Elementary Education Program

Requirements for B.S. Degree with a Major in Elementary Education (K-6)

The Elementary Education Program is planned so that candidates will acquire:

(1) knowledge across all subject areas included in the breadth of the Gardner-Webb core curriculum and enhanced by the specialty area (Elementary Education) of the curriculum. [The beginning teacher should be broadly and liberally educated and have full command of the subjects that he or she will teach.]

(2) knowledge of characteristics of developmental stages of children from ages five to twelve

(3) understanding of unique learning characteristics of children from a wide variety of cultural and language backgrounds and of exceptional students.

(4) skills to adapt curriculum and teaching strategies to meet elementary learners' needs.

(5) skills to organize classroom environment which meets the needs of and stimulates the intellectual growth of children.

(6) interpersonal skills for the purpose of establishing effective communication within the classroom, within the school, and in establishing productive home-school linkages.

(7) skills to effectively evaluate student learning and to use results to establish an effective instructional program

(8) understanding of contemporary issues related to teaching as a profession and to schooling in a complex society

(9) knowledge about schools, teaching and children that increases through carefully planned and supervised field experiences

Along with the basic core requirements, a major in Elementary Education requires 34 hours in the following courses:

Art 300;
Education 302, 305, 312, and 320;
Mathematics 204;

Mathematics Education 330;
Music 345, 346;
Physical Education 300;
Social Studies Education 307; and
Science Education 330

Additional requirements to meet NC licensure:

GEOL 105, MUSC 225, ARTS 225, POLS 202, HIST 245, BIOL 103, CHEM 103 or PHYS 103, and Literature (American and World or English).

NOTE: Students will not be permitted to complete more than 50% of the elementary education major until they are formally admitted into the Teacher Education Program.

Required Minor for Elementary Education

The required minor in Professional Education consists Psychology 301, 303; and Education 201, 301, 313, 325, 401, 430, 440, and 450.

NOTE: Students will not be permitted to complete more that 50% of the Professional Education minor until they are formally admitted into the Teacher Education Program.