Elementary Education, BS

Purpose

The Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (BS ELED) is designed to prepare individuals to teach all subject areas for grades K-6. The program provides an educational pathway for students who have earned an Associate in Arts (AA) degree. This program is also a good option for students with a child development focus. The BS in Elementary Education is a state-approved program (FLDOE) that culminates with students being eligible to apply for K-6 certification with both Reading and ESOL endorsements. 

Program Structure

This program is a planned sequence of instruction consisting of 120 credit hours in the following areas: 36 credit hours of General Education Requirements, Additional Lower Division Requirements, 60 credit hours of Upper Division Program Requirements, and Additional Program requirements. In addition, 30 hours of service learning and 720 hours of field experience are required.

Courses focus on teaching students with English as a second language, teaching students with exceptionalities, reading competency, classroom management, assessment, and integrated approaches to teaching methodologies at the elementary school level. Students will learn to facilitate lessons that integrate math and science, literature, fine arts, language arts, and social sciences, health, music, and movement. Courses are offered for full-time and part-time students, with blended and online courses where applicable.

Field Experience requirements are progressive in nature, building upon previous semester experiences. Students will observe teachers in the field, teach lessons through the practicum courses, and complete a full-time teaching internship in their final semester.

Admission Requirements:

Applicants must complete the Bachelor’s Degree admissions application online, pay the $30.00 application fee, and be accepted to Florida SouthWestern State College.  Official transcripts from all previously attended colleges or university must be sent directly to the Office of the Registrar.

In addition to fulfilling the entrance requirements for Florida SouthWestern State College, applicants for the BS in Elementary Education degree program must meet the following requirements consistent with Florida Statute 1004.04:

1. Applicants must have earned:

An Associate in Arts (AA) degree from a regionally accredited institution, as defined by State Board of Education rule, with a minimum of 60 credit hours.

OR

A minimum of 60 credit hours from a regionally accredited college or university, as defined by State Board of Education rule, with all state of Florida general education core requirements met.

2. Applicants must have completed EDF 2005 - Introduction to the Teaching Profession  with a grade of “C” or better.
3. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.

Note: Upper Division Transfer Course Review: Students who have completed previous upper division coursework in an Education program may present those courses for evaluation by the Elementary Education Department Chair. Students may transfer equivalent courses as determined by the State Common Course Numbering System. However, Florida SouthWestern State College reserves the right to deny common course number credit for courses in which practicum or internship components reside. Florida SouthWestern State College’s Office of the Registrar will ensure that previous coursework meets all relevant academic standards before acceptance for transfer. The Dean of the School of Education and the Credit Review Committee will ensure adherence to the above admissions criteria.

Priority Application Deadlines:

Fall Semester Start - Application due by August 1

Spring Semester Start - Application due by December 1

Summer Semester Start - Application due by April 1

Requirements to Enroll in Upper Division Courses:

1. Upon admission to the BS program, students must attend a mandatory orientation session prior to enrollment in upper division (3000 and 4000 level) courses.
2. Students must complete ENC 1101 - Composition I , ENC 1102 - Composition II  and one general education math course prior to enrollment in any upper division courses.
3. Additional Lower Division Requirements must be successfully completed with a grade of “C” or better.
4. Cross-enrollment approval: Baccalaureate degree seeking students must obtain prior approval to cross enroll (as a transient student) in courses intended to fulfill baccalaureate program requirements.  Approval will be determined by the appropriate dean in collaboration with program faculty.  Students initiate this process using www.floridashines.org/.
5. Students who have not fulfilled the State of Florida General Education Requirements must complete them. Students who transfer to Florida SouthWestern State College with a previous Associate in Arts degree from a Florida College or Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution are considered to have met the General Education component of the degree.
6. Students who have previously earned an Associate in Arts or a Baccalaureate degree from a college or university outside the State of Florida will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine which courses will meet the 36-hour General Education Requirements. Students must have earned equivalent credit hours in each General Education category.
7. To be eligible to enroll in EDE 4940 - Internship in Elementary Education , students must have passed all sections of the General Knowledge Test, the Professional Educator’s Exam and the Subject Area Exam; and have attempted the Professional Educator’s Exam and the Subject Area Exam.
8. Prior to entering any school to complete an internship, practicum, or field service hours, students must be fingerprinted and screened by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI.

Academic Policies

1. In addition to adherence to the Florida SouthWestern State College Student Code of Conduct, policies, and procedures, teacher candidates must adhere to disposition policies, unit policies, and procedures as published in the School of Education Handbook.
2. While Florida SouthWestern State College governs a student’s program requirements, changes to a program emanating from the Florida State Board of Education will take precedence over the College catalog and may alter a student’s program of study.
3. Students who have been fully admitted to the Elementary Education, BS program, but do not enroll in at least one course for three consecutive semesters are required to apply for readmission to the program. Upon readmission, students are governed by the catalog requirements of the readmission year. 
4. Students with special circumstances preventing them from being readmitted to the program may make an appeal to the Dean of the School of Education for their enrollment to be reactivated. Reactivation appeals must include a letter justifying the request, a letter of support from a faculty member, and any documentation that supports the student’s appeal. Reactivated students will be governed by the catalog in place during the year in which they were first admitted to the program.

Graduation Requirements

1. Students must fulfill all specific degree requirements of the program to be eligible for graduation.
2. Students must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 120 credit hours as outlined in the Elementary Education, BS program of study.
3. To satisfy residency requirements, a minimum of 15 credit hours of Upper Division Program Requirements and a minimum of 30 total credit hours must be completed at Florida SouthWestern State College.
4. Students must earn a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
5. Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in all Upper Division (3000 or 4000 level) Program Requirements.
6. Students must complete the State of Florida General Education Core Requirements, including any assessment of General Education outcomes required by the College. Transfer courses will be reviewed for equivalency.  Students who transfer to Florida SouthWestern State College with an Associate in Arts degree from a Florida College or a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution are considered to have met the General Education component of the degree.
7. Students must complete the State Civic Literacy Competency Requirement which is met by achieving a passing score on the Florida Civic Literacy Exam and by successfully passing a civic literacy course.
8. Student must successfully complete 12 semester hours of coursework demonstrating college level writing skills with a grade of “C” or better in order to meet the Writing Intensive Requirement.  Six (6) credit hours must be taken in English Composition and six (6) credit hours must be taken in additional coursework that demonstrates college-level writing skills.
9. Students must satisfy the State Foreign Language Competency Requirement which is met by completing one of the following:
   • 2 years of the same High School Foreign Language, or
   • Documented foreign language proficiency through testing (for example, CLEP), or
   • 2 semesters of the same College Level Foreign Language (Level II proficiency).

Note: Students who wish to participate in the Commencement Ceremony must indicate their intention to attend the Commencement Ceremony by completing the Commencement Application by the published deadline.

Course Prerequisites

Many courses require prerequisites. Check the description of each course in the list below for prerequisites, minimum grade requirements, and other restrictions.  Students must complete all prerequisites for a course prior to registering for it.