Elementary Education B.A.
Some programs, including the middle grades certification program, will total more than 120 credits and may take longer than four years to complete.
Retention Requirements
- A minimum overall GPA of 2.75 each semester.
- A minimum grade of B- in ELED 300, and recommendation to continue from the instructor.
- A minimum grade of B- in all other professional courses and a recommendation to continue from each instructor. Courses in the department may be repeated once with a recommendation to retake from the previous instructor.
- A minimum grade of C in all prerequisite courses offered in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.
Records of students who do not maintain good standing or who receive a Recommendation to Continue with Concerns are reviewed by the departmental retention committee. Students may be dismissed from the program. Appeal of a decision to dismiss a student is made to the dean of the Feinstein School of Education and Human Development.
Other Requirements
In addition to completing courses in elementary education, students must also complete the following requirements. See FSEHD website for additional information.
- A Preparing to Teach Portfolio
- Community service requirement
- Elementary physical education requirement
Course Requirements
Professional Courses
CEP 315 | Educational Psychology | 3 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
ELED 300 | Concepts of Teaching Diverse Learners | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
ELED 400 | Curriculum and Assessment with Instructional Technology | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
ELED 420 | Children's Literature and the Integrated Arts | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
ELED 422 | Developmental Reading | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
ELED 435 | Language Arts and ELL Instruction | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
ELED 436 | Teaching Social Studies to Diverse Learners | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
ELED 437 | Elementary School Science and Health Education | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
ELED 438 | Teaching Elementary School Mathematics | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
ELED 439 | Student Teaching in the Elementary School | 9 | Fall, Spring. |
ELED 469 | Best Practices: Instruction, Assessment, Classroom Management | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
FNED 346 | Schooling in a Democratic Society | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
SPED 433 | Adaptation of Instruction for Inclusive Education | 3 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
| Total Credit Hours: | 46 | |
Content Major Course Requirements
- Content majors include: (A) Multidisciplinary Studies, (B) English, (C) General Science, (D) Math, and (E) Social Studies.
- Students who would like to be eligible to pursue a middle grades certificate (5-8) must choose a content major in English, general science, social studies, or math. See Middle Grades Certification coursework for further information.
- Students who do not want to pursue a middle grades certificate may choose any content major, but multi-disciplinary studies is strongly recommended.
A. Content Major in Multidisciplinary Studies
In addition to completing required courses in elementary education, students electing a content major in multi-disciplinary studies must complete the following courses, with a minimum grade point average of 2.50 in the major. Students may not proceed to student teaching without the required GPA.
Note: This content major does not fulfill requirements for middle grades certification.
Cognates
ART 210 | Nurturing Artistic and Musical Development | 4 | Fall, Spring. |
BIOL 100 | Fundamental Concepts of Biology | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
MATH 143 | Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers I | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
MATH 144 | Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers II | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
POL 201 | Development of American Democracy | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
PSCI 103 | Physical Science | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
ONE COURSE from
ENGL 120 | Studies in Literature and Identity | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
ENGL 121 | Studies in Literature and Nation | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
ENGL 122 | Studies in Literature and the Canon | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
ENGL 123 | Studies in Literature and Genre | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
ONE COURSE from
HIST 103 | Multiple Voices: Europe in the World to 1600 | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
HIST 104 | Multiple Voices: Europe in the World Since 1600 | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
Note: HIST 103, HIST 104: These courses may also apply to General Education requirement.
ONE COURSE from
HSCI 232 | Human Genetics | 4 | Fall. |
PSCI 208 | Forensic Science | 4 | Fall, Spring. |
| Total Credit Hours: | 36 | |
Note: HSCI 232, PSCI 208: These courses may also apply to General Education requirement.
