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.
Admissions
Students interested in majoring in Elementary Education are initially enrolled as BPRE, or Pre-Elementary Education. They must meet certain requirements and successfully complete the appropriate application form to be admitted to the BSEd in Elementary Education.
The requirements for admission to the BSEd in Elementary Education from BPRE status are:
- 2.50 overall GPA
- Within 9 credits of completing the Mason Core requirements
- Complete a Content Area Coursework review
Policies
Students in the BSEd in Elementary Education must maintain at least a 2.50 GPA and earn a C or better in their coursework. Prior to applying for internship, students must successfully complete:
- Emergency First Aid, CPR and AED certification or training
- Virginia Communication & Literacy Assessment (VCLA)
- Praxis Teaching Reading: Elementary
- Praxis Subject Assessment for Elementary Education
- Completion of Content Area Coursework
Licensure testing requirements are determined by the Commonwealth of Virginia and may change at any time. If changes to these requirements occur, students must meet the current testing and licensure requirements as set forth in the legal Code of Virginia.
Termination from Program Policy:
Termination from the major may be imposed as a result of excessive repeating of required courses without achieving the minimum standard, and for other evidence of continued failure to make adequate progress toward completion of the major, including failure to maintain at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA and failure to exhibit professional dispositions.
A grade of C or higher is required in each of the Elementary Education major courses (see Requirements section in this catalog for list of 17 required major courses). Students will not be permitted to make more than three graded attempts to achieve a C or higher in each course. Once a student has attempted a major course twice unsuccessfully, they must meet with an academic advisor in order to develop a success plan and receive an override to register for the third attempt. Those who do not successfully complete a major course within three attempts will be terminated from the major.
Students have the right to appeal termination from major by following the CEHD academic appeal process.
Degree Requirements
Total credits: 120
Mason Core
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Foundation Requirements: | ||
Written Communication | 3 | |
Composition (Mason Core) (recommended course) | ||
Oral Communication | 3 | |
Quantitative Reasoning | 3 | |
Mathematics for the Elementary School Teachers II (Mason Core) (recommended course) | ||
Information Technology and Computing | 3 | |
Integrating Technology in PreK-6 (Mason Core) (recommended course) | ||
Exploration Requirements: | ||
Arts | 3 | |
Introduction to the Visual Arts (Mason Core) (recommended course) | ||
Global Understanding | 3 | |
Major World Regions (Mason Core) (recommended course) | ||
Literature | 3 | |
Children's Literature for Teaching in Diverse Settings (Mason Core) (recommended course) | ||
Natural Science | 7-8 | |
Two lab sciences in different disciplines (recommended) | ||
Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
Introduction to Education: Teaching, Learning and Schools (Mason Core) (recommended course) | ||
Global History | 3 | |
Integration Requirement: | ||
Written Communication | 3 | |
Advanced Composition (Mason Core) (recommended course) | ||
Synthesis/Capstone | ||
Total Credits | 37-38 |
Major Requirements
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ELED 242 | Foundations of Elementary Education | 3 |
ELED 305 | Foundations of Elementary Methods and Management | 3 |
ELED 390 | Clinical Experience: Theory to Practice Integration, Part 1 | 2 |
ELED 391 | Clinical Experience: Theory to Practice Integration, Part 2 | 1 |
ELED 401 | Classroom Management and Instructional Strategies for Diverse Learners | 3 |
ELED 402 | Differentiating Elementary Methods and Management | 3 |
ELED 410 | Emergent and Early Literacy | 3 |
ELED 411 | Reading Development, Processes, Assessment, and Pedagogy | 3 |
ELED 412 | Writing Development, Processes and Pedagogy | 3 |
ELED 421 | STEM in the Elementary Classroom | 3 |
ELED 443 | Children, Family, Culture, and Schools, 4-12 Year Olds | 3 |
ELED 452 | Mathematics Methods for the Elementary Classroom | 3 |
ELED 453 | Science Methods for the Elementary Classroom | 3 |
ELED 454 | Methods of Teaching Social Studies and Integrating Fine Arts in the Elementary Classroom | 3 |
ELED 459 | Researching Problems of Practice in Elementary Education | 3 |
ELED 480 | Practicum in Elementary Education | 3 |
ELED 490 | Internship in Elementary Education (Mason Core) | 9 |
EDUC 301 | Educating Diverse and Exceptional Learners | 3 |
Elementary Ed Program Elective (choose one course): | 3 | |
Engaging Families of Diverse Learners, Birth – Grade 6 | ||
Methods for Teaching PK-6 English Learners in Inclusive Classrooms | ||
Collaboration in PK-6 Inclusive School Settings | ||
Characteristics of Students with Disabilities who Access the General Curriculum | ||
Individualized Behavior Supports | ||
Health and Physical Activity for Classroom Teachers | ||
Total Credits | 60 |
Electives
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Select 22-23 credits of electives | 22-23 | |
Total Credits | 22-23 |
Bachelor of Science in Education, Elementary Education Sample Plan of Study
The sample plan below is a recommended sequencing of courses based on pre-requisites and scheduling. This may not fit every student's needs and is a guideline, not a requirement. Students should confirm major requirements with their academic advisor and with PatriotWeb Degree Evaluation to ensure they enroll in the proper courses and are on track to graduate.
First Year | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall Semester | Credits | Spring Semester | Credits |
ENGH 101 | 3 | Oral Communication (COMM 100 or 101) | 3 |
Natural Science with Lab | 4 | ELED 257 | 3 |
EDUC 200 | 3 | ELED 258 | 3 |
Elective (UNIV 100 recommended) | 1 | Elective (GOVT 103 recommended) | 3 |
Western Civilization (HIST 100 or 125) | 3 | Elective (MATH 271 recommended) | 3 |
14 | 15 | ||
Second Year | |||
Fall Semester | Credits | Spring Semester | Credits |
Natural Science with Lab (choose different discipline) | 4 | ENGH 302 | 3 |
ARTH 101 | 3 | GGS 101 | 3 |
ELED 242 | 3 | EDUC 301 | 3 |
MATH 272 | 3 | Elective | 3 |
Elective (HIST 121 or HIST 122 recommended) | 3 | Elective | 3 |
16 | 15 | ||
Third Year | |||
Fall Semester | Credits | Spring Semester | Credits |
ELED 305 | 3 | ELED 391 | 1 |
ELED 390 | 2 | ELED 401 | 3 |
ELED 443 | 3 | ELED 411 | 3 |
ELED 454 | 3 | ELED 452 | 3 |
ELED 410 | 3 | ELED 453 | 3 |
14 | 13 | ||
Fourth Year | |||
Fall Semester | Credits | Spring Semester | Credits |
ELED 402 | 3 | ELED 459 | 3 |
ELED 412 | 3 | ELED 490 | 9 |
ELED 421 | 3 | Elective | 3 |
ELED 480 | 3 | ||
Elective | 3 | ||
15 | 15 | ||
Total Credits 117 |
Detailed four year plans and degree planning checklists can be found at https://advising.gmu.edu/academic-planning/.