Pre-Kindergarten Primary Education, B.S.

 

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.

Academic Course Curriculum

Elementary teachers generally teach reading, language arts, arithmetic, science, and social studies to students in kindergarten through sixth grade in public and private schools.
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 values 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, providing 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 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

 

 

 

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Elementary Education Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Qs)


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.

Jordyn Thomas
Senior

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.

Joyous Booker
Senior

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?

Shontell Woods, ED. S
Alumna - Class of 2007

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

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  • 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
  • 6 credit hours of student teaching (internship)

Program Faculty

Name Email Phone
Dr. Mary Newell
Associate Professor
mary.newell@famu.edu 850-599-3397
Dr. Peggy Auman
Professor
peggy.auman@famu.edu 850-412-6650
Dr. Rebecca Blankenship
Associate Professor
rebecca.blankenship@famu.edu 850-599-3749
Dr. Cheron Davis
Associate Professor
cheron.davis@famu.edu 850-412-5330