Apr 23, 2024  
2016-2017 Catalog 
    
2016-2017 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Elementary Education, BS


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The BS: Elementary Education program prepares teachers for positions in grades K-8 in rural, urban, and global classrooms. Through coursework and extensive field experiences in a variety of settings, teacher candidates are able to integrate content knowledge, curriculum, and pedagogy, with emphasis on classroom management and leadership, into effective research-based instructional practices. The Elementary Education program emphasizes integrated experiential learning.

Students majoring in Elementary Education may add the Early Childhood Education Minor or select from Secondary Education-approved Majors or Minors, In Montana, most Minors lead to licensure endorsements.

In addition, students pursuing the BS: Elementary Education may select an Option Area to further enhance their background and potentially improve their employability. Option Areas are available in Coaching, Special Education Concentration, and Middle School Options in Instructional Technology, Mathematics, Earth Science, Life Science, Physical Science, and Social Studies. Although these Options are not licensure endorsements, they show evidence of additional study in these areas.

See section about admission to the Teacher Education Program and for regarding program requirements. The Education Department strongly recommends that candidates seek licensure in more than one subject area (by combining one teaching major with at least one teaching minor or additional major) to increase their hiring options. Also, consider adding the Early Childhood Education Minor, a Middle School Option, or the Coaching Option  or Special Education Concentration .

Additional Requirements for the Degree:

  • A grade of C- or higher is required in all General Education courses and all other degree requirements for non-Professional Education courses.
  • A grade of B- or higher is required in all required Professional Education courses.
  • Candidates must maintain at least a 2.70 GPA overall, and a 2.70 GPA for all content courses
  • Information Technology Computer Literacy Exam

Credit Requirements


General Education: 32 Credits


General Education  

Grade of C- or higher is required in all courses

Professional Content Major Requirements: 10-12 Credits


Grade of C- or higher is required in all courses

Select 4 credits from the following Natural Sciences


Cannot be a course chosen for General Education

Professional Education: 85 Credits


Grade of B- or higher is required in all courses

Junior Year Semester B Professional Sequence Part 1 Courses: 16 Credits


Senior Year Semester A Professional Sequence Part 2 Courses: 12 credits


Senior Year Semester B Student Teaching: 12 credits


Electives: 0-1 Credits


Any college-level credits to bring degree total to 128 credits

BS: Elementary Education Total Credits: 128


Additional Program Information


Information Technology Exam

Technology Requirement: prior to admission to the UMW Teacher Education Program (TEP), each student must demonstrate basic technology skills either by obtaining a passing score (600 out of 1000) on the Information & Technology Literacy Exam, or by obtaining at least a B- on a computer skills course. The UMW courses designed to meet this need are either COMS 115 - Computer Basics for Educators  (4 credits) or CAPP 131 - Basic Microsoft Office  (4 credits).

Minors and Options

Many Elementary Education graduates teach in upper elementary (grades 4-8) or middle school (grades 7-8). Option Areas provide candidates with a greater depth of knowledge than can be attained within a broadfield Elementary Education Major alone. To increase their hiring options, the Education Department strongly recommends that all Elementary Education majors complete either an additional Major or a Minor which leads to licensure in Montana, the Early Childhood Education Minor, or one of the Middle School Option Areas listed below. These Option Areas do not lead to licensure, and must be taken in conjunction with the Elementary Education Major.

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