Elementary Education Major, B.A.

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Department of Elementary Education and Literacy

School of Education

Available Program Format(s): In-Person

About the Program

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. For those seeking a state teaching licensure in Elementary Education, this includes a culminating two-semester residency that supports development of the knowledge, understandings, and competencies required of successful elementary teachers in widely diverse classrooms.

Student Outcomes

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education is an extended major with increasingly rigorous courses that build upon foundational introductory coursework for all Elementary Education majors. In addition, each student selects a concentration to specialize their professional knowledge. The culminating clinical experience is a two-semester teacher residency program completed in cohort-based schools within our partner districts in the Denver metropolitan area. Teacher candidates pursuing licensure graduate with appropriate preparation for initial licensure in Elementary Education in Colorado. Students within the Elementary Education Major have an option to select a non-licensure pathway with alternative coursework in place of the final residency coursework. Please visit the School of Education (SOE) website for information on admission to this program.

General Degree Requirements

To earn a degree, students must satisfy all requirements in each of the four areas below, in addition to their individual major requirements.

Program Requirements

A total of at least 120 semester hours are required for graduation.
A grade of C- or better is required for each course in this program to count toward the bachelor’s degree. Students should note that programs differ in the minimum grade required.
A minor is not required for this program.
All candidates for a BA in Elementary Education must satisfy General Studies, ESSJ, Global Diversity, and all Elementary Education program requirements.
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.

General Studies Requirements: 33 credits

Students should consult the General Studies Requirements for a list of courses that fulfill the General Studies Requirements for degree completion.

Written Communication (6 credits)
Oral Communication (3 credits)
Quantitative Literacy (3 credits)
- We recommend the following courses for this category: MTH 1610 - Integrated Mathematics I Note: MTH 1610 also satisfies a requirement in the major. 
Arts and Humanities (6 credits)
- We recommend the following courses for this category: ARTE 2060 - The Arts and Creative Thinking and ENG 2460 - Introduction to Children’s Literature
Historical (3 credits)
- We recommend one of the following courses for this category: HIS 1210 - American History to 1865 or HIS 1220 - American History since 1865
Natural and Physical Sciences (6 credits)
- We recommend the following courses for this category: SCI 2600 - Integrated Biology and Earth Science and SCI 2610 - Integrated Physical and Chemical Sciences Note: SCI 2600 and SCI 2610 also satisfy requirements in the major.
Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 credits)
- We recommend the following courses for this category: GEG 1000 - World Regional Geography and PSY 1800 - Developmental Educational Psychology Note: GEG 1000 also satisfies University Global Diversity course requirement
Global Diversity (0 or 3 credits**)

** Students will fulfill the global diversity requirement by taking an approved course within one of the following categories: arts and humanities; historical; natural and physical sciences; or social and behavioral sciences.

Ethnic Studies & Social Justice Requirement: 0 or 3 credits

Students should consult the Ethnic Studies & Social Justice Graduation Requirement for a list of courses that fulfill the ESSJ Requirement for degree completion.
Many programs include courses that meet this requirement. Students should consult with their advisor to determine what program courses may fulfill this requirement.
- We recommend the following course: EDU 1111 - Education within Diverse Communities Note: EDU 1111 also satisfies a requirement in the major.

Core Courses Required for the Major: 62 credits

All Elementary Education Majors, whether licensure or non-licensure, complete the following core coursework. Registering for 3000-level methods courses and clinical fields requires application to the School of Education. Up to 9 credits indicated below can also be used to fulfill General Studies requirements.

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 (Note: EDU 1111 also satisfies the University ESSJ requirement.)
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
MTH 1610 - Integrated Mathematics I Credits: 3 (Note: MTH 1610 also satisfies a University General Studies requirement.)
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
SCI 2600 - Integrated Biology and Earth Science Credits: 3 (Note: SCI 2600 also satisfies a University General Studies requirement.)
SCI 2610 - Integrated Physical and Chemical Sciences Credits: 3 (Note: SCI 2610 also satisfies a University General Studies requirement.)
SED 3600 - Exceptional Learners in the Classroom Credits: 3
Students in the Elementary Education Major may differentiate their studies by choosing one of two pathways: Licensure (22 credits leading to a state teaching license) or Non-Licensure (18 credits).

