Teacher Education: Early/Primary (PreK-3) or Elementary (PreK-6)

Advisor: Cathy Smeltzer Erb
Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Semester Hours: 45 education courses + 44-46 content courses
Format: Face-to-face
Admission Requirements All students seeking licensure to teach shall make application for admission to teacher education and to student teaching. Application for admission to teacher education is made at the end of the fall semester of the sophomore year and application for admission to student teaching is made at the end of the fall semester of the junior year. Transfer students are required to attend an education department transfer orientation meeting their first semester on campus.

Entrance and exit requirements including cut-off test scores for all teacher education programs are found in the Teacher Education Handbook or www.emu.edu/education/test-scores.

An entry assessment in reading, writing, and mathematics is required for admission to the teacher education program. Students with qualifying SAT/ACT scores or a Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators: Mathematics score of 155 and the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA) meet the requirement. The Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA) is required for teacher licensure.

The Reading for Virginia Educators (RVE) is required for early/primary education (PreK-3), and elementary education (PreK-6). Admission to teacher education requires a 2.5 cumulative GPA and a teacher education interview. Admission to student teaching requires a 2.7 cumulative GPA. In addition, students must have a C or better in all education courses (courses with ED prefix and content area methods courses) to be admitted to student teaching. Exit requirements include meeting the Virginia cut off score requirements for the Praxis Subject Assessment (consisting of subject area components); and an earned GPA of 2.7. Students may obtain an additional endorsement without completing an approved licensure program by passing the Praxis Subject Assessment in the content area (Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, English, History and Social Science, Mathematics, Visual Arts, English as a Second Language, Health and Physical Education, Foreign Language, and Music) with the exception of PreK-3, PreK-6, and Special Education.

Professional Studies Courses

ED 101 Exploring Teaching - 2
ED 235 Curriculum and Organization in Early Education - 4
ED 245 Learning and Classroom Environments - 3
ED 275 Instructional Technology and Assessment - 3
ED 331 Math in the Elementary School - 2
ED 332 Science in the Elementary School - 2
ED 333 Social Studies in the Elementary School - 2
ED 301 Needs of Diverse Learners - 3
ED 341 Language Arts - 2
ED 342 Reading/Diagnostic Reading - 3
ED 343 Content Area Reading and Writing - 2
ED 401 Examining Foundations of Education - 2
ED 411 Reflective Teaching Seminar and Portfolio - 1

Additional Courses for Early/Primary Education only

ED 421 Student Teaching I-PreK-3 - 7
ED 422 Student Teaching II-PreK-3 - 7

Additional Courses for Elementary Education only

ED 421 Student Teaching I-PreK-3 - 7
ED 423 Student Teaching II-4-6 - 7

Recommended Courses

*ART 397 Elementary School Art Methods - 2
*MUED 341 Elementary School Music - 3

Twenty-four semester hours of the above are devoted to professional studies while 21 semester hours involve practica.

Elementary education candidates majoring in liberal arts are encouraged to select a minor from the following content areas: English, history, Spanish, art, music, math, or sciences.
Early/primary and elementary licensure candidates must fulfill requirements for a liberal arts major outside the department and meet program requirements.

Additional Licensure Requirements

BIOL 155 Biological Explorations - 3
CHEM 155 Matter and Energy - 3
+ECON 201 Survey of Economics - 3
ENGL 350 Children's Literature - 3
ENVS 135 Earth Science - 2
ENVS 145 Environmental Science - 2
GEOG 231 Cultural Geography - 3
HE 202 Health and Safety - 2
HIST 101 U.S. History I-Race and Reason - 2
HIST 102 U.S. History II-Mechanization and Modernization - 2
HIST 103 U.S. History III-Power and Paradox - 2
HIST 121 Global Past I-Civilization (to 1400) - 2
HIST 122 Global Past II-Modernization (post 1400) - 2
MATH 114 College Algebra - 2
MATH 120 Mathematics for Social Decision Making - 2
MATH 134 Finite Math-Logic and Problem Solving - 2
MATH 136 Finite Math-Number Theory and Probability - 2
PEM 145 Rhythmic Activities - 1
PSYC 202 Developmental Psychology - 3
PSYC 203 Developmental Case Study - 1
++SOC 330 The Family in Social Context - 3
+STAT 120 Descriptive Statistics - 2

* indicates the course is offered in alternate years
+ required for PreK-6 licensure
++ required for PreK-3 licensure