Elementary Education Major (Bachelor of Science)
A student majoring in elementary education must satisfactorily complete the general studies program, baccalaureate degree requirements as listed in this bulletin, and the Teacher Certification Program (TCP): Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3. The TCP consists of required pre-candidacy courses, certification core courses, endorsement courses, and cognates. Thirty credit hours in an approved content area must also be satisfactorily completed.
A minimum grade point average of not less than 2.75 is required in all pre-candidacy, certification, endorsement, and cognate courses that apply to these requirements. Any course graded lower than a C cannot apply. A total of two repeats are permitted in any course or any combination of courses in the TCP Phase 1 and Phase 2.
Practicum experiences in elementary education require a formal application, law enforcement background check, and moral character clearance. Contact the School of Education and Psychology for details.
To be considered for full admission into the Teacher Certification Program (TCP) Phase 2, students must have junior standing or permission of department, a Phase 1 GPA of 2.75, and complete an application packet. (The application packet is available upon request in the School of Education and Psychology.) Students must demonstrate excellence in knowledge representative of scholarship, skills of professionalism and dispositions, along with personal fitness appropriate for teaching. These terms are defined and explained in the Minimum Competencies document distributed in EDUC 211 Introduction to and Foundations of Education. The document is also available upon request from the certification officer of the School of Education and Psychology.
Students applying for full admission to the TCP Phase 2 are required by state law to earn a passing score on the Washington Educator Skill Test-Basic (WEST-B) and/or submit official documentation of current Washington State passing scores on the ACT/SATs, or a combination thereof, prior to full admission into the program. Test dates and locations are available at the following website, www.west.nesinc.com.
Student teaching (Phase 3) requires formal application to the School of Education and Psychology. Student teaching application packets, available from the Education and Psychology office, are due by December 1, prior to the year in which the student plans to enroll for the experience. The student must document a minimum of 450 hours, according to current Washington state requirements, in supervised field experience over the course of their student teaching. Check with the certification officer for possible changes. Note: The School of Education and Psychology will contact all potential placements; however, placements cannot be guaranteed.
Senior students seeking certification are required to take the National Evaluation Series (NES) in elementary education prior to Phase 3. Students are required to pass the NES and the current Washington State assessment instrument in order to obtain WA State certification. In addition, students desiring to pursue graduate studies in education are encouraged to take the Graduate Record Examination (general).
Phase 1: TCP Pre-Candidacy, Provisional Admittance Status
Pre-Candidacy course requirements:
- Courses must be completed with a minimum grade-point average of 2.75 before a student may proceed to the TCP Phase 2.
- Must pass all sections of WEST-B and/or submit official documentation of current Washington State passing scores on the ACT/SATs, or a combination thereof.
- Apply for full admission to the TCP Phase 2 during the last quarter of pre-candidacy courses.
- A minimum of a B- average in the College Writing/Research Writing sequence is required.
Pre-Candidacy Courses:
| EDUC 211 | Introduction to and Foundations of Education | 3 |
| EDUC 220 | Educational and Developmental Psychology | 4 |
Total Pre-Candidacy Credits: 7
Pre-Candidacy Cognates:
Total Pre-Candidacy Cognate Credits: 12
ENGL 121 and ENGL 122: B- average required (ENGL 223 Research Writing may be used to meet B- average).
Phase 2: TCP Core Certification Courses
Formal (full) acceptance into the Teacher Certification Program is required before registering for the courses listed below. To be admitted into Phase 2 of the Teacher Certification Program, students must demonstrate excellence in knowledge representative of scholarship, skills of professionalism and dispositions, along with personal fitness appropriate for the teaching profession. These terms are defined and explained in the Minimum Competencies document distributed in EDUC 211 Introduction to and Foundations of Education. The document is also available upon request from the certification officer in the School of Education and Psychology.
