Elementary Education, BA

Elementary Education (BA) Offered by the School of Education, College of Arts and Sciences. Admission to the Program Admission to Candidacy in Teacher Education Undergraduates seeking teacher certification in elementary education should contact an advisor in the School of Education as early as possible. Admission to the university and declaration of a major does not constitute admission to candidacy in teacher education, which is based on academic and related performance criteria. To be admitted to candidacy, students must earn a passing score (as set by the District of Columbia teacher licensing agency) on the PRAXIS CORE or equivalency exam; earn an average grade of 2.70 or higher in EDU-205 Schools and Society FA4 and EDU-420 Psychology of Education, pass EDU-321 Field Experience: Observation and Analysis, receive satisfactory recommendations from faculty, and have an overall cumulative grade point average of 2.70 or higher. The Teacher Education Committee reviews student applications. Decisions regarding admission to candidacy are made by this committee based on academic performance and references. Liberal Arts and Science Requirements for Teacher Certification: Elementary To qualify for teacher certification, students must have completed all of the requirements from the specific curricular areas listed below. Some requirements may overlap with the university General Education requirements. Consult a School of Education advisor for more information. Literature: 3 credit hours in addition to WRTG-101 The Arts: 3 credit hours Health: 3 credit hours United States history: 3 credit hours Social science: 3 credit hours Biological science: 3 credit hours Physical science: 3 credit hours Note: biological or physical science must include a lab. 120 credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or better Completion of college writing requirement Completion of university mathematics requirement General Education Requirements A total of ten courses, consisting of two courses from each of the five foundational areas At least one course from Area Five: The Natural and Mathematical Sciences must include a laboratory science component No more than two courses may be taken in the same discipline Note: Students must consult with an advisor from the School of Education as early as possible to discuss the coordination of General Education requirements with certification requirements. Major Requirements 74 credit hours with grades of C or better, including 15 to 17 credit hours in a concentration An overall cumulative grade point average of 2.70 or higher All students must complete the Praxis II Exam prior to graduation. Course Requirements Required EDU-205 Schools and Society FA4 (3) EDU-250 Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers (3) EDU-251 Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers II (3) EDU-321 Field Experience: Observation and Analysis (1) EDU-330 Instructional Strategies and Teaching Methods (3) EDU-371 Foundations of Reading Instruction (3) EDU-416 The Uses of Technology in Education (3) EDU-419 Children's Literature: A Critical Literacy Perspective (3) EDU-420 Psychology of Education (3) EDU-443 Foundations of Special Education for Exceptional Children (3) or EDU-465 Overview of All Exceptionalities: The Arts in Special Education (3) EDU-452 Teaching Mathematics in Elementary Education (3) EDU-453 Teaching Language Arts in Elementary Education (3) EDU-455 Teaching Reading in Elementary Education (3) EDU-456 Teaching Science in Elementary Education (3) EDU-457 Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Education (3) EDU-462 Classroom Management (3) EDU-492 Service Learning in Teacher Education (1) EDU-499 Student Teaching Seminar in Professional Practice (12) Concentration or Minor 15-17 credit hours in one of the following concentrations in Art, Biology, History, Literature, Mathematics, or Music; or with approval, students may complete a minor in place of the concentration: Art (15 credit hours) Required ARTS-100 Art: The Studio Experience FA1 (3) One course from the following: ARTH-105 Art: The Historical Experience FA1 (3) ARTH-210 Modern Art: Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries FA1 (3) Three courses from the following: ARTS-205 The Artist's Perspective: Drawing FA1 (3) ARTS-210 The Artist's Perspective: Painting FA1 (3) ARTS-215 The Artist's Perspective: Sculpture FA1 (3) ARTS-420 Painting Studio (3) ARTS-440 Sculpture Studio (3) ARTS-460 Drawing Studio (3) ARTS-463 Printmaking Studio: Intaglio and Relief (3) ARTS-464 Printmaking Studio: Screenprint (3) Biology (17 credit hours) Required BIO-110 General Biology I FA5 (4) BIO-210 General Biology II FA5 (4) Three courses from the following: BIO-200 Structure and Function of the Human Body FA5 (3) BIO-220 In the Light of Evolution FA5 (3) BIO-240 Oceanography FA5 (3) ENVS-250 Living in the Environment FA5 (3) BIO 300-level or above course, with advisor's approval History (15 credit hours) Required HIST-205 American Encounters: 1492-1865 FA2 (3) HIST-215 Social Forces that Shaped America FA2 (3) One course from the following: HIST-100 History, Memory, and the Changeable Past FA2 (3) HIST-110 Renaissance and Revolutions: Europe, 1400-1815 FA2 (3) HIST-120 Imperialism in History FA3 (3) HIST-210 Ethnicity in America FA4 (3) HIST-220 Women in America since 1850 FA4 (3) HIST-225 Russia and the Origins of Contemporary Eurasia FA3 (3) HIST-235 The West in Crisis, 1900-1945 FA2 (3) HIST-250 Empires and States in East Asia FA3 (3) One approved HIST-2xx course (3 credit hours) One approved HIST-3xx course (3 credit hours) Literature (15 credit hours) Required LIT-107 Creative Writing Across Genres FA1 (3) or LIT-121 Rethinking Literature FA1 (3) Two courses from the following: LIT-125 Great Books that Shaped the Western World FA2 (3) LIT-210 Survey of American Literature I (3) LIT-211 Survey of American Literature II (3) LIT-220 Survey of British Literature I (3) LIT-221 Survey of British Literature II (3) One course from the following: LIT-225 African Literature FA1 (3) LIT-232 Shakespeare FA1 (3) LIT-235 African-American Literature FA2 (3) LIT-240 Asian American Literature FA2 (3) LIT-245 The Experience of Poetry FA1 (3) LIT-265 Literature and Society in Victorian England FA2 (3) One approved LIT-3xx course (3 credit hours) Mathematics (17 credit hours) Required MATH-211 Applied Calculus I (4) or MATH-221 Calculus I (4) MATH-222 Calculus II (4) Three approved courses at the 300-level or above Music (16 credit hours) Required MUS-122 Private Instrumental or Vocal Study (2) (four semesters for a total of 8 credit hours) PERF-111 Class Piano Level I (1) PERF-114 Class Voice (1) PERF-124 Music Theory I (3) PERF-227 Musicianship I (3) Combined Bachelor's and Master's Degrees American University offers students the opportunity to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees through its combined bachelor's/master's programs. See Combined Bachelor's and Master's Degrees for more information.