The University-wide General Education Requirements and Teacher Education Program pre-requisites provide Elementary Education majors with 50 hours of broadly based subject matter background. In addition, Elementary Education majors must select either one K-12 licensure minor with a minimum of 20 credits, or two non-licensure areas of concentration with a minimum of 14 credits each. There are 12 possible subjects in which areas of concentration can be developed These areas of concentration are developed in consultation with the advisor and may be selected from the following: art, biology, early childhood, English, general science, health and physical education, history and social science, mathematics, music, physical science, reading, and science. Additional areas of teaching concentration may be planned on an individual basis and is subject to the Dean’s approval. Although all elementary majors will receive the same license and grade level endorsement, it is recommended that students planning to teach in the upper grade levels include the addition of minors in their program. This is especially desirable for teaching in grades seven and eight. Students desiring added licensure should consider a K-12 minor.

An elementary education degree will open up many doors for graduates as there is always a high demand for teachers. Every Elementary Education student will graduate with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to begin an elementary teaching career.