Elementary Education

General Descriptive Overview

Elementary Education majors in the School of Teaching and Curriculum Leadership typically spend four years completing a 124-hour degree plan leading to graduation with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education degree through the OSU College of Education. This program prepares students as teachers in grades 1-8 and meets all requirements leading to Oklahoma Elementary Education certification, grades 1-8.

Career Opportunities

There is high demand for elementary teachers in rural and urban areas. Additionally, surrounding states value OSU graduates who particularly are actively recruited during Teacher Placement Days.

Activities Beyond the Classroom: The Elementary Education program includes four field experiences in the professional education strand. These experiences provide opportunities to work with and observe practicing classroom teachers in the following ways:

1. preparation for the opening of school
2. instruction, organization, and characteristics of students in the middle school
3. experienceing a full day of classroom activities
4. student teaching

Pedagogical courses in visual arts, literacy, science, mathematics and social studies include opportunities to work with children in the classroom. Elementary majors prepare activities for the Stillwater 6th grade Adventures Beyond the Classroom environmental day or the I Wonder Fair for Oklahoma 5th grade students held on the OSU campus. Additionally, tutoring in mathematics and reading is required during those pedagogy courses.

Student Organizations

Elementary Educators of Tomorrow provides activities and support. Minority Educators addresses the needs of diverse school populations. Student Education Association (SEA) provides an opportunity to interact with pre-service teachers at all levels and to become affiliated with the National Education Association.

Financial Aid

Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program - FFEL and Direct Loan Programs

Certifications

Students who successfully complete the degree requirements and who pass the three required state certification tests receive a license to teach grades 1-8. This initial teaching license is converted to a standard elementary (1-8) teaching certificate upon successful completion of the Oklahoma Residency Year Program.

Accreditation

The Elementary Education program is nationally approved by theAssociation for Childhood Education International (ACEI). The program is accredited with the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

Faculty

The members of the Elementary Education faculty are experts in their respective disciplines who have appropriate school teaching experience and maintain close, current contact with the public schools. The elementary education faculty work with other professionals., including classroom teachers to provide elementary education majors with the pedagogy and experiences necessary to connect general education, subject area specializations, and other professional course work to practice and become successful teachers.

Curriculum

The program model is intended to provide students with (1) a breadth of knowledge that reflect the broad traditions of the liberal arts and sciences, (2) a depth of knowledge in the area of specialization, and (3) diverse field experiences that allow students to demonstrate their ability to work with young children. Course development is guided by the program's philosophy and goals and the Professional Education Unit's Core Concepts and Goals. The current program is divided into three major strands: general education and subject area concentrations, professional education, and specialization.

Sixty-four hours of general education (English composition, oral communication, American government, and social sciences) and specialization study in the subject area concentrations (analytical and quantitative thought, cultural dimensions (including 10 hours in one foreign language), arts and humanities, and natural sciences) are required. Students generally complete this course work within their first two years.

Thirty hours in professional education studies are included in this strand. Field experiences included in this strand are described above.

The pedagogy portion of the specialization strand contains 30 hours of study in discipline-related courses commonly taught in elementary schools. Since the content structure of each discipline differs, students take courses in the teaching of science, mathematics, social studies, literacy (language arts, reading, children's literature), visual arts, and classroom management and design. Many of the specialization courses include a field component that allows the student to observe and practice in an elementary classroom what they are reading and discussing about in their college classrooms.

Technology/Facilities: Instructional applications involving technology occur throughout the program. Students have access to three computer labs represenging both the PC and Macintosh platforms and attend class in rooms in state-of-the-art technology to enhance the learning environment. In addition, students are taught how to use technology for instruction of K-12 students.

Last updated Thursday, September 20, 2007 2:16 PM