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Elementary Education Major

Become an elementary school teacher

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Do you have a passion for teaching and enjoy working with young children? Study elementary education at a university that has set itself up as one of the leading producers of teachers in the region.

As an elementary education major at SBU, you will become certified to teach in elementary school settings (grades 1-6 in Missouri). Coursework and experiences in local school settings will prepare you to meet the needs of young students while being aware of their growth and development.

You can choose to further your career potential by taking additional coursework in early childhood education or a middle school content area, or taking elective courses in other areas of interest such as English as a Second Language (ESL), intercultural studies, Christian ministry, psychology, etc.

The Elementary Education bachelor's degree is offered through SBU's College of Professional Programs. 

Resources

Major Map (PDF)

Degree Plan

95%
exam
pass rate

(Pass rate on Missouri's elementary education certification exam
for the past six years.)

two girls holding welcome to S-B-U sign

The SBU Advantage

  • 100% of SBU's elementary education teacher candidates passed the Missouri Pre-Service Teacher Assessment (MoPTA) completed during student teaching.
  • All elementary education majors at SBU are enrolled in "Junior Block" during their junior years, which provides a tight link between methods classes and extensive field experiences.
  • Engage in field experience opportunities as early as your freshman year and culminating with your student teaching experience your senior year.
  • Learn from faculty who are experts in their field and come from diverse educational and professional backgrounds, including public school, private school and homeschool.
  • Faculty are dedicated to helping you succeed and will work with you one-on-one to develop your resume, network for jobs, pursue teaching certification in other states, etc.

Faith Integration

The intentional integration of Christian faith with the education curriculum distinguishes SBU's education department. Christian principles are discussed in the classroom and applied to educational strategies, philosophies, and best practices. At SBU, we approach education and teaching from the basis of a Christian worldview.

As an education major at SBU, you will be challenged to consider your job to be more than just teacher but also role model and servant leader. You will learn to view the classroom as a mission field in which well-trained Christian teachers are desperately needed.

Department of education faculty live out their own walks with Christ in all they do - in the classroom, with advisees, with fellow faculty and in service to the University, community and their local churches.

Careers

Employers want our graduates and frequently call to request them. Our education alumni have been hired as:

  • Public school teachers
  • Private school teachers
  • Preschool teachers
  • Daycare center administrators and teachers
  • International school teachers
  • Military base teachers
  • Missionaries
  • Camp ministry leaders
  • Christian camp recruitment leaders
  • Children’s ministers

Graduate Schools

An advantage to studying education at SBU is the access to SBU's distinguished master's and doctorate degree programs in education. Many students begin their teaching careers while simultaneously pursuing further education at SBU with one of the following degree programs:

Student Missouri State Teachers Association

As an elementary education major, you are encouraged to join SBU's chapter of Student Missouri State Teachers Association (SMSTA) to benefit from professional development and networking opportunities as you prepare for your future teaching career.

Scholarships

Thanks to generous donors, more than $40,000 in privately funded scholarships is available annually by application to anyone pursuing an education degree.

Additionally, you are encouraged to apply for any of the various competitive scholarships announced annually by outside organizations, such as the Missouri Association of Rural Education Scholarship (three to five $1,000 awards statewide annually) or the Jack J. Isgur Foundation Scholarship (approximately 35 $3,000 awards statewide annually).

Full-Time Faculty

Julie Bryant

Dr. Julie Bryant, Professor
Scott Morrison

Dr. Scott Morrison, Associate Professor
Jennifer Fox

Dr. Jennifer Fox, Certification Officer
Tamara Samek

Dr. Tamara Samek, Associate Professor
Chuck Lentz

Dr. Chuck Lentz, Professor
Colleen Shuler

Dr. Colleen Shuler, Assistant Professor

Admission and Certification

Admission to the elementary education and middle school education degree programs at SBU is contingent on a cumulative GPA of 2.75. You must also pass all sections of the Missouri General Education Assessment (MoGEA).

SBU's Department of Education receives program approval on an annual basis from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Program approval is current so SBU graduates are able to apply for and receive teaching certification in Missouri.