Content major courses in Multidisciplinary Studies
ENGL 210 | Children’s Literature: Interpretation and Evaluation | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
ENGL 212 | Adolescent Literature: Images of Youth | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
ONE GEOGRAPHY COURSE from
GEOG 101 | Introduction to Geography | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
GEOG 200 | World Regional Geography | 4 | Fall, Spring. |
ONE SOCIAL STUDIES COURSE from
ANTH 101 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | 4 | Fall, Spring. |
ANTH 102 | Introduction to Archaeology | 4 | Fall, Spring. |
ANTH 215 | The Archaeology of Ancient Civilizations | 4 | As needed. |
ECON 200 | Introduction to Economics | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
ECON 214 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
SOC 200 | Society and Social Behavior | 4 | Fall, Spring. |
SOC 202 | The Family | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
SOC 204 | Urban Sociology | 4 | As needed. |
SOC 208 | The Sociology of Race and Ethnicity | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
POL 203 | Global Politics | 4 | Fall, Spring. |
POL 204 | Introduction to Political Thought | 4 | Fall, Spring. |
ONE SCIENCE COURSE from
HSCI 232 | Human Genetics | 4 | Fall. |
PSCI 208 | Forensic Science | 4 | Fall, Spring. |
PSCI 211 | Introduction to Astronomy | 4 | Fall, Spring. |
PSCI 212 | Introduction to Geology | 4 | Fall, Summer. |
PSCI 217 | Introduction to Oceanography | 4 | Spring. |
Note: HSCI 232, PSCI 208: These courses may also apply to General Education requirement.
TWO MATH COURSES from
MATH 209 | Precalculus Mathematics | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
MATH 210 | College Trigonometry | 3 | Spring. |
MATH 212 | Calculus I | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
MATH 220 | Formalizing Mathematical Thought | 4 | Fall. |
MATH 240 | Statistical Methods I | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
MATH 324 | College Geometry | 4 | Fall, Spring. |
MATH 409 | Mathematical Problem Analysis | 4 | Fall. |
MATH 431 | Number Theory | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
| Total Credit Hours: | 25-28 | |
Note: MATH 324: This course may also apply to General Education requirement.
B. Content Major in English
In addition to completing required courses in elementary education, students electing a content major in English must complete the following courses, with a minimum grade point average of 2.75 in the major. Students may not proceed to student teaching without the required GPA.
Cognates
ART 210 | Nurturing Artistic and Musical Development | 4 | Fall, Spring. |
BIOL 100 | Fundamental Concepts of Biology | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
MATH 143 | Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers I | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
MATH 144 | Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers II | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
POL 201 | Development of American Democracy | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
PSCI 103 | Physical Science | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
| Total Credit Hours: | 24 | |
Content major courses in English
ENGL 201 | Literary Studies: Analysis | 4 | Fall, Spring. |
ENGL 202 | Literary Studies: Theory and Criticism | 4 | Fall, Spring. |
ENGL 205 | British Literature to 1700 | 4 | As needed. |
ENGL 206 | British Literature since 1700 | 4 | As needed. |
ENGL 207 | American Literature, Beginnings to the present | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
ENGL 210 | Children’s Literature: Interpretation and Evaluation | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
ENGL 212 | Adolescent Literature: Images of Youth | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
| Total Credit Hours: | 28 | |
Students pursuing middle grades certification must also take:
SED 445 | The Teaching of Writing in Secondary Schools | 4 | Fall, Spring. |
C. Content Major in General Science
In addition to completing required courses in elementary education, students electing a content major in general science must complete the following courses, with a minimum grade point average of 2.50 in the major. Students may not proceed to student teaching without the required GPA.
Cognates
ART 210 | Nurturing Artistic and Musical Development | 4 | Fall, Spring. |
BIOL 111 | Introductory Biology I | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
MATH 143 | Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers I | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
MATH 144 | Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers II | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
POL 201 | Development of American Democracy | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
PHYS 102 | General Physics II | 4 | Spring, Summer. |
| Total Credit Hours: | 24 | |
Content major courses in General Science
BIOL 112 | Introductory Biology II | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
PHYS 101 | General Physics I | 4 | Fall, Summer. |
ONE CHEMISTRY SEQUENCE from
CHEM 103 | General Chemistry I | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
| -And- | | |
CHEM 104 | General Chemistry II | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
| | | |
| -Or- | | |
| | | |
CHEM 105 | General, Organic and Biological Chemistry I | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
| -And- | | |
CHEM 106 | General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry II | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
ONE COURSE from
PSCI 212 | Introduction to Geology | 4 | Fall, Summer. |
PSCI 217 | Introduction to Oceanography | 4 | Spring. |
| | | |
| TWO 200 level or above courses from BIOL, CHEM, HSCI, PHYS or PSCI | 8 | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 28 | |
D. Content Major in Mathematics
In addition to completing required courses in elementary education, students electing a content major in mathematics must complete the following courses, with a minimum grade point average of 2.50 in the major.
