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2019-2020 Undergraduate Studies Bulletin
Columbia Campus
   
2019-2020 Undergraduate Studies Bulletin 
    
 
  Mar 29, 2024
 
2019-2020 Undergraduate Studies Bulletin

Elementary Education, BA


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Learning Outcome

Students who graduate with a B.A. in Elementary Education should be able to …​

  • Know, understand, and use the major concepts, principles, theories, and research related to development of children and young adolescents to construct learning opportunities that support individual students’ development, acquisition of knowledge, and motivation.
  • Demonstrate a high level of competence in use of English language arts and they know, understand, and use concepts from reading, language and child development, to teach reading, writing, speaking, viewing, listening, and thinking skills and to help students successfully apply their developing skills to many different situations, materials, and ideas.
  • Know, understand, and use fundamental concepts of physical, life, and earth/space sciences. Candidates can design and implement age-appropriate inquiry lessons to teach science, to build student understanding for personal and social applications, and to convey the nature of science.
  • Know, understand, and use the major concepts and procedures that define number and operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, and data analysis and probability. In doing so they consistently engage problem solving, reasoning and proof, communication, connections, and representation.
  • Know, understand, and use the major concepts and modes of inquiry from the social studies-the integrated study of history, geography, the social sciences, and other related areas-to promote elementary students’ abilities to make informed decisions as citizens of a culturally diverse democratic society and interdependent world.
  • Know, understand, and use-as appropriate to their own understanding and skills-the content, functions, and achievements of the performing arts (dance, music, theater) and the visual arts as primary media for communication, inquiry, and engagement among elementary students.
  • Know, understand, and use the major concepts in the subject matter of health education to create opportunities for student development and practice of skills that contribute to good health.
  • Know, understand, and use-as appropriate to their own understanding and skills-human movement and physical activity as central elements to foster active, healthy life styles and enhanced quality of life for elementary students.
  • Plan and implement instruction based on knowledge of students, learning theory, connections across the curriculum, curricular goals, and community.
  • Understand how elementary students differ in their development and approaches to learning, and create instructional opportunities that are adapted to diverse students.
  • Understand and use a variety of teaching strategies that encourage elementary students’ development of critical thinking and problem solving.
  • Use their knowledge and understanding of individual and group motivation and behavior among students at the K-6 level to foster active engagement in learning, self motivation, and positive social interaction and to create supportive learning environments.
  • Use their knowledge and understanding of effective verbal, nonverbal, and media communication techniques to foster active inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interaction in the elementary classroom.
  • Know, understand, and use formal and informal assessment strategies to plan, evaluate and strengthen instruction that will promote continuous intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development of each elementary student.
  • Be aware of and reflect on their practice in light of research on teaching, professional ethics, and resources available for professional learning; they continually evaluate the effects of their professional decisions and actions on students, families and other professionals in the learning community and actively seek out opportunities to grow professionally.
  • Know the importance of establishing and maintaining a positive collaborative relationship with families, school colleagues, and agencies in the larger community to promote the intellectual, social, emotional, physical growth and well-being of children.

Major Map

A major map is a layout of required courses in a given program of study, including critical courses and suggested course sequences to ensure a clear path to graduation.

Major maps are only a suggested or recommended sequence of courses required in a program of study. Please contact your academic advisor for assistance in the application of specific coursework to a program of study and course selection and planning for upcoming semesters.

Elementary Education, BA

 


Degree Requirements (120 hours)

See College of Education  for professional program admissions requirements, certification requirements, and other academic opportunities.

Program of Study

  1. Carolina Core (31-43 hours)
  2. College Requirements (0 hours)
  3. Program Requirements (24-27 hours)
  4. Major Requirements (62 hours)

1. Carolina Core (31-43 hours)


Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Written — CMW (6 hours)

must be passed with a grade of C or higher

Analytical Reasoning and Problem Solving — ARP (6-8 hours) 

Scientific Literacy — SCI (7-8 hours)

Select from two different categories below.

Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Foreign Language — GFL (0-6 hours)

Complete the Carolina Core approved courses in Foreign Language (GFL) or by achieving a score of 2 or better on a USC foreign language placement test.

Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Historical Thinking — GHS (3 hours) 

Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Social Sciences — GSS (3 hours) 

Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding —  AIU (3 hours)

Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Spoken Component* — CMS (0-3 hours)

Information Literacy* —  INF (0-3 hours)

Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility* — VSR (0-3 hours)

*Carolina Core Stand Alone or Overlay Eligible Requirements — Overlay-approved courses offer students the option of meeting two Carolina Core components in a single course. A maximum of two overlays is allowed. The total Carolina Core credit hours must add up to a minimum of 31 hours. Some programs may have a higher number of minimum Carolina Core hours due to specified requirements.

2. College Requirements (0 hours)


No college-required courses for this program.

3. Program Requirements (24-27 hours)


Supporting Courses (24-25 hours)

Complete 3-4 hours from the category below that was not used to fulfill CC-SCI (for a total of 10 hours in sciences, including the courses chosen to fulfill CC-SCI). 

Life Science (3-4 hours from the following):

Physical Science (3-4 hours from the following):

Earth Science (3-4 hours from the following):

Complete one course form the following (3 hours):

Complete one course form the following (3 hours):

The following courses must be passed with a grade of C or higher (15 hours):

Minor (0-18 hours) optional

A student may choose to complete a minor consisting of 18 credit hours of prescribed courses. The minor is intended to develop a coherent basic preparation in a second area of study. Courses applied toward general education requirements cannot be counted toward the minor. No course may satisfy both major and minor requirements. All minor courses must be passed with a grade of C or better.

Electives (0-3 hours)

The number of elective hours required depends upon the number of hours used to fulfill other degree requirements.  Minimum degree requirements must equal 120 hours.

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