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

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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

	Creative & Aesthetic Expression or World Languages & Culture	Choose one course from either category (must be a unique prefix)	3 hours
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

Elementary Education Requirements - 60 hours

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

EDUC 203 - Introduction to Children’s Literature Credits: 3
EDUC 206 - Introduction to Exceptionalities Credits: 3
EDUC 214 - Instructional Technology in Education Credits: 3
EDUC 246 - Foundations of Literacy Credits: 3
EDUC 292 - Explorations in Elementary Education Credits: 3
EDUC 354 - Practicum in Elementary Education Credits: 3
EDUC 373 - Teaching Science in the Elementary School Credits: 3
EDUC 378 - Introduction to Phonemic Awareness Credits: 3
EDUC 381 - Language, Literacy, and Culture Credits: 3
EDUC 382 - Elementary Analysis of Curriculum and Instruction Credits: 3
EDUC 388 - Teaching Social Studies in the Elementary School Credits: 3
MATH 392 - The Teaching of Elementary School Mathematics Credits: 3
EDUC 398 - Reading Methods Credits: 3
EDUC 413 - Exceptional Needs Instructional Strategies I Credits: 3
EDUC 437 - Classroom Management through Data-based Decision Making Credits: 3
EDUC 493 - Language, Comprehension, and Writing Credits: 3
EDUC 458 - Seminar in Professional Education Credits: 3
EDUC 471 - Supervised Student Teaching in Elementary Education 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. However, only the Reading - Teaching Minor can be completed within 120 credit hours. Other available options that may exceed 120 credit hours include:

Mathematics Teaching Minor, Elementary School (121 hours)
Science Teaching Minor for Elementary Education (123 hours)
Social Science Teaching Minor for Elementary Education or Junior High/Middle School (121 hours)

Check with your advisor for other possibilities.

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

Teaching Major Grade & GPA Requirement

Elementary Education Core 39 Requirements (41 hours)

Foundations (14 hours)

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

Bachelor of Science (14 hours)

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

Other Content Requirements (8 hours)

Elementary Education Requirements - 60 hours

Content Area Minor Requirement