| Department: | Teacher Education / College of Education and Human Performance |
| Hours Required: | 120 |
| Categories: | Major, Undergraduate |
| Delivery: | Hybrid, On-Campus, Online |
The focus in elementary education leads to a single licensure certification in early childhood. The course work included in the Early Childhood Program presents core knowledge of the profession, combining pedagogical and theoretical content with observational assessment. Students demonstrate a basic understanding of the early childhood profession and child development, incorporating that knowledge and understanding in various clinical experiences. Evidence and implementation of developmentally appropriate practices are included in all areas of the students’ learning. The program emphasizes the uniqueness of each child, recognizing that children are best understood in the context of family, culture, society, and environment.
Learning Goals
- Our graduates demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively through various mediums.
- Our graduates demonstrate an understanding of the various cultures and backgrounds of students in the classroom.
- Our graduates can think critically, solve problems, and make informed decisions.
- Our graduates utilize instructional technology effectively.
- Our graduates display mastery of content knowledge, pedagogy, and professional skills.
The BSE is a licensure pathway for future teachers that is grounded in the knowledge, skills, and dispositions for teachers in 21st-century schools as their roles change to fit the needs of students and society.
To obtain a BSE in with a major in Elementary Education, the candidate must earn at least a grade point average of 3.00 on all University credits (120 hours), complete the required curriculum (major courses with a C or higher), be admitted to the Educator Preparation Program unconditionally, complete the Elementary Education Content Knowledge Praxis II, Foundations of Reading exam, and pedagogy assessment.
University Requirement (2 hours)
GSTD 1002 – Freshman Seminar
General Education (35 hours)
Professional Requirements (27 hours)
EDUC 2023 – K-12 Education Technology
ENGL 4013 – Second Language Acquisition *
ENGL 4033 – TESOL Methods and Materials *
GEOG 2003 – Introduction to Geography
HIST 4083 – History of Arkansas
MAED 2053 – Math for Teachers I
MAED 2063 – Math for Teachers II
SPED 4073 – Introduction to Special Education **
TEDU 2003 – Introduction to Education
Education Requirements (42 hours)
E ED 4173 – Teaching Literacy I
E ED 4273 – Teaching Literacy II
E ED 4373 – Assessment-Driven Literacy Instruction
MAED 4373 – Assessment-Driven Math Instruction
SPED 4003 – Special Education 101 **
SPED 4043 – Inclusive Education **
SPED 4063 – Designing Assessments for General and Special Populations **
TEDU 3013 – Creating Environments for Learning
TEDU 3243 – STEM Content for Teachers
TEDU 4093 – Collaborative Practice
TEDU 4103 – Holistic Pedagogy
TEDU 4343 – Assessment-Driven STEM Instruction
TEDU 4363 – Social Studies for Teachers
3 hours of Education electives
Residency Requirements (14 hours)
TEDU 4001 – Professional Learning I
TEDU 4006 – Residency I
TEDU 4011 – Professional Learning II
TEDU 4016 – Residency II
Notes:
*ENGL 4013 and ENGL 4033 will provide candidates with the opportunity to test and add an English as a Second Language (ESL) endorsement.
**SPED 4003, SPED 4043, SPED 4063, and SPED 4073 will provide candidates the ability to test and add a Special Education Resource endorsement.
Option 1: Attend classes face-to-face on campus. Students take classes on campus in person. Students have the opportunity to work with other elementary education majors in and out of classes, and are provided many additional classroom experiences. Students benefit from multiple field experiences and spend their final semester as a student teacher in a K-6 classroom.
Option 2: Attend classes online. Students attend classes online. This option allows students to work towards their degree in elementary education while still working full time. Students participate in our online program all over the state without having to relocate to attend. Students completing the online program have the opportunity to work with other online elementary education students. Students in the online program complete field experiences and student teaching at schools within driving distance of where the student lives.
Option 3: Paraprofessionals: Complete our online option while continuing to work as a paraprofessional in a school. Students take online coursework but are able to complete field experiences within their school/district. During the student teaching semester, the student teaching experience is split between duties as a paraprofessional and working as a student teacher in the classroom. The student teaching portion must be in a traditional K-6 classroom, and the participating school must be accredited. This option allows paraprofessionals to continue working in their position while also completing their student teaching requirement. **This option requires permission from the school administration to complete this pathway.
Option 4: Non-Licensure Elementary Education Degree with MAT Licensure certificate. Students attend classes online and complete field experiences at schools within driving distance of where the student lives. The final semester, the student takes 12 hours of coursework in place of student teaching. The student will graduate with a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education, but will not yet have their teaching license. The student then completes a 1 year Masters of Arts in Teaching Certificate program completing 6 hours of graduate coursework each semester. The student is able to be hired as a full time paid teacher during the certificate program. At the end of the 1 year certificate program, the student has 12 hours of graduate coursework and is eligible for their K-6 license. This option allows students to become a licensed teacher without taking a semester off of work to student teach. ***This option requires passing Praxis II scores and GPA requirements prior to admission into the MAT program.
Program Contact: Dr. Jennifer Louden, EdD
