The Elementary Education track provides preparation for teaching in public school grades 2-6. Students move through the Elementary Education program as a cohort, taking prescribed courses during sequenced semesters. Each candidate is required to fulfill at least 100 hours of observation/direct teaching at the elementary level prior to their student internship.

Students are provided practical experience with children of different age levels and in different types of public school settings.

General Education (48-49 hours)

• Communications – 9 or 10 hours
  • ENGL 101 – Analysis and Argument or ENGL 101E – Analysis and Argument w/ Ext. Studio (3 or 4)
  • ENGL 102 – Rhetoric, Genre, and Research (3)
  • SPCO 101 – Basics of Oral Communication (3)
• Social Sciences – 9 hours
  • • Geography (elective) (3)
    • POLI 101 – United States Government or POLI 103 – Introduction to Political Science (3)
    • Additional three (3) hours chosen from anthropology, economics, geography, political science, sociology, or Honors 250-259
• Humanities – 12 hours
  • Literature (elective) (3)
  • History (elective) (3) *
  • ART 101 – Introduction to Art, MUSI 101 – Introduction to Music, or THEA 101 – Introduction to Theatre (6)
• Mathematics – 6 hours
  • MATH 170 – Sur/Math/For Early & Elem Teach I (3)
  • MATH 270 – Sur/Math/For Early & Elem Teach II (3)
• Natural Sciences  – 12 hours
  • A. BIOL 102 – Biology for Education Majors (4) **
  • B. Chemistry, Physics, or Physical Science (4) **
  • C. Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Physical Science Psychology 206/216 , or Honors 280-289 (4) **
  • Credit toward graduation may not be earned in both Physical Science 101- 102 and any chemistry course or physics course.
  • Psychology does NOT count as science for Early Childhood Education teacher licensure.
  • Students cannot take both Biology 104 and 105.

*Students are strongly encouraged to take either History 101 or 102 to be better prepared for the Elementary Praxis content exams.

**To satisfy the Natural Sciences requirement, students must take at least one course from A, at least one course from B, and at least one course from C (above). Students are strongly encouraged to take Biology 102, Physical Science 150, and Astronomy 201 or 202 or Honors 280-289 to meet these 12 hours.

Pre-Professional Education (6 hours)

• EDUC 190 – Foundations of Education (3)
• EDUC 192 – Foundations of Curriculum and Instruction (3)

Professional Education (41 hours) *

*Requires admission to the program.

• EDUC 310 – Practicum: Teaching Reading and Written Language To Exceptional Learners (1)
• EDUC 311 – IEP Development and Transition for Students with Disabilities (3)
• EDUC 313 – Field Experiences in Instructional Planning and Assessment
• EDUC 322 – Foundations/Instruction of Reading
• EDUC 324 – Reading Assessment
• EDUC 326 – Strategies for Reading Instruction PreK-12
• EDUC 392 – Field Experience: Elementary
• EDUC 411 – Introduction to Exceptionalities and Legal Foundations (3)
• ELEM 315 – Methods of Instruction for Social Studies
• ELEM 316 -Methods of Instruction for Mathematics
• ELEM 317 -Methods of Instruction for Science
• Student Teaching Block *
  • EDUC 487 – Classroom Management
  • EDUC 490 – Directed Teaching
• Supporting Courses
  • ARTE 217 – Creative Arts for Elementary School Teacher
  • ENGL 315 – Literature for Children
  • ENGL 341 – Advanced Composition for Teachers
  • MATH 370 – Intuitive Geometry
  • PSYC 315 – Child Behavior: Growth and Development

*All Student Teaching Block courses must be taken together.

Concentration (8-9 hours) *

This concentration requires eight (2 4-hour courses) or nine (3 3-hour courses) hours of additional coursework beyond General Education Requirements and support courses in one of the following areas of concentration:

• English (three courses) – Select from above English 200 literature and/or writing courses.
• Foreign Language (three courses)
• Learning Disabilities (three courses) – EDUC 421, 423, & 425
• Mathematics (three courses) – Select from above Mathematics 131 with at least one course above the 200 level.
  • Mathematics 170, 270, and 370 will not count as part of this concentration.
• Science (two courses) – Select from the physical sciences and/or biological science.
• Social Studies (three courses) – Select from history, political science, geography and/or economics.