Elementary Education, BSEd

Elementary school is where it all begins. A child’s first teachers are the people who will set the bar for learning.

This bachelor's degree provides teacher candidates with the specialized knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to meet the educational needs of students in grades PreK-6. The robust, well-rounded program of study includes general and content-specific methods courses designed to prepare reflective teachers who are responsive to students’ diverse needs and ready to advance the 21st Century classroom. A strong partnership with local PK-6 schools ensures that teacher candidates are immersed in classroom settings with elementary students throughout their teacher preparation program. Graduates recognize and adapt to students’ needs, interests and readiness levels through innovative, research-based pedagogical practices.

Mason Core (37-38 credits)

• Written Communication (6) (ENGH 101 Composition and ENGH 302
Advanced Composition)
• Oral Communication (3) (COMM 100 Public Speaking is recommended)
• Information Technology (3)
• Quantitative Reasoning (3) (MATH 106 Quantitative Reasoning is recommended)
• Literature (3) (ELED 358 is recommended)
• Arts (3) (ARTH 101 Introduction to the Visual Arts is recommended)
• Western Civilization/World History (3)
• Social and Behavioral Science (3) (EDUC 200 is recommended)
• Global Understanding (3) (GGS 101 Major World Regions is recommended)
• Natural Science (7-8) (Two lab sciences in different disciplines are recommended)
• Synthesis/Capstone

Major Course Requirements (80 credits)

• ELED 305: Foundations of Elementary Methods and Management (3 credit hours)

• ELED 342: Foundations of Elementary Education (3 credit hours)

• ELED 357: Integrating Technology in PreK-6 (3 credit hours)

• ELED 358: Children's Literature for Teaching in Diverse Settings (3 credit hours)

• ELED 390: Clinical Experience: Theory to Practice Integration (1 credit hour) (ELED390 is a 1 credit course. To earn the required total of 2 credits, students must enroll twice in this course.)

• ELED 401: Classroom Management and Instructional Strategies for Diverse Learners (3 credit hours)

• ELED 402: Differentiating Elementary Methods and Management (3 credit hours)

• ELED 410: Emergent and Early Literacy (3 credit hours)

• ELED 411: Reading Development, Processes, Assessment, and Pedagogy (3 credit hours)

• ELED 412: Writing Development, Processes and Pedagogy (3 credit hours)

• ELED 420: Arts Integration in Elem Ed (2 credit hours)

• ELED 421: STEM in the Elementary Classroom (3 credit hours)

• ELED 422: Collaboration in PK-6 Inclusive School Settings (3 credit hours)

• ELED 443: Children, Family, Culture, and Schools, 4-12 Year Olds (3 credit hours)

• ELED 452: Mathematics Methods for the Elementary Classroom (3 credit hours)

• ELED 453: Science Methods for the Elementary Classroom (3 credit hours)

• ELED 454: Methods of Teaching Social Studies and Integrating Fine Arts in the Elementary Classroom (3 credit hours)

• ELED 459: Research and Assessment in Elementary Education (3 credit hours)

• ELED 480: Practicum in Elementary Education (3 credit hours)

• ELED 490: Internship in Elementary Education (3 credit hours)

• ELED 491: Internship Seminar in Elem Ed (1 credit hour)

• ECED 404: Engaging Families of Diverse Learners, Birth – Grade 6 (3 credit hours)

• EDSE 428: Elementary Reading, Curriculum, Strategies for Students Who Access the General Education Curriculum (3 credit hours)

• EDCI 423: Methods for Teaching PK-6 English Learners in Inclusive Classrooms (3 credit hours)

• EDUC 200: Introduction to Education: Teaching, Learning and Schools (3 credit hours)

• EDUC 301: Educating Diverse and Exceptional Learners (3 credit hours)

Electives

Select 2-3 credits of electives