Elementary majors are provided on campus opportunities to try innovative methods of teaching.
About The Program
Unique features of the Teacher Education Program include a rigorous, comprehensive liberal arts education, early and multiple field experiences, strong mentoring by faculty and staff, and career assistance through the Career Development & Internship Program in both the undergraduate and graduate programs. The state-accredited VWU Teacher Education Program is approved by the Virginia Board of Education and reviewed by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.
Leads to endorsement in: Elementary Education (preK-6)
Chair: Dr. William McConnell
Students completing a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education must complete required Core and Pre-admission Coursework which is specifically aligned to meet competencies recommended in the Virginia Board of Education’s Regulations Governing the Review and Approval of Education Programs in Virginia. These courses provide aspiring teachers a broad-based foundational knowledge in the liberal arts which they will apply in the professional education courses within their major.
Students seeking to major in Elementary Education must complete the following requirements to be admitted into the major on the licensure track.
- Complete and submit .
- Submit passing scores on VWU Math Competency Assessment.
- Submit passing scores on Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA).
- Successfully complete pre-admission courses with a grade of C or above.
- Achieve the required average ratings (stated in Candidate Handbook) on the VWU Dispositional Survey for Educators.
- Achieve cumulative GPA of at least 2.8 by December of Sophomore year.
Required Core Coursework
Course Number and Title |
Semester Hours |
|---|---|
BIO 100: The World of Biology |
4 |
ENG 222: Teaching Grammar and Writing |
4 |
ENG 317: Children’s Literature |
4 |
GEOG 111: Physical Geography |
4 |
HIST 243: World History to A.D. 1600 |
4 |
HIST 247: History of the United States |
4 |
MBE 100: Introduction to Economics |
4 |
MATH 325: Theory of Elementary Mathematics I |
4 |
MATH 326: Theory of Elementary Mathematics II |
4 |
PHSC 100: Introduction to Physical Science |
4 |
Course in natural science as approved by academic advisor |
4 |
Total Hours Required: |
44 |
*Science choice must be from a different rubric than BIO and PHSC.
Required Pre-admission Coursework
Course Number And Title |
Semester Hours |
|---|---|
INST 202: The School and Society |
4 |
EDUC 225: Characteristics of the Learner |
4 |
EDUC 266: Classroom Management and Teaching Strategies |
4 |
Total Hours Required: |
12 |
Elementary Education Major (Licensure Track)
Course Number And Title |
Semester Hours |
|---|---|
EDUC 320: Teaching Reading & Language Arts I |
4 |
EDUC 321: Teaching Reading and the Language Arts II |
4 |
EDUC 328: Teaching Math for Diverse Learners |
4 |
EDUC 329: Curriculum & Instruction PreK-6 |
4 |
EDUC 330: Elementary Practicum |
1 |
EDUC 350: Assessment and Data-Driven Instruction |
4 |
EDUC 434: Elementary Pre-Service Teaching I |
8 |
EDUC 434: Elementary Pre-Service Teaching II |
8 |
SPED 371: Foundations/Legal Issues in Special Education |
4 |
Total Hours Required: |
41 |
View the Undergraduate to learn more about the Elementary, Special Education, and Education Studies programs here at VWU. VWU also has a Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) that leads to teaching endorsement in one of 13 areas and an M.Ed. for licensed teachers.