Elementary Education PK-6 (B.A. in Elementary Education)
The B.A in elementary education allows students to complete a baccalaureate degree in elementary education with a choice of specializations - licensure or non-licensure. Students who choose the licensure specialization will be licensed to teach grades PK-6. Students pursuing licensure in this manner complete all requirements necessary for Virginia licensure, including field experiences and student teaching by the end of four years. Students who choose the non-licensure specialization will not be required to meet the Virginia teacher licensure testing requirements.
Admission Requirements: Students in this program must seek admission to the teacher licensure program and apply for student teaching. See the School of Education undergraduate programs section for admission requirements and procedures.
Degree Planning: Students in both the licensure and non-licensure specializations need to take courses as specified to ensure fulfillment of state licensure or degree requirements. Also, course rotations vary, and not every course is available each semester. Individual advising is important to ensure students meet all major and teaching licensure requirements.
Minimum Grade Requirements: A grade of a C or better is required in all Education courses with a minimum 3.0 GPA in all Education courses. An overall 2.5 GPA is required.
Degree Requirements - Elementary Education PK-6 (B.A. in Elementary Education)
This degree requires 120 credits.
Liberal Arts Core Requirements
See the Liberal Arts Core for details.
Major Requirements
To fulfill the requirements of the major, all students in this program will take the following coursework in a sequence determined in collaboration with a faculty and professional advisor. Some courses also satisfy Liberal Arts Core requirements. Some coursework fulfills teaching licensure requirements as specified by the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Education Core
The following courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C and a minimum 3.0 GPA in all Education courses:
| ED 200SL | Foundations of Teaching and Learning | 3 |
| ED 254 | Technology for the K-12 Classroom | 3 |
| ED 301 | Foundation of Literacy Development | 3 |
| ED 309 | Special Education: Foundations and Characteristics of Exceptional Learners | 3 |
| ED 329 | Collaborative Models for Special Education | 3 |
| ED 351 | Assessment to Support Learning in K-12 | 3 |
| ED 355 | Literacy Instruction for Diverse Learners: PK-2 | 3 |
| ED 356 | Literacy Instruction for Diverse Learners: Grades 3-6 | 3 |
| ED 357 | Teaching Social Studies and Visual Arts | 3 |
| ED 378 | Teaching Mathematics Methods PK-6 | 3 |
| ED 379 | Teaching Science Methods PK-6 | 3 |
| ED 480 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
Content Core
| BIO 120 | Introduction to the Biological World * | 3 |
| BIO 120L | Introduction to the Biological World Lab | 1 |
| EN 301 | The Writing Process: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| GEO 201 | Introduction to Geography | 3 |
| HI 110 | History of the United States to 1877 * | 3 |
| HI 111 | History of the United States since 1877 * | 3 |
| HI 114 | Introduction to World History * | 3 |
| MA 121 | Math for Liberal Arts * | 3 |
| MA 124 | History of Mathematics * | 3 |
| MA 127 | Applied Geometry * | 3 |
| POL 104 | American Government * | 3 |
| PSY 110 | Human Growth and Development * | 3 |
| | Natural Science (NS) core course * | 3-4 |
Licensure Specialization
| ED 460E | Student Teaching: PK-6 | 6 |
| ED 461 | Classroom Management in the PK-12 Classroom | 3 |
ED 461 and ED 460E must be taken together.
Non-licensure Specialization
| ED 433 | Research | 1-6 |
| | Elective(s) approved by education advisor | 1-6 |
Sample Degree Plan — Elementary Education PK-6
Please note that this is a sample plan; all students must consult with an advisor in making course selections.
Year One — Fall
| EN 101 | Composition I * | 3 |
| MA 121 | Math for Liberal Arts * | 3 |
| POL 104 | American Government * | 3 |
| TRS 100 | Theological Inquiry * | 3 |
| | One (1) elective | 3 |
EN 101: WR core course
MA 121: MT core course
POL 104: SS-1 core course
TRS 100: TRS-1 core course
Year One — Spring
| EN 102 | Composition II * | 3 |
| HI 114 | Introduction to World History * | 3 |
| MA 124 | History of Mathematics * | 3 |
| PSY 110 | Human Growth and Development * | 3 |
| | Natural Science (NS) core course * | 3 |
EN 102: WR core course
HI 114: HI core course
PSY 110: SS core course
Year Two — Fall
| ED 200SL | Foundations of Teaching and Learning | 3 |
| HI 111 | History of the United States since 1877 * | 3 |
| MA 127 | Applied Geometry * | 3 |
| EN | Literature (LT) core course * | 3 |
| | Philosophy (PH) core course * | |
Year Two — Spring
| BIO 120 | Introduction to the Biological World * | 3 |
| BIO 120L | Introduction to the Biological World Lab | 1 |
| ED 301 | Foundation of Literacy Development | 3 |
| GEO 201 | Introduction to Geography | 3 |
| HI 110 | History of the United States to 1877 * | 3 |
| | Depth in Faith and Reason core course * | 3 |
BIO 120L: NS lab core course
Year Three — Fall
| ED 254 | Technology for the K-12 Classroom | 3 |
| ED 309 | Special Education: Foundations and Characteristics of Exceptional Learners | 3 |
| ED 355 | Literacy Instruction for Diverse Learners: PK-2 | 3 |
| EN 301 | The Writing Process: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| | Fine and Performing Arts (FPA) core course * | |
Year Three — Spring
| ED 329 | Collaborative Models for Special Education | 3 |
| ED 356 | Literacy Instruction for Diverse Learners: Grades 3-6 | 3 |
| ED 378 | Teaching Mathematics Methods PK-6 | 3 |
| ED 379 | Teaching Science Methods PK-6 | 3 |
| | Depth in Humanities core course | 3 |
Year Four — Fall
| ED 351 | Assessment to Support Learning in K-12 | 3 |
| ED 357 | Teaching Social Studies and Visual Arts | 3 |
| ED 480 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| | Depth in Sciences (DSCI) core course * | 3 |
| | One (1) elective | 3 |
Year Four — Spring (specialization - licensure)
| ED 460E | Student Teaching: PK-6 | 6 |
| ED 461 | Classroom Management in the PK-12 Classroom | 3 |
| | One (1) elective | 3 |
Year Four — Spring (specialization - non-licensure)
The number of electives required for students in the non-licensure track varies with the number of credits for which they take ED 433. Students must take enough credits in electives to meet the university’s 120-credit requirement. Electives must be approved by the education advisor.
* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core Requirements. See the
Liberal Arts Core and
Course Descriptions for further information.