The major purpose of the elementary education program is to provide carefully planned
experiences that will result in the development of competent teachers for the schools
of Florida and the nation. The program leads to Florida certification in elementary
education, grades K-6 and includes English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
and Reading Endorsement. The curriculum is organized to provide approximately two
years of general education. The last two years consist of professional and specialized
preparation.
PreK Elementary Education Degree Program offers two tracks:
Elementary Education with ESOL and Reading Endorsement
PreK Primary Education with ESOL and Reading Endorsement.
It also offers stand-alone PreK Disability Endorsement.
The major purpose of the elementary education program is to provide carefully planned
experiences that will result in the development of competent teachers for the schools
of Florida and the nation. Our one-of-a-kind Elementary Education Curriculum is organized
to provide approximately two years of general education. The last two years consist
of professional and specialized preparation.
Elementary teachers generally teach reading, language arts, arithmetic, science, and
social studies to students in kindergarten through sixth grade in public and private
schools.
What is elementary education?
The Elementary Education K-6 program prepares teacher candidates to teach in elementary
schools. The program through its content methods courses, and enhanced field clinical
experiences, places special emphasis on diversity through coursework and learning
experiences that prepare teacher candidates to work with children with special needs
and students whose primary language is not English. Teacher candidates in the program
provide enhanced tutoring assistance to students who are English Speakers of Other
Languages (ESOL) at local schools in surrounding districts.
The four year program supports the university’s core value, diversity/inclusion and
connection to the community. Candidates graduating from the state and nationally
(Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation) approved program have endorsements
in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Reading, and Pre-kindergarten Disabilities
which supplies certified teachers to school districts across the state and nationally.
Elementary school teachers must be certified by most states to teach K-6 students.
Elementary Education Careers
• Instructional Coordinator • Instructional Coaches • After School Program Director • Museum Director • Camp Director
Q: Will all of my transfer credits count toward my degree? A: The Registrar and the Elementary Education department determine what courses satisfy
the criteria for transferring courses. To meet graduation requirements for the baccalaureate
degree, a transfer student must earn at least 25 percent of the number of credit hours
required to graduate in the major at FAMU.
Q: Does the program offer online courses? A: Some of the required general and professional education courses are offered online.
Q: How long will it take to graduate from the program? A: Students enrolled full-time in the Elementary Education major can graduate in four
years if they follow the curriculum and successfully complete the required 120 credits
for an undergraduate degree.
Are you thinking about pursuing a career in elementary education? Our program prepares
students to become skilled educators.
If you are thinking of majoring in elementary education, consider what some of our
own Rattlers had to say about the program, what inspired them, and why they chose
physical therapy as a career.
I feel fortunate to be molded by the FAMU COE Elementary Education program. The resources
and professional support I've received have been invaluable. As a result, I have demonstrated
exceptional teacher knowledge, skills, and disposition while completing practicum
hours in the field. One of the best things about the FAMU COE is the Candidate Empowerment
Center. The CEC provides copious teaching and lesson planning materials and studying
resources to help students pass the FTCE exams and graduate fully certified and endorsed.
I graduate next semester and feel incredibly prepared to be a change-maker in the
community because of the Elementary Education program.
At a young age, I always found myself being a teacher to a wide range of individuals.
I was always labeled an interpreter because I can find a problem, solve it, and reiterate
it back in a way that’s understandable for all ages. Knowing this, I found myself
running away from the thing I liked to do. It wasn’t until my junior year in high
school where I sat down and decided that teaching is something I love to do, and I
will do. When deciding where I wanted to go to college, I looked for a place that
would teach me the science behind teaching and that would offer me endorsements with
my certification and degree. After researching and weighing my options, what better
place to be than at FAMU in the College of Education’s Elementary Education Program?
In elementary school, I had many positive experiences with my teachers. When I was
eight years of age, I knew I wanted to be a teacher because of the impact of my third-grade
teacher, who is also a Rattler. She was instrumental in encouraging me to attend the
College of Education Elementary Education program. The positive experiences and relationships
continued during my matriculation in the program. Each professor was intentional with
supporting me in becoming an exemplary professional and motivated me to have the same
influence on each student I encountered throughout my career. It is very gratifying
to hear from my past students about the impact I had in their lives. That same impact
is because of the experience I was fortunate to have in the Elementary Education program
with the College of Education at FAMU.
Requirements and Curriculum Maps
This is a short sentence providing context for the information appearing.
Have a grade point average (GPA) of 2.50 or higher for the general education component
of undergraduate studies; or have completed the requirements for a baccalaureate degree
with a minimum grade point average of 2.50 or higher
Have a FAMU cumulative grade point average of 2.50 or higher
Met all Gordon Rule requirements
Have a grade of “C” or better in the required courses taken as part of the General
Education Preparation Program
Have successfully completed a pre-admission interview by the College of Education
Admissions Committee
Have successfully passed a criminal background investigation.
Admission to the Professional Teacher Education Program
Completion of all coursework with the required cumulative GPA of 2.50
Completion of student teaching experience (internship)
Completion of a portfolio which documents mastery of the Florida Educator Accomplished
Practices (FEAPs)
Pass General Knowledge Tests and all subtests of the Florida Teacher Certification
Examination (FTCE)
External evaluation of satisfactory teaching ability
Internal evaluation of satisfactory teaching ability
9 hrs. of English to include writing, literature, and speech
9 hrs. of mathematics to include college algebra or above and geometry
9 hrs. of science to include earth science, life science, and physical science with
minimum of one associated laboratory
12 hrs. of social sciences to include American History and General Psychology
6 hrs. of humanities to include Philosophy and Fine Arts
3 hrs. of Pre-Teacher Education course (EDF 1005)
6 credit hours of ESOL (TSL 3080 and TSL 4332)
9 credit hours of Reading (RED 3013, RED 4519 and RED 4800)
30 hrs. of Professional Education courses
30 hrs. of Content Area courses with at least a 2.5 GPA
