Admission Requirements (Pre-Education)

Freshmen and Transfers*

• Minimum GPA:  2.7
• Pre-Major/Prerequisite Courses:  A minimum of 30 credit hours in approved college-level courses, and a grade of C or above in the following:
  • EDUC 1100  or EDUC 2100 **
  • SPED 2100 **
• Other:  
  • Passing scores on the Praxis Core: Academic Skills Assessments in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics; or an acceptable substitute score on the SAT or ACT
  • Completion and clearance on the Criminal Background Check
  • Signed Statement of Commitment to Professional Dispositions
  • Recommendation of Advisor
  • Approval of the Chair (or his or her designee) of the department that offers the program
• Declaration of Major:  The Elementary Education major is intended to be started in the first semester of Junior year; students should plan to declare the major no later than the second semester of the Sophomore year.  Students must complete an “Application for Admission to a Teacher Education Program” in the Office of Teacher Education Advising and Licensure (TEAL) in the Cato College of Education.  Students must apply for admission to a specific teacher education program and complete the admissions process in order to enroll in any professional education courses at the 3000 level or above.

* Students seeking to enroll in the TA to Teachers program should submit an Undergraduate Admissions Application and meet the articulated admission requirements. Additionally, a secondary application should be submitted through the Distance Education website that includes academic transcripts reflecting an A.A. or A.S. degree and a principal/administrator recommendation.

** Students seeking to enroll in the TA to Teachers program who lack credit for EDUC 1100 /EDUC 2100  and SPED 2100  are admitted as a Pre-Education major and are required to complete the courses through Credit by Exam prior to enrollment in the program.

Degree Requirements

The Major in Elementary Education leading to the B.A. degree requires a minimum of 120 credit hours.

Degree Total = 120 Credit Hours

Academic Advising

Freshmen and Sophomores who intend to major in Elementary Education are classified as Pre-Education students in Elementary Education. They are assigned an advisor in the College’s Office of Teacher Education Advising and Licensure (TEAL), who helps them select appropriate General Education and minor courses, and also helps them meet the requirements for admission to teacher education. Upon admission to the Teacher Education Program in Elementary Education, which typically occurs at the end of the Sophomore year, students will be advised in the Elementary Education Advising Center.

Additional Requirements

The successful completion of this degree program includes meeting the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s licensure requirements for certification.  Consequently, additional requirements must be completed during the student’s program and are listed below.  Since state licensure requirements often change, additional work may be required to complete the program with a teaching license.

Planning Sheet

All education students are tracked through their program with a Program Planning Sheet.  The original planning sheet is uploaded to the advising system and lists all courses taken, transfer hours, General Education and minor requirements met, and courses remaining in the program.  Note that the University requires that the minimum number of credits in a degree program is 120 credit hours.

Clinicals

Some courses in the professional program include a clinical requirement where students complete specific activities or designated hours in an appropriate setting.  Clinicals are designed to expose students to diverse school demographics, locations, and programs.

Grade Requirements

All students with an education major must maintain a 2.5 GPA overall and a 2.75 GPA in their professional courses.  All professional courses must be passed with a grade of C or above, and students may repeat a professional course once.  Students may be dropped from a course if they register out of sequence.

Honors Program

For details about the Honors Program in Education, visit the program page .

Internship

Teacher education candidates participate in the yearlong internship during their final year of the program. During the first semester, students spend one day per week in an assigned classroom while completing coursework on campus. During the second semester of the internship, students complete full-time student teaching in the same classroom. Applications for this yearlong internship are due two semesters before student teaching.