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BS Elementary Education - Online

Program Description

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. Candidates will investigate current educational theory, educational philosophy, 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.

The optional 14-credit-hour concentration in Exceptional Children 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 (EDU 450) and must pass all Elementary Education and Exceptional Children licensure tests.

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

 

This degree plan is an example of student progression through the program. The academic program requires a minimum of 120 credit hours of credit for the bachelor’s degree. The degree consists of a major field of concentration in the liberal arts or in a professional or pre-professional area, a General Education program, and elective courses. This example degree plan focuses Years 1 & 2 on the General Education program and Years 3 & 4 on the Major/Minor areas. It is recommended for students to incorporate Major/Minor courses into Years 1 & 2 as much as possible.


Note 1: Academic departments reserve the right to alter the term in which a course is offered.

Note 2: GWU Online courses run in continuous 8-week terms. Students can start anytime.

Terms 1 & 2 = Spring

Terms 3 & 4 = Summer

Terms 5 & 6 =Fall

 

Learn more

Years 1 & 2: General Education (48-51 hours)

See General Education requirements

 

Year 3: Term 1 (10 hours)

Praxis core must be completed in Term 1 or Term 2 of Year 3
 EDU 250  4  Teaching in the 21st Century Schools
 MED 204  3  Math for Elementary Teachers I
 EDU 302*  3  Literacy Foundations

 

Year 3: Term 2 (7 hours continued)
 MED 205  3  Math for Elementary Teachers II
 LIB 303  1  Information Literacy Skills for Teachers
 EDU 302* continued  3  Literacy Foundations

 

Year 3: Term 3 (3 hours)
 Elective  3  Elective

 

Year 3: Term 4 (3 hours)
 Elective  3  Elective

 

Year 3: Term 5 (7 hours)
 EDU 251  1  Intro to Effective Teaching and Learning
 EDU 306*  3  Literacy and The Language Arts for K-8
 Elective  3  Elective

 

Year 3: Term 6 (6 hours continued)
 EDU 252  1  Applying Principles of Effective Teaching and Learning
 EDU 306* continued  3  Literacy and The Language Arts for K-8
 EDU 410  1  Introduction to Integrated Curriculum & Assessment

 

Year 4: Term 1 (6 hours)

Admission into the College of Education required
 EDU 320*  3  Vocabulary, Comprehension, and Writing Instruction
 MED 330*  3  Math Methods in 21st Century Schools
 SST 307  2  Social Studies Methods in 21st Century Schools

 

Year 4: Term 2 (11 hours continued)

Admission into the College of Education required
 EDU 320* continued  3  Vocabulary, Comprehension, and Writing Instruction
 MED 330* continued  3  Math Methods in 21st Century Schools
 PSY 303  3  Educational Psychology
 SED 330  2  Science Methods in 21st Century Schools

 

Year 4: Term 3 (3 hours)
Elective 3 Elective

 

Year 4: Term 4 (1 hour)
PED 311 1 Healthful Living for Elementary Educator Seminar

 


Year 4: Term 5 (12 hours)

Admission into the College of Education required
EDU 312* 2 Practicum in Literacy
EDU 350* 4 Diverse Populations in 21st Century Schools
EDU 435* 4 Facilitating Learning in 21st Century Schools
EDU 375  2  Classroom Leadership Seminar for Elementary & Middle Grades 

 


Year 4: Term 6 (10 hours continued)

Admission into the College of Education required
EDU 312* 2 Practicum in Literacy
EDU 350* 4 Diverse Populations in 21st Century Schools
EDU 435* 4 Facilitating Learning in 21st Century Schools

 

Year 5: Term 1 (12 hours)

Admission into the College of Education required
EDU 450* 12 Student Teaching

 

Year 5: Term 2 (12 hours continued)

Admission into the College of Education required
EDU 450* 12 Student Teaching

 

* 16-week class

 

Students who graduate from the Elementary Education program will demonstrate proficiency in the North Carolina Professional Teaching Standards (NCPTS) as follows:

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