Teacher Certification Courses:
| EDUC 350 | Language Development in Young Children (or PSYC 350) | 3 |
| EDUC 360 | Elementary Curriculum and Instruction: Reading and Language Arts I | 3 |
| EDUC 361 | Elementary Curriculum and Instruction: Reading and Language Arts II | 4 |
| EDUC 373 | Elementary Curriculum and Instruction: STEM I - Mathematics and Technology | 4 |
| EDUC 382 | Elementary Curriculum and Instruction: Social Studies | 3 |
| EDUC 383 | Elementary Curriculum and Instruction: STEM II - Science and Engineering | 4 |
| EDUC 390 | Measurement and Evaluation in Education | 4 |
| EDUC 405 | Elementary Classroom Organization and Management | 4 |
| EDUC 410 | Philosophy of Education (or PHIL 410) | 3 |
| EDUC 421 | Principals of Teaching and Learning in Inclusive Classrooms | 4 |
| EDUC 444 | Teaching and Learning: Cultural Diversity and Small Schools | 3 |
| EDUC 450 | Introduction to Student Teaching Field Experience | 0 - 1 |
| EDUC 460 | Elementary Student Teaching Part I | 2 |
| EDUC 470 | Elementary Student Teaching II: Assessment | 1-2; 3 |
| EDUC 480 | Elementary Student Teaching Part III | 12 |
| EDUC 495 | Colloquium: Child Abuse | 0 |
Total Teacher Certification Course Credits: 57
Washington State Assessment Instructions:
Taking both sections of the National Evaluation Series (NES) in Elementary Education is a prerequisite for Phase 3.
| Assessment |
Requirement |
Deadline |
Outcome |
| WEST B or ACT or SAT or combination |
State required acceptance scores |
Before / During Phase 1 |
Apply for Phase 2 |
| WEST E / NES |
Minimum one attempt |
During Phase 2 |
Completion of Phase 3 application and student teaching |
| WEST E / NES |
Optional Retake(s), if necessary, with State required acceptance scores |
During Phase 3 |
Apply for Certification |
| edTPA |
State required acceptance scores |
During Phase 3 |
Apply for Certification |
If a candidate does not pass NES, after attempting twice, he/she may submit a signed statement of understanding (available from certification officer) that since he/she did not pass the NES but completed all other requirements, the B.S. Elementary Education degree will be granted without Washington state teacher certification. Students must pass the NES and any other required Washington state assessment instrument in elementary education to receive Washington state teacher certification.
Elementary Education Endorsement Requirements:
Note: Pre-candidacy cognates and Teacher Certification Program courses also partially fulfill the requirements of this section.
Minor in an Approved Content Area:
Elementary education majors must complete 30 credit hours from an approved minor or approved non-minor area. If the chosen minor does not have 30 quarter hours, additional courses must be taken to reach at least 30 quarter hours in the area of the minor. Alternatively, they must complete a minimum of 30 quarter hours in one of the three non-minor content areas listed below.
Approved Minor Content Areas
Art
Biology
Chemistry
English/Language Arts
French
German
Health/Fitness
History
Mathematics
Middle Level Mathematics
Music
Physics
Spanish
Approved Non-Minor Content Areas
Humanities
Science
Social Studies
Humanities (completion of 31 credits)
Select from the following courses in consultation with your adviser.
Select 8 credits from the following courses:
| ENGL 210 | Survey of British and American Literature | 4 |
| ENGL 211 | Survey of British and American Literature | 4 |
| ENGL 212 | Survey of British and American Literature | 4 |
| ENGL 214 | Themes in Literature | 4 |
| ENGL 358 | Classical Literature | 4 |
| | or | |
| ENGL 359 | World Literature | 4 |
Select 3 credits from the following courses:
Select 8 credits from the following ENGL/WRIT courses:
Select 12 credits from the following courses:
Science (Completion of 32 credits)
Select 8-12 credits from each of the following sciences in consultation with your adviser.
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Social Studies (Completion of 32 credits)
Select from the following courses in consultation with your adviser.
History - minimum of 16 credits (sequence not required):
| HIST 254 | History of Christianity | 4 |
| HIST 446 | History of the Pacific Northwest | 4 |
| HIST | Upper Division Electives | 8 |
Social Studies Electives - minimum of 16 credits (4 upper division credits required):
Additional Requirements for Denominational Certification
| EDUC 381 | Elementary Curriculum and Instruction: Religion | 2 |
18 Religion credits are required for certification and must include:
| RELB | (Selected from courses with RELB prefix) | 8 |
| RELH 457 | History of Adventism | 3 |
| RELT 202 | Christian Beliefs | 4 |
| RELT 417 | Inspiration and Revelation | 3 |
Eighteen Religion credits are required for Junior Academy Religion Endorsement.
Religious studies (Bible) is not an approved Washington state endorsement. However, a religion major or minor, plus a methods course in religion, remains essential for those desiring a denominational endorsement in Bible.
Notes on Washington State Certification
The school attempts to provide current information on certification requirements in this bulletin. Because of frequent changes in state requirements, however, the student must consults with the School of Education and Psychology certification officer periodically for updated information that might affect certification status.
Meeting graduation requirements as specified in this bulletin does not guarantee state certification. An application process, including fingerprint clearance and a Dean’s Affidavit regarding the candidate’s fitness, and passing of the current Washington State assessment instrument is required.