriculum and Instruction
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring		 Credits: 3
EDUC 388 - Teaching Social Studies in the Elementary School
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring		 Credits: 3
MATH 392 - The Teaching of Elementary School Mathematics
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring		 Credits: 3
EDUC 398 - Reading Methods
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring		 Credits: 3
EDUC 413 - Exceptional Needs Instructional Strategies I
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring		 Credits: 3
EDUC 437 - Classroom Management through Data-based Decision Making
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer		 Credits: 3
EDUC 493 - Language, Comprehension, and Writing
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring		 Credits: 3
EDUC 458 - Seminar in Professional Education

USI Core 39: Embedded Experience-Writing


Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring		 Credits: 3
EDUC 471 - Supervised Student Teaching in Elementary Education  (9 hrs required)
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring		 Credits: 3-9

Content Area Minor Requirement

The elementary education major requires completion of a content area teaching minor. Any content area teaching minor approved by an advisor may fulfill this requirement. Mathematics Teaching Minor, Elementary School and Reading - Teaching Minor can be completed within 120 credit hours. Other available options that may exceed 120 credit hours include: 

  • Science Teaching Minor for Elementary Education (125 hours)
  • Social Science Teaching Minor for Elementary Education or Junior High/Middle School (132 hours)

Check with your advisor for other possibilities.

Notes:





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