Elementary Education Bachelor's Degree

This program is available on campus and through K-State Online.

The Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education is built on the mission of “preparing educators to be knowledgeable, ethical, caring decision makers for a diverse and changing world.” Elementary education provides a foundation of knowledge and skills for future K-6 teachers, including:

Instructional strategies
Techniques for planning, classroom management, diversity, discipline and assessment
Strategies to adjust instruction to meet the needs of all learners

Elementary education is a career in which you can find the satisfaction of helping children learn, work closely with other caring adults, be challenged by organizing information and communicating it to others, and contribute to the future of the world by educating tomorrow's leaders.

Minimum of 120 Hours Required

Licensure Grades K-6

Bachelor of Science in Education Curriculum

Candidates preparing to seek K-6 teacher licensure concentrate studies in three areas:

General Education
Courses in the humanities, social and behavioral sciences, mathematics, and biological, physical, and earth sciences will expand your world. A sound general education is especially important for elementary teachers who are called upon to teach every subject to children.
Professional Studies (Teacher Education)
The professional portion of the program includes courses in educational psychology, foundations of education, instructional media, and the methods of teaching the many different subjects covered in elementary schools. Along with college classwork, you will observe and assist in the elementary schools, teach lessons you have planned, and discuss your experiences with other educators. The teaching internship (student teaching) takes place near the end of the program. With guidance and support from a cooperating teacher and a college supervisor, you will gradually assume responsibility for planning and teaching in an elementary school for a full semester or more.
Content Studies (Area of Concentration)
The bachelor's degree in Elementary Education requires the completion of an area of concentration of 15 hours in addition to hours completed in the general education component of the degree. An area of concentration is a group of courses with related content, which will enhance teaching in the elementary classroom.

General Education Courses

Communications (minimum of 8 credit hours)
A minimum grade of C is required in all communications courses.

ENGL 100 – Expository Writing I (3)
ENGL 200 – Expository Writing II (3)
(Pre-Requisite is sophomore standing)
COMM 105 or 106 – Public Speaking (2-3)

Humanities (9 credit hours required)

ENGL 355 – Literature for Children (3)
EDEL 270 – Art for Elementary Schools (3)
MUSIC 405 – Music for Elementary Teachers (3) (Junior standing)

Social Science (12 credit hours required)

Human Development (3) Choose from:
- HDFS 110 – Introduction to Human Development (3)
  OR
- PSYCH 110 –General Psychology (3)
  OR
- PSYCH 280 –Psychology of Childhood and Adolescence (3)
Choose three of the following four:
- History (3) – Choose from:
  - HIST 151 – History of US to 1877
    OR
  - HIST 152 – History of US since 1877
- Geography (3) – Choose from:
  - GEOG 100 – World Regional Geography
    OR
  - GEOG 200 – Human Geography
- Political Science (3) – Three hours from the Department of Political Science
- Economics (3) – Three hours from the Department of Economics

Natural Science (11 credit hours required)
Select one course for each of the three areas. Two of these areas must include a laboratory.

Biological Science
Physical Science
Earth Science

Quantitative Science (9 credit hours required)
The following three courses are required:

MATH 100 – College Algebra or higher-level math course* (3)
MATH 160 – Intro. Contemporary Math* (3)
OR
STAT 325 or higher-level statistics course* (3)
MATH 320 – Math for Elementary School Teachers I (3)

*Grade C or better required.

Professional Studies (Teacher Education) Courses

A grade of C or higher is required in all Teacher Education courses and practica. A 3.0 or higher grade point average in Teacher Education courses and practica is needed before the Professional Semester.

Pre-Professional Component (10 credit hours)

EDCI 200 – Teaching as a Career (1)
(Co-requisite with EDCI 230 – Early Field Experience and sophomore standing)
EDCI 230 – Early Field Experience (1)
(Co-requisite with EDCI 200 – Teaching as a Career and sophomore standing)
EDEL 250 – Health and Movement Education in Elementary Classrooms (2)
EDCI 110 – Foundations of Education (3)
EDCI 400 – New Literacies in Contemporary Classrooms (3)

Professional Component (46 credit hours)
Admission to Teacher Education is required. Students receiving a grade of less than a C in a Block A course will not be permitted to proceed to Block B until a grade of C or higher is recorded (i.e., must retake the Block A course first). Students receiving a grade of less than C in a Block B course or practicum will not be permitted to proceed to Block C until a grade of C or higher is recorded. Students receiving a grade of less than C in a Block C course will not be permitted to proceed to the professional semester until a grade of C or higher is recorded.

Block A (10 credit hours)
Must be taken concurrently and prior to Block B.

EDCI 318 – Educational Technology for Teaching and Learning (1)
EDCI 315 – Educational Psychology (3)
EDCI 320 – Core Teaching Skills and Lab (3)
EDSP 324 – Exceptional Child in the Regular Classroom (3)

Block B (12 credit hours)
Must be taken concurrently and prior to Block C.

EDEL 410 – Block B Practicum: K-6 (2)
EDEL 411 – Teaching Literacy: K-2 (3)
EDEL 412 – Teaching Science: K-6 (3)
EDEL 413 – Classroom Assessment: K-6 (1)
EDEL 414 – Teaching Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners (3)

Block C (12 credit hours)
Must be taken concurrently and prior to the Professional Semester.

EDEL 460 – Block C Practicum: K-6 (2)
EDEL 461 – Teaching Literacy: Grades 3-6 (3)
EDEL 462 – Teaching Social Studies: K-6 (3)
EDEL 463 – Teaching Mathematics: K-6 (3)
EDEL 464 – Classroom Management and Discipline: K-6 (1)

Professional Semester (12 credit hours)
A 3.0 or higher grade point average in teacher education courses and practica is needed before the professional semester.

EDEL 585 – Teaching Internship in Elementary Schools (12)

Content Studies (Area of Concentration) Curriculum Guides

The area of concentration consists of a minimum of 15 semester hours. All courses must earn a letter grade. (Credit earned for AP, CLEP, or test out can be accepted.)

Area of Concentration Curriculum Guides:

Professional and Educational Service Hours

K-State 8 General Education Requirements

Kansas State University requires all graduates to meet the K-State 8 General Education requirements as part of their program. The K-State 8 encourages students to explore coursework from 8 different perspectives. The College of Education curriculum meets all 8 requirements in our General Education, Teacher Education, and Area of Concentration coursework. More information is found at the K-State 8 website.