General Description of Elementary Education
Elementary programs include the Master of Science in Education degree program and four post-baccalaureate licensure programs. Within the Master of Science in elementary education degree program there are a number of concentrations and emphasis area choices for both licensed teachers as well as those seeking initial licensure or endorsement. For those seeking initial licensure there are the following concentration areas: PreK-6 and middle school 6-8. For licensed teachers seeking additional education there are the following concentration areas: math specialist PK-8 and elementary generalist. Post-baccalaureate endorsement programs are designed for individuals with a non-teaching B.S. or B.A. degree who want to obtain licensure or for those with a teaching license who want to be licensed in an additional teaching area. The three endorsement programs offered in elementary education are PreK-6, Middle School 6-8, and Mathematics Specialist PreK-8.
Master of Science in Education, Elementary Education, Pre-K-6, Initial Licensure
3101 Education Building
757-683-3284
Judith Dunkerly-Bean, Graduate Program Director
The master’s program in elementary school education (PreK-6) is designed for individuals with a non-teaching B.S. or B.A. degree who want to obtain licensure as a teacher in preschool through grade six and earn a master’s degree at the same time. The Pre-K-6 initial licensure concentration offers two different emphasis areas: Interdisciplinary Studies (those getting a B.S. degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from ODU) or Non-Interdisciplinary Studies (those with other non-teaching undergraduate degrees).
Note to students in Washington State from the Student Achievement Council (SAC) concerning the Master of Science in Education, Elementary Education, PreK-6: Eligibility for initial educator certification in Washington is based on completion of a state approved educator preparation program. This program is approved in Virginia by the Virginia Department of Education and is authorized for field placements in Washington by the Professional Educators Standards Board. Even though you may be residing in Washington while in this program, your application for educator certification in Washington will be processed as an out-of-state application. Go to http://pathway.pesb.wa.gov/archive/outofstate for more information. Teachers are advised to contact their individual school districts as to whether or not this program may qualify for teacher advancement. This program is available on-campus and online.
Non-Interdisciplinary Studies Emphasis Area
This curriculum is designed for individuals with a non-teaching BS or BA degree who want to obtain the Virginia teaching license to become a teacher in prek-6 grades and earn the master’s degree at the same time.
Admission
All students must apply for and be admitted into the approved M.S. Ed with initial licensure program for Elementary Education (grades Pre-K-6). Admission criteria include the following
- A Bachelor of Science from a regionally accredited college/university is required.
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.80 in the bachelor’s degree.
- Students must meet the Virginia Board of Education prescribed assessments passing scores as outlined in the Office of Clinical Experiences section of this catalog. For the most current information on the prescribed Virginia Board of Education admission assessment, visit the Office of Clinical Experiences website, http://www.odu.edu/oce and review the Teacher Education Handbook.
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No courses in the academic major in which the student has earned a grade below "C" will be accepted for admission in the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies.
- No course in professional education in which the student has earned a grade below a "B-" will be accepted in the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies.
- An application for graduate studies, and official transcripts must be submitted by the appropriate deadline for admission. Under certain circumstances, applicants who do not fully meet the requirements for regular admission to the program may be admitted on a provisional basis subject to conditions specified by the elementary education graduate program director.
Curriculum
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Credit Hours |
| Developing Instructional Strategies PreK-6: Language Arts | |
| Developing Instructional Strategies PreK-6: Social Studies | |
| Language Acquisition and Reading for Students with Diverse Learning Needs | |
| Foundations of Education and Instructional Assessment | |
| Human Growth and Development | |
| Digital Age Teaching and Learning | |
| Developing Instructional Strategies PreK-6: Mathematics | |
| Developing Instructional Strategies PreK-6: Science | |
| TLED 579 | Classroom Management and Practice PreK-3; PreK-6 | 3 |
| TLED 690 | The Child and the Family | 3 |
| SPED 500 | Foundations of Special Education: Legal Aspects and Characteristics | 3 |
| READ 680 | Literacy Across the Curriculum | 3 |
| LIBS 642 | Children’s Literature PREK-8 | 3 |
| FOUN 641 | Assessment and Evaluation of Student Learning | 3 |
| TLED 677 | Learning and Development Across Historical and Contemporary Educational Environments | 3 |
| TLED 679 | Advanced Classroom Management and Practicum in PreK-6 | 3 |
| TLED 583 | Seminar in Teacher Education | 1 |
| TLED 668 | Internship/Student Teaching and Seminar | 9 |
| Total Credit Hours | 34 |
Due to changing University requirements, national standards, and the Virginia Board of Education licensure regulations, the teacher education programs in the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies are under constant revision. Any changes resulting from these factors supersede the program requirements described in this Catalog. Students are encouraged to obtain current program information from their advisors and from the Teacher Education Services website: http://www.odu.edu/tes.
Additional Requirements
Continuance
- A clearance background check process must be completed when registering for a course that requires a field experience. The clearance background check search results must be on file prior to placement in the field experience. For more information, please review the policy in the Office of Clinical Experiences website: http://www.odu.edu/oce.
- Students must maintain GOOD ACADEMIC standing as noted on the academic transcript.
- A grade of B- or higher is required in all graduate professional education coursework (excluding graduate practicum coursework).
- A grade of “B” or higher is required in all graduate practicum coursework.
- Students must complete the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Social and Behavioral modules during the first twelve graduate credit hours at Old Dominion University. For more information review the instructions at: https://www.odu.edu/impact/responsible-conduct-of-training.
- Students must take and pass all Virginia Board of Education prescribed assessments for licensure including the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA), the Praxis Teaching Reading: Elementary (Test Code 5205), and the Praxis Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects (Test code 5001), prior to or while enrolled in TLED 583-Seminar in Teacher Education.
- Submit the Teacher Candidate Internship application for placement by the established deadline.
- All course work, content knowledge and professional education, must be completed with appropriate grades prior to the Teacher Candidate Internship Orientation.
- All assessments must be passed prior to the Teacher Candidate Internship Orientation. For more information on the Virginia Board of Education prescribed professional assessments, visit the Office of Clinical Experiences website, http://www.odu.edu/oce.
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Certificate of completion in First Aid/AED/CPR, Dyslexia Awareness Training, Child Abuse and Neglect Recognition and Intervention Training, Regulations Governing the Use of Restraint and Seclusion in Elementary and Secondary Schools, and Cultural Competence Training.
Exit
Requirements for graduation include:
- Submit an application for graduation;
- Passage of the teaching portfolio comprehensive exam;
- Completion of the Graduate Assessment;
- A minimum cumulative 3.00 graduate GPA;
- Successful completion of the Teacher Candidate Internship;
- Completion of an exit interview;
- Completion of all course requirements; and
- No courses in the professional education area with a grade below "B-" will be accepted toward licensure requirements in the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies.
Program Requirements
Students seeking a master’s degree in elementary education (grades Pre-K-6) with initial licensure must meet the academic content requirements with a minimum grade of "C" in addition to the professional education course work listed below. Transcripts will be evaluated by the teacher education advisor to determine whether academic content requirements have been met by previous course work. Subject area specific course work that was not met with previous course work must be completed prior to the Teacher Candidate Internship (student teaching) orientation session.
