Elementary Education
Program Requirements
Elementary Education
Bachelor of Science in Education
Minimum of 125 hours required
Licensure grades K-6
See Curriculum Guides for specific areas of concentration below.
Requirements for the approved program are described in the following sections:
1. General Education Requirements (Elementary)
2. Teacher Education Courses (Elementary)
3. Areas of Concentration
4. Professional and Educational Service Hours
5. K-State 8 General Education
1. General Education Requirements (Elementary)
Courses in communications, humanities, social sciences, quantitative sciences (mathematics) and natural sciences provide a broad content background. A sound, general education is especially important for elementary teachers, who are called upon to teach every subject to children. The College of Education requires the following general education hours of all students completing the Bachelor of Science in Education degree at K-State. Any questions should be directed to an advisor in the Center for Student and Professional Services (13 Bluemont Hall, 532-5524).
Communications — minimum 8 semester hours
• ENGL 100 Expository Writing I (3)
• ENGL 200 Expository Writing II (3) (Pre-requisite is sophomore standing.)
• COMM 105, 106, or 109 Public Speaking (2-3)
A minimum grade of C is required in all communications courses.
Humanities — 12 semester hours required
• Literature – (3)
Any Department of English literature course (except ENGL 355 or 545) or any Department of Modern Languages literature course
•ENGL 355 Literature for Children (3) (Pre-requisite is sophomore standing and successful completion of one literature course.)
• ART 425 Art for Elementary Schools (3)
• MUSIC 405 Music for Elementary Teachers (3) (Junior standing)
Social Science — 12 semester hours required
• History (3) – Choose from HIST 251 or 252
• Geography (3) – Choose from GEOG 100 or 200
• Political Science (3) – Choose from POLSC 110 or 115
• Economics (3) – Three hours from the Department of Economics
Natural Science— 12 semester hours required
Select one course for each of the three areas. Each of these areas must include a laboratory.
Recommended:
• Biological: BIOL 198 Principles of Biology (4)
• Physical: PHYS 106 Concepts of Physics (4) -OR-
CHM 110 General Chemistry (3)
AND
CHM 111 General Chemistry Lab (1)
• Earth Science: GEOL 100 Earth in Action (3) AND
GEOL 103 Geology Lab (1) -OR-
GEOG 221 Introduction to Physical Geography (4)
Quantitative Science— 9 semester hours required
The following three courses are required:
• MATH 100 College Algebra or higher level math course* (3)
• MATH 160 Intro. Contemporary Math* (3) -OR-
STAT 325 or higher level statistics course* (3)
• MATH 320 Math for Elementary School Teachers I (3)
*Grade C or better required
2. Teacher Education Courses (Elementary)
The teacher education portion of the program includes courses in human development, psychology, foundations, technology, diversity, exceptionalities, and methods of teaching the many different subjects covered in the elementary classrooms. Along with college class work, there are practica that enable you to observe and assist in elementary schools. If you have documented disabilities, you should request accommodations prior to each field experience.
Student teaching takes place near the end of the program. With guidance and support from a cooperating teacher and a college supervisor, you will gradually assume responsibility for planning and teaching in an elementary school for a full semester or more.
Pre-Professional Component
Admission to teacher education is NOT required for enrollment in the following courses.
(See noted requisites.)
• DED 075 Orientation to Teacher Education at KSU (0)
• FSHS 110 Introduction to Human Development (3)
• EDEL 200 Teaching as a Career (1)
(Co-requisite with EDEL 230 and sophomore standing)
• EDEL 230 Early Field Experience (1)
(Co-requisite with EDEL 200 and sophomore standing)
• EDEL 250 Health and Movement Education in Elementary Classrooms (2)
• EDEL 310 Foundations of Education (3)
(Must be taken with or after EDEL 200)
Professional Component
Admission to Teacher Education is required prior to enrollment in any course or practicum in the Professional Component.
