Education with Teaching Certification in Grades PreK– 4 (B.S.)

Program Overview

The PreK-4 Education Program prepares students to teach pre-school, kindergarten, and grades 1 through 4 in public or private institutions. The major emphasis is on the growth and development of “the whole child” with developmentally appropriate instructional activities.

Through the academic program, faculty advising, and extensive field experiences, students are broadly prepared for effective teaching in elementary schools and early childhood settings. Thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities are developed in critical areas such as instructional planning, instructional delivery, assessment, and classroom management. Particular attention also is given to subject matter preparation.

Effective early childhood and elementary school teaching requires an extensive knowledge base that represents many curricular domains. Students develop this knowledge base by studying a wide variety of subjects such as English, psychology, sociology, history, philosophy, biology, fine arts, mathematics, physical science, language arts, health, social studies, and geography. In addition, students have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of a particular subject of their choice by completing a 12-credit disciplinary focus.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates from Messiah’s Education program can:

  1. Develop skills common to the liberal arts and sciences: research, analysis, reflection, and communication.
  2. Develop knowledge common to the liberal arts and sciences in the fields of arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. Students will also develop specialized knowledge and disciplinary expertise.
  3. Develop informed and mature convictions about Christian faith and practice.
  4. Become proficient in the scholarship of their discipline and demonstrate specialized skills needed to pursue a career and/or graduate school.
  5. Gain awareness of identity, character, and vocational calling.
  6. Demonstrate a commitment to service, reconciliation, and justice, and lead effectively and ethically within the complexities of an increasingly diverse and interdependent world.

Major Requirements

Complete the following for your major:

ART/MUGE/THEA
course meeting QuEST arts requirement

3

BIOL 106Life Sciences

3

EDSP 207Introduction to Special Education

3

EDSP 307Inclusion Practices

3

EDUC 201Education and American Society

3

EDUC 203Educational Psychology

3

EDUC 205Cultural and Political Geography

3

EDUC 208Teaching English Language Learners in K-12 Schools

3

EDUC 209Principles and Structures of Mathematics

3

EDUC 226Children's Literature

3

EDUC 301Literacy: Climate, Curriculum and Instruction I

3

EDUC 302Literacy: Climate, Curriculum & Instruction II

3

EDUC 303Mathematics: Climate, Curriculum and Instruction for Primary Grades

3

EDUC 304Mathematics: Climate, Curriculum and Instruction for Intermediate Grades (with Field Experience)

2-3

EDUC 330Instructional Design I

3

EDUC 342Social Studies: Climate, Curriculum and Instruction for Elementary School

3

EDUC 347Science: Climate, Curriculum and Instruction for Elementary School

3

TEP 407Student Teaching Seminar

1

EDUC 414Developmental Programming: Curriculum and Instruction for Early Childhood

3

EDUC 415Practices in Early Childhood Education

3

EDUC 420Professional Issues in Education

2

EDUC 465Early Childhood Internship

0

ENGL 160Introduction to World Literature

3

 

HIST 141United States History Survey to 1865

3

OR

HIST 142United States History Survey Since 1865

3

 

PHSC 102Foundations of Physical Science

3

HDFS 210Child Development

3

TEP 210Sophomore Field Experience

0

TEP 312Field Experience ll in PreK - Grade 2

0

TEP 314Field Experience III Grade 2-4

0

TEP 434Student Teaching:Grades PreK-4

9

Required Disciplinary Focus (may not overlap with QuEST)

12

EDUC 201: Fulfills Writing Enriched course requirement for Major.

EDUC 304: Two credits required for the major.

TEP 210: May meet ELI requirement- work closely with advisor to confirm

Three credits from the following:

CIS 171Problem Solving with Computers

3

CIS 180Introduction to Computer and Information Science

3

CIS 181Computer Programming I

3

Note: All students who major in PreK– 4 must complete a twelve-credit Disciplinary Focus to provide depth in an academic discipline other than Education. Students elect twelve credits from a single academic discipline (or two closely related disciplines) other than Education. The twelve credits may not overlap with any other QuEST or major Requirements. Course selections must be approved by the advisor and the Department of Education chair. Students who wish to complete a college-approved minor will need to take additional courses.

QuEST Requirements

Experiential Learning requirement 0
QuEST requirements Credits
First Year Seminar 3
Oral Communication 3
Created and Called for Community (W) 3
Mathematical Sciences (CIS 171, CIS 180 or CIS 181) met/major
Laboratory Science (BIOL 106 & PHSC 102) met/major
Science, Technology & the World waived
Social Science (HDFS 210) waived
European History or United States History (HIST 141 or HIST 142) met/major
Literature (ENGL 160) met/major
Philosophy and Religion 3
Arts (ART, MUGE or THEA course meeting QuEST) met/major
First Semester of Language 3
Second Semester of Language 3
Third Semester of Language or Cross Cultural 3
Non-Western Studies waived*
Bible 3
Christian Beliefs 3
Wellness course 1
Ethics, World Views or Pluralism 3
QuEST requirements 31
Major requirements 95
Total credits 126

*The non-western requirement is only waived if students take ENGL 160.