Elementary Education, Bachelor of Science

REQUIRED MAJOR HOURS	34
REQUIRED MINOR HOURS	27
TOTAL PROGRAM HOURS	61
PRESCRIBED COURSES ATTAINABLE IN GEN ED: NONE

Elementary Education is designed to prepare candidates to become teachers in Grades K-6. The program follows the North Carolina Teacher Candidate Standards. Candidates pursuing this major will be prepared to teach in an elementary-school setting. During the program, candidates will investigate current educational theories, educational philosophies, and elementary methods. Multiple opportunities will be provided for candidates to observe and teach in PK-12 schools. Candidates must meet the requirements listed in the Catalog for entrance into Teacher Education and for entrance into the Professional Semester. Candidates will not be permitted to complete more than 50% of the major or Professional Education minor until they are formally admitted into the Teacher Education Program. Candidates must be admitted into the Teacher Education Program at least two full semesters prior to the student teaching experience.

The School of Education admission process is different than the Gardner-Webb admission process. The School of Education interview is a secondary admission process specific to the School of Education.

The North Carolina State Board of Education has adopted new teacher standards and required all teacher education programs to be revised. Candidates who are already in Teacher Education can choose to complete the current program or the new program.

The optional 14-credit-hour concentration in Exceptional Children (EC) prepares candidates to support diverse learners and become successful teachers of exceptional children. In order to be recommended for licensure, candidates must successfully complete a dual student teaching experience (EDUC 450) and must pass all Elementary Education and Exceptional Children licensure tests.

The Exceptional Children Concentration is also available for non-Elementary Education candidates. For candidates who are non-Elementary Education majors, the following courses are required in order to obtain the concentration: MATH 204, MATH 205, and EDUC 302. Secondary Math Education candidates are exempt from MATH 204 and MATH 205.

A non-licensure track for qualifying elementary and middle grades candidates is available. Please consult the Professional Education Committee (PEC) Handbook for details.

Elementary Education at Gardner-Webb University is state-approved by the North Carolina State Board of Education.

Students who graduate from the Elementary Education program will demonstrate proficiency in the North Carolina Teacher Candidate Standards (NCTCS) as follows:

Teachers demonstrate leadership;
Teachers establish a respectful environment for a diverse population of students;
Teachers know the content they teach;
Teachers facilitate learning for their students; and
Teachers reflect on their practice.

Proficiencies will be met as students exhibit competency in the following goals and learning outcomes.

Student Learning Outcomes

Student Learning Outcomes are subject to change based on data collected and analyzed by the Elementary Education faculty.

Candidates will be able to demonstrate leadership skills to assume leadership roles in an educational setting (NCTCS I);
Candidates will be able to apply leadership skills to assume leadership roles in an educational setting (NCTCS I);
Candidates will be able to demonstrate the ability to adapt instruction for the diverse needs of learners (NCTCS II);
Candidates will be able to differentiate instruction in an effective and appropriate manner (NCTCS II);
Candidates will be able to demonstrate advanced content knowledge related to core concepts (NCTCS III);
Candidates will be able to implement processes relative to the specific discipline (NCTCS III);
Candidates will be able to use formative and summative assessment data to inform instruction (NCTCS IV);
Candidates will be able to integrate reading practices and assessments to design and implement an appropriate reading program of instruction (NCTCS IV);
Candidates will be able to implement management processes in an educational setting (NCTCS IV);
Candidates will be able to reflect critically on performances of others and/or self for the purpose of improvement (NCTCS V);
Candidates will use research and data to adapt instruction (NCTCS V);
Candidates will be able to design instruction to meet the needs of digital-age learners (NCTCS V); and
Candidates will be able to demonstrate professional dispositions in varied settings with regard to all members of an organization (NCTCS V).

Program Requirements

Required Major Hours (34 hours)

PHED 311	Healthful Living for the Elementary Educator Seminar	1
EDUC 251	Introduction to Effective Teaching and Learning	1
EDUC 252	Applying Principles of Effective Teaching and Learning	1
EDUC 302	Literacy Foundations	3
EDUC 306	Literacy and Language Arts for K-9	3
EDUC 312	Practicum in Literacy (K-9)	2
EDUC 375	Classroom Leadership Seminar for Elementary and Middle Grades	2
EDUC 410	Introduction to Curriculum Integration and Assessment	3
MAED 204	Mathematics for Elementary Teachers	3
MAED 205	Mathematics for Elementary Teachers II	3
MAED 330	Math Methods in 21st Century Schools	3
SCED 330	Science Methods in 21st Century Schools	3
SSED 307	Social Studies Methods in 21st Century Schools	2

EDUC 312 must be taken the semester prior to student teaching.

Required Minor Hours (27 hours)

Professional Education Minor

EDUC 250	Teaching in the 21st Century Schools	4
EDUC 350	Diverse Populations in 21st Century Schools	4
EDUC 435	Facilitating Learning in 21st Century Schools	4
PSYC 303	Educational Psychology	3
EDUC 450	Student Teaching	12

EDUC 435 must be taken the semester prior to student teaching. EDUC 450 must be taken the final semester and no other courses may be taken concurrently. Students may not be employed during this semester.

Optional Exceptional Children Concentration Hours (14 hours)

ECED 270	Critical Components of Special Education	3
ECED 370	Specially Designed Instruction for Exceptional Learners	4
ECED 380	Communication and Collaboration with Stakeholders	3
ECED 425	Providing Instruction - Continuum of Alternative Exceptional Children Placements	4

Total Credit Hours: 61

Additional Requirements for Transfer Majors

None.