Licensure Pathway: 22 credits

Teacher candidates in the Elementary Education Major, who seek a state teaching license, complete a two-semester, culminating clinical experience: Residency I (3 days per week) and Residency II (4 days per week). One co-requisite course is paired with each residency semester (RDG 4444 and EDU 4222).

EDU 4222 - Designing Instruction For All Learners Credits: 3
RDG 4444 - Accountability in Whole Class Literacy Assessment Credits: 3
All teacher candidates (2018 catalog year or later) within the licensure pathway complete 7 credits of Residency I. For most teacher candidates, this is EDU 4115. However, teacher candidates earning an endorsement in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CLD) Education or as a CLD Bilingual Education Specialist, complete EDU 4116 CLD Residency I instead of EDU 4115 Residency I. All state initial licensure requirements must be met in order to qualify for the additional CLD or CLD BES endorsement.
EDU 4115 - Residency I Credits: 3-7
or
EDU 4116 - CLD Residency I Credits: 3-7
All teacher candidates seeking initial teacher licensure complete 9 credits of Residency II. Teacher candidates, who are completing the requirements for an additional endorsement in CLD or CLD BES, complete EDU 4226 CLD Residency II instead of EDU 4225 Residency II. All state licensure requirements must be met in order to qualify for the additional state CLD or CLD BES endorsement.
EDU 4225 - Residency II Credits: 9 *
or
EDU 4226 - CLD Residency II Credits: 9 *
*Either EDU 4225 or EDU 4226 can fulfill the Senior Experience requirement.

Non-Licensure Pathway: 18 credits

Students majoring in Elementary Education may differentiate their plan of study by choosing 18 credits of coursework that supports a professional pathway related to educational studies. Non-licensure pathway students are encouraged to complete EDS 4010 Action Research within Communities of Practice, as a means to bridge their differentiated studies to their future professional communities through the high leverage practice of engaging in undergraduate research.

EDS 4010 - Action Research within Communities of Practice Credits: 3 (fulfills the Senior Experience requirement)
PSY 1001 - Introductory Psychology Credits: 3
PSY 2850 - Psychology of Sexuality Credits: 3
PSY 3000 - Theories of Personality Credits: 3
PSY 3030 - Multicultural Psychology Credits: 3
PSY 3050 - Psychology of Gender Credits: 3
PSY 3070 - Psychology of Sexual Orientation Credits: 3
PSY 3170 - Social Justice: Self and Citizenship: A Service Learning Course Credits: 3
PSY 3370 - Undergraduate Research Assistant Credits: 3
PSY 3390 - Undergraduate Teaching Assistant Training Credits: 3
PSY 3410 - Health Psychology Credits: 3
PSY 3450 - Organizational Psychology Credits: 3
PSY 3460 - Psychology of Play Credits: 3
PSY 3700 - Psychology of Group Prejudice Credits: 3
PSY 3920 - Gender Politics of Health Credits: 3
PSY 4100 - Clinical/Counseling Psychology: Treatment, Practice, and Skills Credits: 3

Concentration Choices: 15 credits

Students further differentiate their plan of study through selecting one of the following 15-credit concentrations. While students are only required to complete one concentration, they may choose to declare an additional concentration. 