Once you have your initial Missouri teaching certificate, you may add other areas of certification by taking and passing the appropriate exam(s). For example, many elementary education majors take the Early Childhood Education exam to add certification for birth through third grade, allowing them to teach in preschools, daycare centers or kindergarten classrooms. Many middle school education majors choose to add additional content area certifications.

Many students are interested in becoming certified special education teachers. Both elementary education and middle school education majors will receive the coursework and training helpful to this career path through classes such as Educational Psychology, Teaching Diverse Learners and Assessment and Evaluation of Learners. You then would be equipped to take and pass the Special Education Certification exam. This would give you greater career flexibility as you would be certified as either an elementary or middle school teacher and as a special education teacher.

Elementary Education (with Early Childhood Focus) Four-Year Plan

Freshman

Fall Semester

BIB 1013 Old Testament History 3
MAT 1143 College Algebra 3
ENG 1113 English Composition I 3
CIS 1103 Computer and Information Management 3
EDU 2113 Educational Psychology 3
UNI 1111 University Seminar 1
Total hours 16

Spring Semester

BIB 1023 New Testament History 3
MAT 2393 Geometry, Data & Probability for Elementary and Middle School Teachers 3
ENG 2213 English Composition II 3
EDU 2313 Foundations of Education 3
GEO 1103 Geography 3
UNI 1121 Introduction to Critical Thinking 1
Total hours 16
 

Sophomore

Fall Semester

BIO 1004 Principles of Biology 4
POL 1113 American Government and Politics 3
EDU 2353 Children’s Literature 3
EDU 2283 Teaching Number Theory 3
EDU 2332 Teaching the Young Child 2
EDU 2381/91 Practicum 1
Total hours 16

Spring Semester

PHS 2005 Physical Science Elem/Middle Teachers 5
HIS 2213/2223 U.S. History I or II 3
EDU 2343 Emergent Literacy 3
EDU 2823 Technology for Educators 3
EDU 2232 Introduction to Early Childhood Education 2
EDU 2381/91 Practicum 1
Total hours 17
 

Junior

Fall Semester (Junior Block)

EDU 3114 Teaching Reading/Language Arts 4
EDU 3003 Teaching Social Sciences 3
EDU 3183 Teaching Integrated Science 3
EDU 3143 Integrating Art, Music and Movement 3
EDU 3311 Field Experience Level 2 1
EDU 3043 Learner Development and the Classroom 3
Total hours 17

Spring Semester (Junior Block)

EDU 3124 Teaching Reading/Language Arts 4
EDU 3483 School, Home & Community Collaboration 3
EDU 3163 Teaching Integrated Math 3
EDU 3823 Behavior and Classroom Management 3
EDU 3321 Field Experience Level 2 1
EDU 2243 Health, Safety and Nutrition 3
Total hours 17
 

Senior

Fall Semester

ECO 2003 LIFE Economics 3
SPF 2012 Introduction to Spiritual Formation 2
FAR 10_3 Intro. to Art, Fine Arts, Music or Theatre 3
COM 1103 Fundamentals of Speech Communication 3
KIN 1162 Foundations of Physical Fitness/Wellness 2
EDU 2003 Curriculum, Planning and Assessment 3
Total hours 16

Spring Semester

EDU 4623 Teaching Diverse Learners 3
EDU 4929 Student Teaching Elementary School 10
EDU 4691 Student Teaching Seminar 1
Total hours 14

This is a proposed guideline. Please check the catalog and see your advisor for your final degree requirements.
Southwest Baptist University reserves the right to make changes to degree plans without advanced notice or obligation.
The student is responsible for understanding and completing all general education, degree, departmental and graduation requirements.

