Nov 25, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED PUBLICATION]

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


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

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 (41 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   3 hours
  Composition II ENG 201 - Rhetoric and Composition II: Literacy and the World   3 hours
       
  Communication Choose one of: 3 hours
    CMST 101 - Introduction to Public Speaking    or  
    CMST 107 - Introduction to Interpersonal Communication    
       
  Mathematics Any Core 39 approved Foundations Mathematics course 3 hours
  Physical Activity and Wellness KIN 192 - Concepts in Wellness and Fitness   1 hour
  FYE UNIV 101 - First Year Experience   1 hour

Civic and Cultural Awareness (13 hours) - 4 Categories of Ways of Knowing

  Historical Inquiry  Choose one of: 3 hours
    HIST 101 - The United States to 1877    
    HIST 102 - The United States since 1877    
       
  Scientific and Mathematical Inquiry  MATH 203 - Mathematics for Elementary Teachers II    4 hours
    (Note: MATH 103  is a prerequisite)  
       
  Social Inquiry EDUC 221 - Diversity and Equity in Education   3 hours
       
  World Languages and Culture Choose one of: 3 hours
    HUM 211 - World Humanities I    
    HUM 212 - World Humanities II    
    HUM 241 - The Humanistic Tradition in Literature I    
    HUM 242 - The Humanistic Tradition in Literature II    

Bachelor of Science (14 hours)

  World Language and Culture GEOG 330 - World Geography   3 hours
       
  Natural Science with Lab BIOL 108 - Biology for Educators   AND 4 hours
    GEOL 108 - Earth-Space Science for Educators    
  Natural Science with Lab CHEM 108 - Chemistry for Educators    AND 4 hours
    PHYS 108 - Physics for Educators    
       
  Social Science Social Science Elective 3 hours
       
  Students may pursue a BA degree by completing modern language courses (ARAB/CHIN/FREN/GERM/JPN/LATN/SPAN) 101, 102, 203, and 204.  For a BA degree, GEOG 330 and the social science elective may be omitted.  However the 8 hours of science is still required.

Embedded Experiences (in core, major, and/or elective courses)

  Diversity EDUC 221 - Diversity and Equity in Education    
  Global EDUC 381 - Language, Literacy, and Culture    
  Writing EDUC 221 - Diversity and Equity in Education    AND  
    EDUC 458 - Seminar in Professional Education    

 

Other Content Requirements (8 hours)


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

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.  However, only the minors listed below can be completed within 120 credit hours:

  • Mathematics Teaching Minor (Elementary)
  • Reading Teaching Minor
  • Science Teaching Minor
  • Social Studies Teaching Minor

Check with your advisor for other possibilities.