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 elective from the following:
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

Ethnic Studies Concentration

Required Course (choose one of the following):
AAS 1030 - Introduction to Social Justice and Decoloniality Credits: 3
CHS 1030 - Introduction to Social Justice and Decoloniality Credits: 3
GWS 1030 - Introduction to Social Justice and Decoloniality Credits: 3
NAS 1030 - Introduction to Social Justice and Decoloniality Credits: 3
Choose one AAS course frrom the following:
AAS 1010 - Introduction to Africana Studies Credits: 3
AAS 1130 - Survey of African History Credits: 3
AAS 2200 - Politics and Black People Credits: 3
Choose one CHS course from the following:
CHS 1000 - Introduction to Chicana/o Studies Credits: 3
CHS 3020 - Chicana/o History, 1836 to the Present Credits: 3
CHS 3300 - Education of Chicano Children Credits: 3
CHS 3460 - Chicana Feminisms Credits: 3
Choose one GWS course from the following:
GWS 1001 - Introduction to Gender, Women, and Sexualities Studies Credits: 3
GWS 1200 - Multicultural Study of Sexualities and Genders Credits: 3
GWS 1550 - Introduction to Transgender Studies Credits: 3
Choose one elective from the following:
AAS 2010 - Interdisciplinary Research Methods in Social Issues Credits: 3
AAS 2100 - Women of Color Credits: 3
CHS 2030 - Interdisciplinary Research Methods in Social Issues Credits: 3
CHS 2100 - Women of Color Credits: 3
GWS 2010 - Interdisciplinary Research Methods in Social Issues Credits: 3
GWS 2100 - Women of Color Credits: 3
NAS 1000 - Introduction to Native American Studies Credits: 3

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Concentration

Students completing the CLD concentration as part of the licensure pathway can apply for an additional state CLD teaching endorsement upon completing all state initial licensure requirements. Students completing the CLD concentration as part of the non-licensure pathway would not qualify for a state endorsement.

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
Choose 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 mainly in Spanish. This course is one of the courses required for the endorsement in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CLD) Bilingual Education Specialist K-12 in Spanish and English.
LING 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, LANG, SPA. Prior learning includes Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), or International Baccalaureate (IB) credit. General Studies status is not required.

Disciplinary Knowledge Concentration

Choose at least one elective 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
- Choose at least one 3-credit elective in the Natural and Physical Sciences (prefixes: BIO, PHY, GEL, ENV, MTR, GEG, CHE).
- Choose a remaining combination of courses among those listed above in order to total 15 credits in the concentration.
- Note: In addition to at least one of the Social Science courses listed above and at least one of the Natural and Physical Science courses, students select additional electives from the options listed above for either Social Sciences or Natural and Physical Sciences so that their overall total for the concentration is at least 15 credits. These courses do not need General Studies designation.

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
Choose one of the following three options in order to meet the Algebra requirement:
MTH 1108 - College Algebra Stretch, Part I Credits: 4
and
MTH 1109 - College Algebra Stretch, Part II Credits: 4 Note: MTH 1108 and MTH 1109 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
Choose among the following mathematics or mathematics education elective courses for a total of 5 credits.
MTH 1210 - Introduction to Statistics Credits: 4
MTL 4630 - Teaching Secondary Mathematics Credits: 4
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.

Senior Experience: 3-7 credits

For students completing the Licensure Pathway, the following will fulfill the Senior Experience requirement:
EDU 4115 - Residency I Credits: 3-7
or
EDU 4116 - CLD Residency I Credits: 3-7
For students completing the Non-Licensure Pathway, the following course will fulfill the Senior Experience requirement:
EDS 4010 - Action Research within Communities of Practice Credits: 3
Please note: Senior Experience course credit is counted elsewhere in the major

Summary of Requirements

General Studies Requirements	33 credits
ESSJ Requirement	0-3 credits
Required Courses	62 credits
Licensure Pathway	22 credits
Non-Licensure Pathway	18 credits
Selected Concentration	15 credits
Senior Experience	counted elsewhere in major
Unrestricted Electives	0-10 credits
Total for the Elementary Education Major, B.A.	Minimum of 120 credits

Required courses for the major may also count for General Studies and ESSJ requirements, so the total credits listed may be greater than the number required to complete the degree. Therefore, it is important that you work with your advisor to make sure you are meeting requirements for your degree.