Skip to main content

Elementary Education

Welcome to the Elementary Education Program at Utah State University. The Elementary Education Program prepares prospective teachers through seven majors that combine available licensure areas (e.g., Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, Special Education, and Deaf Education) in stand-alone, dual, and composite degrees. The program emphasizes informed and responsive teaching developed through extensive field experience. Students have an opportunity to bridge into professional practice by getting an early start in teaching endorsement programs and even, potentially, a master's degree program. 

Teacher preparation for the various Elementary Education majors in the School of Teacher Education and Leadership is called Bridge to Professional Practice (BPP). Students may complete BPP in one of two lanes: the Licensure Lane or the General Studies Lane. Each lane has differing requirements, obligations, and outcomes. The links on this page provide information about the majors, lanes, and other resources students will need to cross the Bridge to Professional Practice successfully. Students are responsible for understanding and fulfilling the conditions for their specific major, but we have a wonderful advisement staff who are willing to help.

Resources

Policies

TEAL Course Repeat Policy - qualifications and process for repeating/retaking a course.

Student Professional Expectations - procedures for instructors to follow if a student's performance is not meeting professional expectations

Background Clearance - process for obtaining and submitting your background check

Praxis Information

The required Praxis test that must be passed before you can be licensed as a teacher is the Multiple Subjects (5001) test. Link to more information and study materials.

Breadth Studies Options

As part of your general education for Utah State University, you are required to take 22 credits of Breadth courses. Students in any ELED major may select a course from the entire Breadth Education lists approved by the university. However, the department strongly recommends that students choose from the lists of recommended courses in each breadth area deemed most appropriate for ELED majors to prepare them to become content generalists prepared to teach across curriculum content areas.
Below are links to the breadth course recommendations for TEAL students in each breadth area.

Breadth American Institution (BAI)

Breadth Social Science (BSS)

Breadth Humanities (BHU)

Breadth Creative Arts (BCA)

Breadth Life Sciences (BLS)

Breadth Physical Sciences (BPS)

Depth Studies Options

As part of your general education for Utah State University, you are required to take 2 University Studies Depth courses from a college outside your emphasis to round out your educational background. Below are links to depth courses in each of the colleges.

Depth Humanities Arts (DHA)

Depth Science (DSC)

Depth Social Science (DSS)

Applications

Application deadlines: The first Tuesday following Spring Break in March, July 15, October 10:

Application information for students who have been accepted to the Teacher Education program:

Bridge to Professional Practice

Elementary Education Lane Designation Requirements

Teacher preparation for the various Elementary Education majors in the School of Teacher Education and Leadership is called Bridge to Professional Practice (BPP). Students may complete BPP in one of two lanes: the Licensure Lane or the General Studies Lane. This document outlines the differing requirements, obligations, and outcomes of completing the program in each lane. Students are responsible for understanding and fulfilling the conditions for their specific major.

PDF of ELED Lane Designation Requirements

Early Childhood Education Lane Designation Requirements

Teacher preparation for the various Elementary Education majors in the School of Teacher Education and Leadership is called Bridge to Professional Practice (BPP), which has two lanes for program completion: the Licensure Lane and the General Studies Lane. Students in majors involving Early Childhood Education must complete the program in the Licensure Lane. This document outlines the differing requirements, obligations, and outcomes of completing the program in the two lanes. Students are responsible for understanding and fulfilling the conditions for their specific major.

PDF of ECE Lane Designation Requirements

Programs of Study

Elementary Education, in conjunction with the Departments of Family and Human Development and Special Education, offer the following programs leading to certification as a teacher. Please note, listed under each major are the Personal Course Records by academic year.

  1. Elementary Education - Bridge to Professional Practice
  2. Early Childhood Education - Bridge to Professional Practice
  3. Dual Elementary and Early Childhood Education - Bridge to Professional Practice
  4. Dual Early Childhood Birth - 5/Special Education - Early Childhood - Bridge to Professional Practice
  5. Composite Elementary Education/Special Education - Mild/Moderate Specialization - Bridge to Professional Practice
  6. Composite Elementary Education/Special Education - Severe - Bridge to Professional Practice
  7. Elementary Education and Deaf Education - Bridge to Professional Practice
  8. General Studies - Bridge to Professional Practice

Professional Anchor Options (Endorsements, etc.)

As part of your education for Utah State University, you are required to take 21 credits of Professional Anchor courses. You may choose an Endorsement, Enlightenment, Enhancement and EMPowerment emphasis.

Professional Anchor Options

Course Flowcharts

Flowchart for Elementary Education majors
Flowchart for Early Childhood Education-based majors

For more information, contact our Advisement Office:

TEAL Advising
Hours 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday
Location EDUC 373
Phone 435.797.0391