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 West Virginia 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 900 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 minor and/or 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 2026-2027
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 2.5 is required for graduation. | ||
| University Requirements | 53 | |
| Elementary Education Major Requirements | 67 | |
| 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 (GEF 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8) | 28 | |
| General Electives | 23 | |
| CAHS 191 | First-Year Seminar | 2 |
| Total Hours | 53 | |
Elementary Education Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required in all Elementary Education Major Requirements. | ||
| CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS | ||
| MATH 124 | Algebra with Applications (GEF 3) | 3 |
| PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS | ||
| A minimum grade of C- is required in all Professional Education courses. | ||
| EDUC 330 | Mathematics for Elementary Teachers 1 | 3 |
| EDUC 331 | Mathematics for Elementary Teachers 2 | 3 |
| EDUC 340 | Science for Elementary Educators | 3 |
| EDUC 430 | Mathematics Methods for Elementary Teachers | 3 |
| EDUC 350 | Social Studies Content for Elementary Teachers | 3 |
| EDUC 440 | Science Methods for Elementary Teachers | 3 |
| EDUC 450 | Social Studies Methods for Elementary Teachers | 3 |
| EDUC 460 | Literacy 1: Exploring & Developing Literacy Foundations | 3 |
| EDUC 461 | Literacy 2: Reading Assessment & Instruction | 3 |
| EDUC 462 | Literacy 3: Composing Texts | 3 |
| EDUC 304 | Place-based and Emotionally Responsive Teaching | 3 |
| SPED 404 | Special Education in Contemporary Society (GEF 4) | 3 |
| SPED 460 | Differentiation of Instruction | 3 |
| EDUC 408 | Art Integration in the Elementary Classroom | 3 |
| EDUC 311 | Field Experience & Technology Applications in Elementary Schools 1 | 2 |
| EDUC 312 | Field Experience & Technology Applications in Elementary Schools 2 | 3 |
| EDUC 410 | Clinical Experience in Elementary Schools/Residency 1 | 5 |
| EDUC 411 | Clinical Experience in Elementary Schools/Residency 2 | 10 |
| EDUC 484 | Residency/Technology Capstone in Elementary Education | 2 |
| Total Hours | 67 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | GEF 5 | 3 |
| CAHS 191 | 2 | GEF 6 | 3 |
| MATH 124 (GEF 3) | 3 | GEF 7 | 3 |
| GEF 2 | 4 | GEF 8 | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 1 | General Elective | 1 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 | EDUC 331 | 3 |
| EDUC 330 | 3 | SPED 404 (GEF 4) | 3 |
| GEF 8 | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| GEF 8 | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| EDUC 311 | 2 | EDUC 312 | 3 |
| EDUC 460 | 3 | EDUC 430 | 3 |
| EDUC 340 | 3 | EDUC 440 | 3 |
| EDUC 350 | 3 | EDUC 450 | 3 |
| EDUC 408 | 3 | EDUC 461 | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | ||
| 17 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| EDUC 410 | 5 | EDUC 411 | 10 |
| EDUC 462 | 3 | EDUC 484 | 2 |
| SPED 460 | 3 | ||
| EDUC 304 | 3 | ||
| 14 | 12 | ||
| Total credit hours: 120 | |||
Suggested Plan of Study for Transfer Students
| Third Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hours | Spring | Hours | |||
| EDUC 330 | 3 | EDUC 331 | 3 | ||
| EDUC 311 | 2 | EDUC 312 | 3 | ||
| EDUC 460 | 3 | EDUC 461 | 3 | ||
| EDUC 340 | 3 | EDUC 440 | 3 | ||
| EDUC 350 | 3 | EDUC 450 | 3 | ||
| EDUC 408 | 3 | EDUC 430 | 3 | ||
| 17 | 18 | ||||
| Fourth Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| EDUC 410 | 5 | EDUC 411 | 10 | ||
| SPED 404 (GEF 4) | 3 | EDUC 484 | 2 | ||
| SPED 460 | 3 | ||||
| EDUC 462 | 3 | ||||
| EDUC 304 | 3 | ||||
| 17 | 12 | ||||
| Total credit hours: 64 | |||||
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 2.5 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.]