Elementary Education Major, B.A.

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The Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Elementary Education features best practices denoted in current literature on teacher education as facilitating development of highly effective elementary teachers. The program’s clinical foundation provides teacher candidates authentic opportunities to learn and apply best practices while collaborating with some of the most effective teachers and schools in the Denver Metropolitan area. Students completing the Elementary Education Major complete coursework and participate in supervised clinical experiences, including two residencies in the same school that support development of the knowledge, understandings, and competencies required of successful elementary teachers in widely diverse classrooms. The Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education is an extended major with increasingly rigorous courses that build upon foundational general studies and introductory education courses for all Elementary Education majors. Teacher candidates graduate with appropriate preparation for initial licensure in Elementary Education in Colorado. In addition, each student selects from a concentration to specialize their knowledge and skills to meet specific needs of elementary schools. Please visit the School of Education (SOE) website for information on admission to this program.

Program Requirements

All candidates for a BA in Elementary Education must satisfy General Studies, Multicultural, Global Diversity, and all Elementary Education program requirements. A grade of “C-” or better is required for each course in the program to count toward the Bachelor’s degree.

Please note: The majority of field experience hours and all clinical experience hours occur during the elementary school day in university-designated classrooms supervised by licensed teachers.

Required General Studies

Written Communication (6 credits)

Students must complete 6 credits of Written Communication General Studies coursework.

Oral Communication (3 credits)

Students must completed 3 credits of Oral Communication General Studies coursework

Quantitative Literacy (3 credits)

MTH 1610 - Integrated Mathematics I
Credits: 3

Arts and Humanities (6 credits)

Students must complete 6 credits of Arts and Humanities General Studies coursework.

We recommend the following courses for this category:

ARTE 2060 - The Arts and Creative Thinking
Credits: 3
ENG 2460 - Introduction to Children’s Literature
Credits: 3

Historical (3 credits)

Students must complete 3 credits of Historical General Studies coursework.

We recommend the following courses for this category:

HIS 1210 - American History to 1865
Credits: 3

HIS 1220 - American History since 1865
Credits: 3

Natural and Physical Sciences (6 credits)

SCI 2600 - Integrated Biology and Earth Science
Credits: 3
SCI 2610 - Integrated Physical and Chemical Sciences
Credits: 3

Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 credits)

Students must complete 6 credits of Social and Behavioral Sciences General Studies coursework.

We recommend the following courses for this category:

GEG 1000 - World Regional Geography
Credits: 3
PSY 1800 - Developmental Educational Psychology
Credits: 3

Note: GEG 1000 also satisfies University Global Diversity course requirement.

Total General Studies Credit Hours: 33

Core Courses Required for the Major

CLD 3510 - Perspectives in Education for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners Credits: 3
CLD 3910 - Assessment of English Language Learners Credits: 3
EDT 3010 - Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching Credits: 3
EDU 1111 - Education within Diverse Communities Credits: 3
EDU 2111 - Becoming an Elementary Teacher Credits: 3
EDU 3222 - Developing Differentiated Learning Environments Credits: 3
EDU 3444 - Instructional and Assessment Practices in Differentiated Classrooms Credits: 3
EDU 3445 - Field Experience: Assessment Practices in Differentiated Classrooms Credits: 1
EDU 3550 - Teaching Elementary School Science and Health Credits: 3
EDU 3665 - Field Experience: Teaching Science, Health and Mathematics Credits: 1
EDU 3666 - Teaching Elementary School Mathematics Credits: 3
EDU 4011 - Teaching Elementary School Social Studies Credits: 3
EDU 4115 - Residency I Credits: 3-7
Or
EDU 4116 - CLD Residency I Credits: 3-7
Students in the CLD concentration will take EDU 4116 CLD Residency I instead of EDU 4115 Residency I.

All students complete 7 credits of Residency I (either EDU 4115 or EDU 4116).
EDU 4222 - Designing Instruction For All Learners Credits: 3
EDU 4225 - Residency II Credits: 3-9
Or
EDU 4226 - CLD Residency II Credits: 9
Students in the CLD concentration will take EDU 4226 CLD Residency II instead of EDU 4225 Residency II.

All students complete 9 credits of Residency II (either EDU 4225 or EDU 4226).
MTH 2620 - Integrated Mathematics II Credits: 3
MTL 3600 - Mathematics of the Elementary Curriculum Credits: 3
PETE 2130 - Health and Physical Education for Elementary Teachers Credits: 2
RDG 3111 - Emergent Literacy K-3 Credits: 3
RDG 3222 - Teaching Elementary School Writing Credits: 3
RDG 3333 - Intermediate Literacy 4-6 Credits: 3
RDG 3335 - Field Experience: K-6 Literacy Credits: 1
RDG 4444 - Accountability in Whole Class Literacy Assessment Credits: 3
SED 3600 - Exceptional Learners in the Classroom Credits: 3
Subtotal: 75 credits

Concentration Choices (15 credits)

Students must select one of the concentrations listed below.

