Degree Offered
- Bachelor of Arts
Nature of the Program
The BA in Elementary Education program is an innovative, 4-year on-campus program at West Virginia University that prepares students to earn a teaching certification in multi-subject grades K-6 upon graduation. As part of the program, students complete work in local, public school placements during their junior year, both fall and spring. Then, students are placed in a year-long residency their senior year, working in their schools 250 hours in the fall semester and full-time in the spring semester. The BA in Elementary Education program values the learning that happens not only in the WVU classrooms, but also in the application of these lessons in the field, as students graduate with over 800 of hours of practice and experience teaching in local schools.
In addition to an emphasis on experience in local schools, the Elementary Education program is committed to high academic standards at the state and national levels. Program faculty work with national accreditation standards and contribute to the profession at university, state, and national levels. This work involves exploration of technology, diversity, global initiatives, and culturally responsive teaching, facilitated by faculty who are leaders in research, teaching, and service.
The Elementary Education program also allows the space for students to find their individual areas of interest, for which many pursue a Master's degree. Students in the program can begin working as a classroom teacher after graduation and go on to earn graduate degrees.
Admissions for 2025-2026
First-Time Freshmen
Admission to the BA Elementary Education program is consistent with admission requirements for First-Time Freshmen applying to WVU. You can find more information at:
Admission Requirements for First-Time Freshmen - Undergraduate Admissions at WVU
Current WVU Students
Students admitted from other majors within WVU must have a 2.5 minimum cumulative GPA.
Transfer Students
Students transferring from another institution must have a 2.5 minimum cumulative GPA.
Major Code: 5501
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A minimum GPA of 2.75 is required for graduation. | ||
| University Requirements | 10 | |
| Elementary Education Major Requirements | 110 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
University Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations (GEF) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (31-37 Credits) | ||
| Outstanding GEF Requirements 1 and 6 | 9 | |
| CAHS 191 | 1 | |
| Total Hours | 10 | |
Elementary Education Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A minimum GPA of 2.75 is required in all Elementary Education Major Requirements. | ||
| Select one of the following (GEF 2): | 4 | |
| General Biology 1 and General Biology 1 Laboratory | ||
| General Biology 2 and General Biology 2 Laboratory | ||
| Environmental Biology and Environmental Biology Laboratory | ||
| MATH 124 | Algebra with Applications (GEF 3) | 3 |
| PSYC 101 | Introduction to Psychology (GEF 4) | 3 |
| Select one of the following (GEF 5): | 3 | |
| Growth of the American Nation to 1865 | ||
| Making of Modern America: 1865 to the Present | ||
| Select one of the following (GEF 7): | 3 | |
| Introduction to Anthropology | ||
| Global Political Issues | ||
| Select one of the following (GEF 8): | 3 | |
| World History to 1500 | ||
| World History Since 1500 | ||
| Select two of the following (GEF 8): For one of the science electives, the lab must accompany the lecture. | 7 | |
| Descriptive Astronomy and Descriptive Astronomy Laboratory | ||
| Survey of Chemistry 1 and Survey of Chemistry 1 Laboratory | ||
| Planet Earth and Planet Earth Laboratory | ||
| Conceptual Physics and Conceptual Physics Laboratory | ||
| CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS | ||
| CDFS 110 | Families Across the Life Span | 3 |
| or PSYC 241 | Introduction to Human Development | |
| GEOG 102 | World Regions | 3 |
| EDUC 330 | Mathematics for Elementary Teachers 1 | 3 |
| EDUC 331 | Mathematics for Elementary Teachers 2 | 3 |
| ART 103 | Materials and Procedures | 2 |
| MUSC 182 | Music in the Elementary School | 2 |
| C&I 365 | Dance and Movement in PK-12 Schools | 2 |
| PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS | ||
| A minimum grade of C- is required in all Professional Education courses. | ||
| EDUC 200 | Professional Inquiry in Education | 3 |
| EDUC 311 | Practicum 1/Technology Application | 1 |
| EDUC 312 | Practicum 2/Technology Application | 1 |
| EDUC 410 | Practicum 3 | 2 |
| C&I 304 | Social/Emotional Learning and Trauma-Informed Teaching | 2 |
| C&I 311 | ELL and Language Acquisition for Elementary Teachers | 2 |
| C&I 413 | Early Childhood Issues and Methods | 3 |
| C&I 427 | Place-based Elementary Education | 2 |
| C&I 431 | Mathematics Methods for Elementary Teachers 1 | 3 |
| C&I 433 | Mathematics Methods for Elementary Teachers 2 | 3 |
| C&I 440 | Science Methods for Elementary Teachers 1 | 3 |
| C&I 442 | Science Methods for Elementary Teachers 2 | 3 |
| C&I 451 | Social Studies for Elementary Teachers 1 | 3 |
| C&I 452 | Social Studies for Elementary Teachers 2 | 3 |
| C&I 461 | Exploring and Developing Literacy Foundations | 3 |