Cognates
ART 210 | Nurturing Artistic and Musical Development | 4 | Fall, Spring. |
BIOL 100 | Fundamental Concepts of Biology | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
MATH 143 | Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers I | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
MATH 144 | Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers II | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
MATH 324 | College Geometry | 4 | Fall, Spring. |
POL 201 | Development of American Democracy | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
PSCI 103 | Physical Science | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
| Total Credit Hours: | 28 | |
Content major courses in Mathematics
MATH 209 | Precalculus Mathematics | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
MATH 210 | College Trigonometry | 3 | Spring. |
MATH 212 | Calculus I | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
MATH 220 | Formalizing Mathematical Thought | 4 | Fall. |
MATH 240 | Statistical Methods I | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
MATH 409 | Mathematical Problem Analysis | 4 | Fall. |
MATH 431 | Number Theory | 3 | Fall, Spring. |
ONE COURSE from
MATH 418 | Introduction to Operations Research | 3 | Spring (even years). |
MATH 436 | Discrete Mathematics | 3 | Spring. |
MATH 445 | Advanced Statistical Methods | 3 | Spring. |
| Total Credit Hours: | 29 | |
E. Content Major in Social Studies
In addition to completing the required courses in elementary education, students electing a content major in social studies must complete the following courses with a minimum grade point average of 2.75 in the major.
Cognates
ART 210 | Nurturing Artistic and Musical Development | 4 | Fall, Spring. |
BIOL 100 | Fundamental Concepts of Biology | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
MATH 143 | Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers I | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
MATH 144 | Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers II | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
POL 201 | Development of American Democracy | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
PSCI 103 | Physical Science | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
ONE COURSE from
HIST 103 | Multiple Voices: Europe in the World to 1600 | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
HIST 104 | Multiple Voices: Europe in the World Since 1600 | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
| Total Credit Hours: | 28 | |
Note: HIST 103, HIST 104: These courses may also apply to General Education requirement.
Content major courses in Social Studies
HIST 331 | Rhode Island History | 4 | Spring. |
HIST 381 | Workshop: History and the Elementary Education Teacher | 1 | Fall. |
ONE COURSE from
HIST 340 | The Muslim World from the Age of Muhammad to 1800 | 4 | Alternate years. |
HIST 341 | The Muslim World in Modern Times, 1800 to the Present | 4 | Alternate years. |
HIST 342 | Islam and Politics in Modern History | 4 | Alternate years. |
HIST 344 | History of East Asia to 1600 | 4 | As needed. |
HIST 345 | History of China in Modern Times | 4 | As needed. |
HIST 346 | History of Japan in Modern Times | 4 | As needed. |
HIST 347 | Foreign Relations of East Asia in Modern Times | 4 | As needed. |
HIST 348 | Africa under Colonial Rule | 4 | Annually. |
HIST 349 | History of Contemporary Africa | 4 | Annually. |
ONE COURSE from
ANTH 101 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | 4 | Fall, Spring. |
ANTH 102 | Introduction to Archaeology | 4 | Fall, Spring. |
ANTH 215 | The Archaeology of Ancient Civilizations | 4 | As needed. |
ONE COURSE from
ECON 200 | Introduction to Economics | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
ECON 214 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
ONE COURSE from
GEOG 101 | Introduction to Geography | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
GEOG 200 | World Regional Geography | 4 | Fall, Spring. |
ONE COURSE from
POL 203 | Global Politics | 4 | Fall, Spring. |
POL 204 | Introduction to Political Thought | 4 | Fall, Spring. |
ONE COURSE from
SOC 200 | Society and Social Behavior | 4 | Fall, Spring. |
SOC 202 | The Family | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
SOC 204 | Urban Sociology | 4 | As needed. |
SOC 208 | The Sociology of Race and Ethnicity | 4 | Fall, Spring, Summer. |
| Total Credit Hours: | 28-29 | |