Program Info
Program Description
Designed for students seeking teacher certification in Elementary Education. This degree focuses on teaching children in grades K-8. Upon completion of this program students are eligible for work in various education and child care professions, however, transfer to and completion of a four-year university teacher preparation program is necessary for full teacher certification. When following university articulation guides, graduates pursuing a bachelor's degree should be able to transfer all of the required and elective coursework toward that degree.
Upon successful completion of this program, students should be able to:
- Apply current educational theories and practices to a classroom setting.
- Apply humanities concepts within the pre-kindergarten through middle school classroom.
- Apply knowledge of the physical, emotional, intellectual, and social development theories of the learner in a school setting.
- Apply knowledge of the exceptionalities, learning environments, and laws as they relate to special education programs.
- Develop lesson plans implementing educational software for grades P-8.
- Analyze elementary and middle school mathematics at the level necessary for teaching.
- Construct scientific knowledge using inquiry-based techniques.
- Follow appropriate health, physical education, nutrition, and safety practices for K-8 classrooms.
Pre-Elementary Education program graduates may seek employment in child development centers. They are also able to work as an au pair, tutors, para-professionals, assistant pre-school teachers, and before/after school program group leaders in a variety of educational settings. For those wishing to teach in K-8 schools, completion of a four-year teacher preparation program with teacher certification is necessary.
This degree requires coursework that can be transferred to most four-year teacher preparation programs without loss of credit. The elective component of this program allows students to select courses that apply toward the bachelor's degree at their intended transfer institution. Students are encouraged to consult the university guide sheets in the University Transfer, Advising, and Career Counseling Center located in Learning Resources Center.
Admission Requirements
The law requires new teachers, school administrators, school psychologists, and other personnel to provide documentation of a completed criminal record check. Students who complete field experiences as part of their HFC coursework must provide a statewide criminal record check prior to working with children in public or non-public schools.
General Education
See General Education Requirements for details.
Program Requirements
- *Computer Technology: Consult your advisor, counselor, or transfer institution, for transfer institution major/minor requirements.
- *Humanities: Consult your advisor, counselor, or transfer institution, for transfer institution major/minor requirements.
- *Natural Sciences: Consult your advisor, counselor, or transfer institution, for transfer institution major/minor requirements.
| Course name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| ENG-131: Introduction to College Writing | 3.00 |
| ENG-132: College Writing and Research | 3.00 |
| PSY-131: Introductory Psychology | 3.00 |
| 3.00 | |
Mathematics: Complete one |
4.00 |
- *Education Support/Social Sciences: Students electing to take POLS-131 or HIST-151 instead of EDU-260 may complete any additional 100-level, or higher, credits to complete this degree instead of a Social Science course. Students who complete EDU-260 instead of POLS-131 or HIST-151 must complete any one different discipline Social Science course.
- *Mathematics: MATH-115 is highly recommended for the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC).