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 (Face-to-Face Track)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Areas A-E (See VSU Core Curriculum) | 42 | |
| Area F Requirements 1 | 18 | |
| EDUC 2120 | Exploring Socio-Cultural Perspectives on Diversity | 3 |
| EDUC 2130 | Exploring Learning and Teaching | 3 |
| ELED 2500 | Survey of Science Standards for Elementary Education | 3 |
| MATH 2008 | Foundations of Numbers and Operations | 3 |
| SPEC 2000 | Serving Students with Diverse Needs | 3 |
| EDUC 2000 | Written and Verbal Communication for Education | 3 |
| EDUC 2999 | Teacher Education Requirements | 0 |
| Professional Program Requirements | 60 | |
| Professional Semester 1 | ||
| ELES 3010 | Planning for Effective Teaching and Learning | 4 |
| 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 |
| ELES 3100 | Developmentally Appropriate Practices | 3 |
| Professional Semester 2 | ||
| ELES 3020 | Assessment to Promote Student Learning | 4 |
| ELED 3110 | Integrating Technology in Elementary Education | 2 |
| 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 Methods in Elementary Education | 3 |
| ELED 4400 | Social Science Methods in Elementary Education | 3 |
| ELED 4500 | Science Methods in Elementary Education | 3 |
| ELED 4690 | Apprenticeship in Elementary Education | 2 |
| ELED 4010 | Differentiated Instruction | 3 |
| LITR 4120 | Literacy Assessment and Applications | 3 |
| Professional Semester 4 | ||
| ELED 4790 | Student Teaching in Elementary Education | 10 |
| ELED 4800 | Professional Practices Seminar | 2 |
| Total hours required for the degree | 120 | |