Block A
(Classes below are co-requisites. They are pre-requisites to Block B)
• EDEL 320 Core Teaching Skills and Lab (3)
• EDCEP 315 Educational Psychology (3)
(FSHS 110 is a pre-requisite)
• EDSP 324 Exceptional Child in the Regular Classroom (3)
• DED 318 Education Technology for Teaching & Learning (1)
Block B
(Classes below are co-requisites. They are pre- requisites to Block C.)
• EDEL 410 Block B Practicum: K-6 (1)
• EDEL 411 Teaching Literacy: K-2 (3)
• EDEL 412 Teaching Science: K-6 (3)
• EDEL 413 Classroom Assessment: K-6 (1)
• EDEL 414 Teaching Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners (3)
Block C
(Classes below are co-requisites. They are pre- requisites to the Professional Semester.)
• EDEL 460 Block C Practicum: K-6 (1)
• EDEL 461 Teaching Literacy: Grades 3-6 (3)
• EDEL 462 Teaching Social Studies: K-6 (3)
• EDEL 463 Teaching Math: K-6 (3)
• EDEL 464 Classroom Management and Discipline: K-6 (1)
Professional Semester
(Student Teaching/Teaching Internship)
Application for the Professional Semester must be filed by December 20 of the academic year preceding enrollment in the Professional Semester.
• EDEL 585 Teaching Internship in Elementary Schools (15)
Notes:
Block A courses must be taken concurrently and completed prior to Block B. Block B courses and practicum must be taken concurrently and completed prior to Block C. Block C courses and practicum must be taken concurrently and completed prior to student teaching.
A grade of C or higher is required in all courses and practica in Block A (EDEL 320, EDCEP 315, EDSP 324, DED 318), Block B (EDEL 410, 411, 412, 413, 414), and Block C (EDEL 460, 461, 462, 463, 464).
Students receiving a grade of less than a C in a Block A course will not be permitted to proceed to Block B until a grade of C is recorded (i.e., must retake the Block A course first). For students who receive a grade of less than a C in a Block B or Block C course or practicum, the student’s instructors will meet to discuss the situation and determine which courses and/or practica are to be retaken or if additional actions are needed; these students will not be permitted to proceed to the next Block until the higher grades are recorded.
To proceed to student teaching, 3.0 GPA is required in the content methods courses and practica in Block B (EDEL 410, 411, 412) and Block C (EDEL 460, 461, 462, 463).
Content methods courses and practica in Block B (EDEL 410, 411, 412), Block C (EDEL 460, 461, 462, 463), and the EDEL 585 Internship must be completed at K-State.
3. Areas of Concentration (Elementary)
The Bachelor of Science Degree in Education requires the completion of an area of concentration of 15 hours in addition to hours completed in the general education component of the degree. An area of concentration is a group of courses with related content, which will enhance teaching in the elementary classroom. The area of concentration consists of a minimum of 15 semester hours. All courses must earn a letter grade. (Credit earned for AP, CLEP, or testout can be accepted.)
Following is a list of the available areas of concentration. Please click on the links to see the Curriculum Guides for each area.
- English (PDF)
- English for Speakers of Other Languages (PDF)
- Mathematics (PDF)
- Modern Languages (PDF)
- Science (PDF)
- Social Science (PDF)
- Special Education (PDF)
→ See also QuickStart Provisional Endorsement brochure (PDF)
4. Professional Development Hours
There are two areas in this professional development component of your teacher preparation:
• Professional growth/service to the profession and
• Educational service to youth and families or caregivers.
Forty hours of service are required. There is more information on-line on the Forms page.
5. K-State 8 General Education
Kansas State University requires all graduates to meet the K-State 8 General Education requirements as part of their program. The K-State 8 encourages students to explore coursework from 8 different perspectives. The College of Education curriculum meets all 8 requirements in our General Education, Teacher Education, and Area of Concentration coursework. More information is found at the K-State 8 website.