Download in PDF format:
Elementary Education (Early Childhood Focus) Plan (PDF)

 

Elementary Education (Other Focus Area) Four-Year Plan

Freshman

Fall Semester

BIB 1013 Old Testament History 3
MAT 1143 College Algebra 3
ENG 1113 English Composition I 3
CIS 1103 Computer and Information Management 3
EDU 2113 Educational Psychology 3
UNI 1111 University Seminar 1
Total hours 16

Spring Semester

BIB 1023 New Testament History 3
MAT 2293 Geometry, Data and Probability for
Elementary and Middle School Teachers		 3
ENG 2213 English Composition II 3
EDU 2313 Foundations of Education 3
GEO 1103 Geography 3
UNI 1121 Introduction to Critical Thinking 1
Total hours 16
 

Sophomore

Fall Semester

BIO 1004 Principles of Biology 4
POL 1113 American Government and Politics 3
EDU 2353 Children’s Literature 3
EDU 2823 Technology for Educators 3
EDU 2283 Teaching Number Theory 3
Total hours 16

Spring Semester

PHS 2005 Physical Science Elem/Middle Teachers 5
HIS 2213/2223 U.S. History I or II 3
EDU 2343 Emergent Literacy 3
EDU 2121 Field Experience Level 1 1
EDU 3043 Learner Development 3
  Focus area course 3
Total hours 18
 

Junior

Fall Semester (Junior Block)

EDU 3114 Teaching Reading/Language Arts 4
EDU 3003 Teaching Social Sciences 3
EDU 3183 Teaching Integrated Science 3
EDU 3143 Integrating Art, Music and Movement 3
SPF 2012 Introduction to Spiritual Formation 2
EDU 3311 Field Experience Level 2 1
Total hours 16

Spring Semester (Junior Block)

EDU 3124 Teaching Reading/Language Arts 4
EDU 3483 School, Home & Community Collaboration 3
EDU 3163 Teaching Integrated Math 3
EDU 3823 Behavior and Classroom Management 3
EDU 3823 Field Experience Level 2 1
  Focus area course 3
Total hours 17
 

Senior

Fall Semester

ECO 2003 LIFE Economics 3
FAR 10_3 Intro. to Art, Fine Arts, Music or Theatre 3
COM 1103 Fundamentals of Speech Communication 3
KIN 1162 Foundations of Physical Fitness/Wellness 2
EDU 2003 Curriculum Planning and Assessment 3
  Focus area course 3
Total hours 17

Spring Semester

EDU 4623 Teaching Diverse Learners 3
EDU 4929 Student Teaching Elementary School 10
EDU 4691 Student Teaching Seminar 1
Total hours 14

NOTE: Focus area options and suggested courses are listed below.

Elementary Education Focus Area (Choose 8-9 hours)


Early Childhood

EDU 2232 Introduction to Early Childhood Education (S) 2
EDU 2332 Teaching the Young Child (F) 2
EDU 2381 Practicum — Infant/Toddler (F/S) 1
EDU 2391 Practicum — Preschool/Kindergarten (F/S) 1
EDU 2243 Health, Safety and Nutrition (S) 3

Middle School Language Arts

ENG 3353 Advanced Composition (F/S) 3
ENG 3373 Structure of the English Language (F) 3
ENG 3303 American Literature for Young Adults (F) 3
  American literature elective (F/S) 3
  English or world literature elective (F/S) 3
 
 

Middle School Mathematics

MAT 1195 Analytics and Calculus I (F/S) 5
MAT 3353 Integrated Math (S even, Jan odd) 3
MAT 3372 Math Technologies (F even, Jan even) 2
MAT ___3 Upper-level math elective (F/S) 3

Middle School Science

BIO 2134 General Zoology (S) 4
BIO 2234 General Botany (F) 4
BIO 3334 Ecology (S) 4
BIO 2214 Environmental Biology (F odd) 4
 
 

Middle School Social Science

HIS 1113 History of World Civilization I (F) 3
HIS 1123 History of World Civilization II (S) 3
POL 2223 American State and Local Government 3
ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics (F) 3
ECO 2033 Principles of Macroeconomics (S) 3

Middle School Speech/Theatre

COM 2223 Argumentation and Debate (F) 3
COM 3303 Oral Interpretation of Literature (F odd) 3
COM 3313 Advanced Public Speaking (S) 3
COM 3383 Small Group Communication (F) 3
THR 1053 Stagecraft (F) 3

Download in PDF format:
Elementary Education (Other Focus Area) Plan (PDF)