| C&I 462 | Literacy 2: Reading Assessment and Instruction | 3 |
| EDUC 462 | Literacy 3: Composing Texts | 3 |
| C&I 468 | Art Integration in the Elementary Classroom | 2 |
| C&I 491 | Professional Field Experience | 9 |
| C&I 497 | Research | 3 |
| SPED 404 | Special Education in Contemporary Society | 3 |
| SPED 460 | Differentiation of Instruction | 3 |
| EDP 301 | Learning in PreK-Adult Educational Settings | 3 |
| Total Hours | 110 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| CAHS 191 | 1 | CDFS 110 or PSYC 241 | 3 |
| ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | GEOG 102 | 3 |
| MATH 124 (GEF 3) | 3 | GEOL 101 (GEF 8) | 3 |
| PHYS 105 & 105L (GEF 8) | 4 | HIST 179 or 180 (GEF 8) | 3 |
| PSYC 101 (GEF 4) | 3 | GEF 6 | 3 |
| ANTH 105 or POLS 103 | 3 | ||
| 17 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 | EDUC 200 | 3 |
| HIST 152 or 153 (GEF 5) | 3 | C&I 304 | 2 |
| BIOL Requirement (GEF 2) | 4 | EDUC 330 | 3 |
| C&I 365 | 2 | SPED 404 | 3 |
| MUSC 182 or ART 103 | 2 | C&I 311 | 2 |
| ART 103 or MUSC 182 | 2 | ||
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| EDUC 311 | 1 | EDUC 312 | 1 |
| SPED 460 | 3 | C&I 431 | 3 |
| C&I 468 | 2 | C&I 462 | 3 |
| EDUC 331 | 3 | C&I 440 | 3 |
| C&I 461 | 3 | C&I 413 | 3 |
| EDP 301 | 3 | C&I 451 | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| EDUC 410 | 2 | C&I 497 | 3 |
| EDUC 462 | 3 | C&I 491 | 9 |
| C&I 433 | 3 | ||
| C&I 452 | 3 | ||
| C&I 442 | 3 | ||
| C&I 427 | 2 | ||
| 16 | 12 | ||
| Total credit hours: 120 | |||
Major Learning Outcomes
BA Elementary Education
1. Teacher candidates will execute the instructional cycle of planning, instructing, assessing, and adjusting based on data, the learner, and the learning environment.
2. Teacher candidates will demonstrate positive, solution-based, professional verbal and written communication with sensitivity to context and audience.
3. Teacher candidates will conduct themselves in a manner that aligns with the professional dispositions for teaching, regardless of the context.
4. Teacher candidates will create and sustain a learning environment that supports the success of all learners and their adults, including developmental, linguistic, cultural, racial, ethnic, and gender diversity.
5. Teacher candidates will work collaboratively with colleagues and adults significant to students on activities that connect schools, families, and the larger community.1. Teacher candidates will develop knowledge of content, students, and pedagogy needed to effectively support the learning of all students in elementary classrooms.
2. Teacher candidates will develop understanding of and execute the instructional cycle of planning, instructing, assessing, and adjusting based on data, the learner, and the learning environment.
3. Teacher candidates will demonstrate positive, solution-based, professional verbal and written communication with sensitivity to context and audience.
4. Teacher candidates will develop and demonstrate the professional dispositions for teaching, regardless of the context.
5. Teacher candidates will create and sustain a learning environment that supports the success of all learners and their adults, including developmental, linguistic, cultural, racial, ethnic, and gender diversity.
6. Teacher candidates will work collaboratively with colleagues and adults significant to students on activities that connect schools, families, and the larger community.
Policies
Matriculation Policies
- Students must earn at least a grade of “C-” in all professional education courses to remain in the BA Elementary Education program. Earning a grade less than a “C-” may result in the student being removed from the program. In this event, the student must contact an advisor immediately.
- Students who arrange to receive a grade of “I” (incomplete) must complete all requirements to change the incomplete to a grade prior to the beginning of the next semester. If the student does NOT get the grade of “I” changed to a passing grade, the student will NOT be able to matriculate to the next semester of courses. In this event, the student must contact an advisor immediately.
- Students must maintain at least a 2.75 grade point average in order to remain in the BA Elementary Education program. If the GPA falls below 2.75, the student will be permitted to continue on a probationary status for ONE semester. At the end of that semester of probation, the student’s overall GPA must be at least a 2.75 in order to be eligible to continue in the program. A student is permitted only one probationary semester in the program. Should the student’s GPA fall below a 2.75 a second time, that student will not be eligible to matriculate. In this event, the student must contact an advisor immediately.
Testing Benchmarks
WV State Certification Requirements
- Praxis II/Elementary Education test [NOTE: Successful completion of this assessment is required prior to the final semester / full-time student teaching; scores must be received prior to the first day of the final / full-time placement.]
- edTPA, Teacher Performance Assessment: Required as part of the Student Teaching semester. [NOTE: Successful completion of this assessment is required prior to applying for a WV teaching license and for WVU program completion.]