B.A. in Education

Elementary Education Specialization

Students in early childhood education and elementary education must major in education. Each of these programs includes coursework in psychology, human development, teaching methods, curriculum, and a supervised field practicum experience (student teaching) in nearby school settings.

Major Requirements

Summary of Requirements

Requirements for a Major in Elementary Education

For continuation in a teacher education program, an education major must maintain a cumulative degree average of 2.75 or better, with a B or higher in education courses and a C+ or better in all pre-major, pre-professional and related elective courses.

Required pre-major courses 15 hours

To be taken in freshman or sophomore year:
HIS 111 American History I (3)
HIS 112 American History II (3)
LIN 101 Sign Languages and Sign Systems (3)
MAT 102 Introductory Probability and Statistics (3)*
PSY 201 Introduction to Psychology (3)

*Three hours of college-level mathematics above MAT 102 may be taken instead.

Required major and related courses 63 hours

Pre-professional Component
EDF 323 Educational Psychology (3)
EDU 250 Introduction to Education and Teaching (3)
EDU 311 Foundations of Literacy: Teaching and Learning (3)
HIS 322 Cultural Geography (3)
MAT 171 Basic Concepts of Mathematics for Early Childhood and Elementary Teachers I (3)
MAT 172 Basic Concepts of Mathematics for Early Childhood and Elementary Teachers II (3)
PER 386 Physical Education and Wellness in a School Environment (3)
PSY 311 Development I: Child Psychology (3)

Professional Component
EDU 493 Integrative Practicum and Seminar in Teaching (3) 
EDU 600 K-12 Curriculum and Instructional Technology (3)
EDU 631 Literacy Teaching and Learning: Elementary Grades (3)
EDU 633 Language Arts in Elementary Education (3)
EDU 635 Elementary School Teaching Methods in Social Studies (3)
EDU 637 Elementary School Teaching Methods in Science (3)
EDU 638 Student Teaching Elementary School (9)
EDU 639 Elementary School Teaching Methods in Mathematics (3)
EDU 665 Children's Literature (3)
EDU 670 Teaching Students with Disabilities (3)
EDU 694 Student Teaching Seminar (3) 

Required major electives 9 hours

Art/Drama/Creativity
ART 140 Art History (3)
THE 472 Educational Drama - Grades 1-6 (3)

Diversity/Social Justice - Choose one course:
DST 311 Dynamics of Oppression (3)
DST 316 Disability Studies (3)
GOV 370 Human Rights (3)
SWK 318 Human Diversity (3)

Field Experience Requirements up to 100 Clock Hours

Students will complete field experiences in conjunction with the courses below. These field experience hours do not count in the summary of requirements for the specialization. Students will be required to pay a fee for suitability background checks prior to their initial field experiences in the program. The courses with field experiences include:

EDU 311 Foundations of Literacy: Teaching and Learning 30 clock hours
EDU 600 K-12 Curriculum and Instructional Technology 40 clock hours
EDU 631 Literacy Teaching and Learning: Elementary Grades 30 clock hours