The major in Elementary Education results in initial GaPSC certification in Early Childhood (P-5). The program is designed to prepare professional educators who manifest the knowledge, dispositions, and competencies deemed necessary to enhance young children's overall intellectual, social, emotional, and personal growth and development. The design of the undergraduate professional program includes a variety of methods and content courses supported by structured field experiences designed to provide opportunities to meld theory with practice in field-based interactions with children.
Selected Educational Outcomes
- Program graduates will demonstrate an acceptable level of content knowledge.
- Program graduates will demonstrate an acceptable level of teaching competency for an extended period of time during the clinical practice experience by planning, delivering, and assessing appropriate instruction for students who represent a diverse population and who are in public school settings.
- Program graduates will integrate technology into instruction, assessment, and communication.
- Program graduates will demonstrate characteristics of reflective practitioners by evaluating the effects of choices and actions on others (students, families, and other professionals in the learning community).
Examples of Outcome Assessments
- Teacher candidates in initial teacher education programs will demonstrate content knowledge through passing the state-required content assessment.
- Teacher candidates in initial teacher education programs will demonstrate pedagogical content knowledge and knowledge of evidence-based strategies through development of lesson plans identifying use of research-validated procedures and effective content pedagogy.
- Teacher candidates in initial teacher education programs will demonstrate skills in assessment, instructional strategies, use of technology, and monitoring and modifying instruction during observed teaching episodes evaluated by a university supervisor and P-5 mentor teacher.
- Teacher candidates in initial teacher education programs will demonstrate their ability to positively impact P-5 learning through an Impact on Student Learning project.
Requirements for the B.S.Ed. Degree with a Major in Elementary Education
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Areas A-E (See VSU Core Curriculum) | 42 | |
| Area F Requirements 1 | 18 | |
| EDUC 2110 | Investigating Critical and Contemporary Issues in Education | 3 |
| EDUC 2120 | Exploring Socio-Cultural Perspectives on Diversity | 3 |
| EDUC 2130 | Exploring Learning and Teaching | 3 |
| ISCI 2001 | Exploring Our Ecosphere | 3 |
| ISCI 2002 | Physical Science for Early Childhood Education Teachers | 3 |
| MATH 2008 | Foundations of Numbers and Operations | 3 |
| EDUC 2999 | Teacher Education Requirements | 0 |
| College of Education and Human Services Health and Physical Education Requirements | 6 | |
| KSPE 2000 & KSPE 2150 | Health and Wellness for Life and First Aid - CPR | 4 |
| Select two KSPE Fitness/Activity Courses | 2 | |
| Professional Program Requirements | 63 | |
| Professional Semester 1 | ||
| ELED 3190 | Elementary Education Practicum and Seminar: PreK-K | 2 |
| ELES 3010 | Planning, Instruction, and Developmentally Appropriate Practices | 3 |
| LITR 3110 | Emergent Literacy Through Children's Literature and the Arts | 3 |
| LITR 3120 | Early Literacy | 3 |
| MATH 3161 | Mathematics for Early Childhood Teachers I | 3 |
| SPEC 3000 | Serving Students with Diverse Needs | 3 |
| Professional Semester 2 | ||
| ELED 3690 | Elementary Education Practicum and Seminar: Grades 4-5 | 2 |
| ELED 4500 | Science and Technology in Elementary Education | 3 |
| ELES 3020 | Intermediate Assessment, Planning, and Instruction | 3 |
| ELES 3210 | Introduction to the Management of Learning Environments | 3 |
| LITR 3130 | Developing Literacy | 3 |
| MATH 3162 | Mathematics for Early Childhood Teachers II | 3 |
| Professional Semester 3 | ||
| ELED 3300 | Mathematics and Technology in Elementary Education | 3 |
| ELED 4400 | Social Science Methods in Elementary Education | 3 |
| ELED 4690 | Elementary Education Practicum and Seminar: Grades 1-3 | 2 |
| ELED 4010 | Assessment, Planning, and Differentiated Instruction | 3 |
| LITR 4120 | Literacy Assessment and Applications | 3 |
| MATH 4161 | Mathematical Reasoning | 3 |
| Professional Semester 4 | ||
| ELED 4790 | Student Teaching in Elementary Education | 9 |
| ELED 4420 | Student Teaching Reflective Seminar | 3 |
| Total hours required for the degree | 129 | |