Applied Developmental Psychology Concentration

PSY 1001 - Introductory Psychology Credits: 3
PSY 3250 - Child Psychology Credits: 3
PSY 3340 - Cognitive Development and Learning Credits: 3
PSY 3350 - Psychology of Social Development Credits: 3
Choose one of the following 3-credit courses:
PSY 2210 - Psychology of Human Development Credits: 3
PSY 3240 - Infancy Credits: 3
PSY 3260 - Psychology of Adolescence Credits: 3
PSY 3400 - Child Psychopathology Credits: 3
Subtotal: 15 credits

Chicana/o Studies Concentration

CHS 1000 - Introduction to Chicana/o Studies Credits: 3
CHS 2010 - Survey of Chicana/o Literature Credits: 3
CHS 3300 - Education of Chicano Children Credits: 3
CHS 3800 - Topics in Chicano Studies Credits: 3
Choose one of the following 3-credit courses:
CHS 3100 - Social Justice and Activism in the Chicana/o Community Credits: 3
CHS 3460 - Chicana Feminisms Credits: 3
Subtotal: 15 credits

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Concentration

ANT 2330 - Cross-Cultural Communication Credits: 3
or
COMM 3000 - Diversity and Communication in the U.S. Credits: 3
CLD 2890 - Second Language Acquisition: K-12 Educational Implications Credits: 3
CLD 3290 - Literacy Development for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students K-12 Credits: 3
CLD 3310 - Integrated Methods of Teaching English as a Second Language Credits: 3
One elective from the following:
CHS 3300 - Education of Chicano Children Credits: 3
CLD 3940 - Spanish Bilingual Language and Literacy Development Credits: 3
Note: CLD 3940 Bilingual Language and Literacy is taught in Spanish. This course is one of the courses required for the endorsement in Spanish/English Bilingual Education Specialist K-12.
ENG 3011 - Analyzing English Credits: 3
Any level language classes whether transfer, prior learning, or those taken at MSU Denver will be accepted as fulfilling this requirement. MSU Denver course prefixes include ASL, CHI, FRE, GER, ITA, JPS, MDL, SPA. Prior learning includes Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), or International Baccalaureate (IB) credit.
Subtotal: 15 credits

Disciplinary Knowledge Concentration

To develop your disciplinary knowledge in Social Studies, choose one of the following courses.
ECO 2010 - Principles of Macroeconomics Credits: 3
Or
ECO 2020 - Principles of Microeconomics Credits: 3
HIS 1030 - World History to 1500 Credits: 3
HIS 1040 - World History since 1500 Credits: 3
HIS 3425 - Colorado and the Nation Credits: 3
HIS 3430 - American Revolution and Early National Period, 1763-1848 Credits: 3
PSC 1010 - American National Government Credits: 3
To develop your disciplinary knowledge in science, choose one 3-credit course in the Natural and Physical Sciences (prefixes: BIO, PHY, GEL, ENV, MTR, GEG, CHE).
Choose three additional electives from the options listed above for either Social Studies or Natural and Physical Sciences.
Subtotal: 15 credits

Mathematics Concentration

MTL 3750 - Number and Algebra in the K-8 Curriculum Credits: 3
MTL 3760 - Geometry and Statistics in the K-8 Curriculum Credits: 3
Algebra requirement. One of the following:
MTH 1108 - College Algebra Stretch, Part I Credits: 4
And
MTH 1109 - College Algebra Stretch, Part II Credits: 4
(Note that this counts as two of the five courses for the concentration)
OR
MTH 1110 - College Algebra for Calculus Credits: 4
OR
MTH 1112 - College Algebra Through Modeling Credits: 4
Other mathematics or mathematics education courses to make a total of 5 credits.
MTH 1210 - Introduction to Statistics Credits: 4
MTL 3630 - Teaching Secondary Mathematics Credits: 3
MTL 3850 - STEM Teaching and Learning Credits: 2
MTL 3858 - STEM Teaching and Learning Practicum Credits: 1
Or any mathematics course that has MTH 1110 as a prerequisite.
Notes:
- MTL 3630 is recommended for teacher candidates who intend to add a middle school mathematics endorsement to their elementary license. For teacher candidates in the Elementary Education Mathematics concentration, the course instructor will waive the co-requisite field.
- In order to count MTL 3850 towards the concentration, students must also participate in the STEM Learning Assistant program.
Subtotal: 15 credits

Summary of Requirements

General Studies Requirements	33 credits
Core Courses Required for Major	75 credits
Area of Concentration	15 credits
Degree Program Total	123 credits

Program Revised June 25, 2021