Elementary Education Major (Bachelor of Science)
A candidate 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. A minimum of thirty credit hours in an approved content area must also be satisfactorily completed.
A minimum grade point average of 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 Teacher Certification Program.
Field 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, candidates must complete all Phase 1 classes, have a Phase 1 GPA of 2.75, and submit a completed application packet. (The application packet is available upon request in the School of Education and Psychology.)
Candidates must demonstrate excellence in knowledge representative of scholarship and 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.
Candidates applying for full admission to the TCP Phase 2 are required by state law to earn a passing score on the Washington Educator Skills 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 candidate plans to enroll for the experience. The candidate must document 450+ hours, according to current Washington state requirements, in supervised clinical practice over the course of their student teaching experience. 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.
According to Washington state guidelines (WAC 181-78A-300), candidates seeking student teaching placement are required to take the National Evaluation Series (NES) in elementary education and provide evidence to the certification officer by August 1. Teacher candidates will not be allowed to enter the clinical practice classroom without this documentation. Candidates are required to pass the NES and the current Washington state assessment instrument in order to obtain Washington state certification. In addition, candidates 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:
- Pre-candidacy courses must be completed with a minimum grade-point average of 2.75 before proceeding to the TCP Phase 2.
- Passing scores must be officially documented for the WEST-B, all sections, or the ACT/SAT tests, or a combination thereof.
- Application for full admission to the TCP Phase 2 is required 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 | 4 |
| PSYC 217 | Psychology of Learning and Development | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 8 |
Pre-Candidacy Cognates:
| ENGL 121 | College Writing I | 3 |
| ENGL 122 | College Writing II | 3 |
| MATH 112 | Mathematics for Elementary Teachers I | 3 |
| MATH 113 | Mathematics for Elementary Teachers II | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12 |
Phase 2: TCP Core Certification Courses
Formal (full) acceptance into the Teacher Certification Program Phase 2 is required before registering for the courses listed below. To be admitted into Phase 2 of the Teacher Certification Program, candidates must demonstrate excellence in knowledge representative of scholarship, skills of professionalism and dispositions, and 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 360 | Teaching and Learning: Inclusive Literacy I | 4 |
| EDUC 361 | Teaching and Learning: Inclusive Literacy II | 4 |
| EDUC 373 | Teaching and Learning: STEM I - Mathematics and Technology | 4 |
| EDUC 382 | Teaching and Learning: Social Studies | 3 |
| EDUC 383 | Teaching and Learning: STEM II - Science and Engineering | 4 |
| EDUC 390 | Measurement and Evaluation in Education | 4 |
| EDUC 405 | Elementary Classroom Organization and Management | 4 |
| EDUC 450 | Introduction to Student Teaching: Clinical Practice | 0-1 |
| EDUC 460 | Elementary Student Teaching Part I | 3 |
| EDUC 470 | Elementary Student Teaching II: Assessment | 2 |
| EDUC 480 | Elementary Student Teaching Part III | 12 |
| SPED 421 | Principles of Teaching and Learning in Inclusive Classrooms I | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 49 |
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 the NES, after attempting twice, and/or the current Washington State Assessment, 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. Candidates 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: Phase 1 Pre-candidacy courses and cognates and Teacher Certification Program Phase 2 courses also partially fulfill the endorsement requirements.
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
Special Education
Approved Non-Minor Content Areas
Humanities
Science
Social Studies
Humanities (completion of 31 credits)
Select from the following courses in consultation with your advisor.
Select 12 credits from the following courses:
Select 4 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 |
Select 4 credits from the following courses:
Select 4 credits from the following WRIT courses:
Complete 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 advisor.
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 Adventist Education Certification
| EDUC 381 | Teaching and Learning: 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 an Adventist Education 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 candidate must consult 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.