Bachelor of Science in Education Degree - Elementary Education
The Bachelor of Science in Education degree with a major in Elementary Education includes general education courses, courses from specific disciplines, professional education courses, courses for an optional minor or area of concentration, and elective courses. A grade of “C” or better is required in all professional education courses graded on an “A” through “F” letter basis, and a grade of “S” is required in all professional education courses graded on an “S/U” letter basis.
Degree Requirements:
General Education Courses
Major Courses
Optional Minor or Concentration courses
Elective Courses
Degree available in Bismarck
Requirements
General Education Requirements for the Major in Elementary Education
For accreditation and licensure requirements the following general education courses are required for a major in Elementary Education:
Communication
Citizenship
Critical and Creative Thinking
Select one course from the following:
Elementary Education Major Courses
Pre-Professional Courses:
Professional Courses in Elementary Methods Block - Fall
These courses must be taken concurrently.
Professional Courses in Elementary Methods Block - Spring
These courses must be taken concurrently.
Additional Professional Courses:
Pre-Service Teaching Semester (15 credits):
Select one (ELED 498K requires prior completion of coursework for early childhood concentration):
All professional courses have a prerequisite of admission to Teacher Education
Minors and Areas of Concentration
In addition to the General Education and major requirements, an Elementary Education major may choose to pursue a minor or an area of concentration. If the minor is in a subject that teachers can be licensed to teach in North Dakota, then it can lead to licensure in combination with an education major. Students should consult with their academic advisors or the department chair to discuss licensure details. Specific requirements for each minor are shown under that department in the catalog.
With the approval of the chair of the Department of Teacher Education, a student may select coursework for the middle school endorsement in lieu of a minor. The middle school endorsement must be in a content area approved by the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board (ESPB). Coursework applicable to the middle school endorsement will be determined in consultation with the academic advisor and the department chair.
A concentration consists of a minimum of 12 hours in one of these areas: natural science, social science, computer science, mathematics, reading, or early childhood. Other options may be available with the approval of the chair of the Department of Teacher Education. Required courses for the major or those courses used for general studies may not be counted in an area of concentration. Otherwise, coursework for most areas of concentration is decided jointly by the student and his or her academic advisor. Two exceptions are the reading and early childhood concentrations. Those concentrations lead to special state teacher license endorsements or credentials and require particular courses, as described in the next section.
Requirements for the Area of Concentration in Early Childhood Education
A student must be majoring in Elementary Education and be admitted into the Teacher Education Program to take the required courses in the early childhood sequence. Students must complete the entire sequence to be recommended for an early childhood endorsement on a state teaching license.
ELED 498B is for students who already have completed ELED 498A - Teaching in the Elementary School (15 credits). Alternately, students may complete ELED 498K - Teaching in Elementary and Early Childhood Classrooms (15 credits) in lieu of ELED 498A and ELED 498B.
Requirements for the Area of Concentration in Reading
A student must be admitted into the Teacher Education Program to take the required courses in the area of concentration in reading. The area of concentration in reading offers the coursework leading to a reading credential for grades K-6. To obtain a reading credential, students make application to the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (DPI) after graduation and attainment of their initial North Dakota teaching license for elementary school.
Select two courses from the following: (6 credits)