Return to: 4130 Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education
Additional Teacher Education information is found in section 1600 Educator Preparation .
The Bachelor of Science in Education with a major in Elementary Education prepares candidates to teach diverse learners in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), urban contexts, and special education. There are two program options for completing the B.S.E. degree in Elementary Education. Candidates may pursue (1) Certification in P-5 Elementary Education or (2) Dual Certification in P-5 Elementary Childhood and P-5 Special Education General Curriculum. The program offers two add-on endorsements (optional): (1) English to Speakers of Other Languages(ESOL) and (2) Urban Education Endorsement. The program reflects research and best practice in the field of early childhood and elementary education. Candidates receive content and pedagogy in all academic disciplines taught in the elementary classroom. Coursework, extensive field experiences, and collaboration among school-based and university faculty combine to develop a program that supports the professional growth of the novice educator.
Program Admission
Students are required to meet all University and College admission requirements. In addition, students must apply for teacher education prior to beginning coursework in Area G of the program.
To apply for the B.S.E. Elementary Education program:
- students must have a minimum 2.75 overall grade point average on all undergraduate coursework previously completed;
- students must present passing scores on the GACE Program Admission Assessment or demonstrate an exemption upon application to an initial educator preparation program;
- students must complete the Georgia Educator Ethics Assessment (360);
- students must have successfully completed all courses in Area A-F;
- students must submit proof of tort liability; and
- students must complete a writing sample and participate in an informational session hosted by faculty. Please note that the completion of the writing sample and participation in the informational session does not guarantee admission to the B.S.E. program.
Program Financial Information
B.S.E majors must pay all tuition and fees charged by the University and the College. A lab fee of $125 will be charged at the time students register for the student teaching experience. Educator preparation students must be aware that extra cost such as tort liability and transportation will be incurred at various times during the completion of various teacher education field experiences, particularly during the students’ senior year.
Program Academic Regulations
Program of Study: Students must complete 42 semester hours in Areas A-E of the undergraduate Core Curriculum. Courses in Area A must be completed with “C” or higher grades. All courses listed below in Areas F-G must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher unless otherwise noted. Semester hours are shown in parentheses following an entry.
B.S.E. students are required to meet the Georgia 2006 Technology Proficiency Requirement. Students enrolled in the Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education Teacher Education Programs at Georgia State University will complete this graduation and certification requirement by demonstrating competency on designated assignments embedded in the four semester course sequence.
Pre-Service Certificate: Upon admission to a teacher education program, students will be contacted by the Office of Field Placements and Certification with instructions to claim enrollment in their program and submit a GaPSC Pre-Service Certificate Application. The pre-service certificate is required for placement in required field experiences or clinical practice.
Certification: Students must post passing scores on the GACE Content Assessment and Georgia Educator Ethics Assessment (360) in order to be recommended by Georgia State University for clear, renewable certification.
For Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) certification requirements, students must earn a grade of B or higher in EXC 4020 Characteristics and Instructional Strategies for Students with Disabilities.
