Elementary Education

Degree Type

Bachelor of Science

About

When you’re investing in young learners, you’re investing in their communities.

Introduction

Working with students can be the most fulfilling part of a career in education, but there’s definitely more to it. Learning skills in classroom management and curriculum development can help prepare you for real-world scenarios, propelling you and your career to the front of the class.

Accreditation

The Elementary Education Program is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), recognized by the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI), and accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

Qualified Teacher Education

In the Department of Teaching and Learning, we adhere to the high academic standards of our field. We commit to prepare well-qualified elementary education professionals, who are ready to champion student success in diverse and urban environments. Our program equips graduates with capabilities to apply knowledge and theory to practice, using research-based practices to support individual student needs.

We also expose students to real-world classroom environments through our Professional Development School (PDS) sites. These classroom experiences help our students:

  • Analyze teaching situations and challenges
  • Select organize, and present subject matter
  • Use evaluation techniques on teaching and learning results
  • Apply theories and principles of learning

What You'll Learn

Learn how to:

  • Plan and engage children in exploration, experimentation, and discovery activities
  • Reflect appropriate professional attitudes and behaviors Deconstruct curricula, be familiar with curricula organization, objectives, and procedures; as well as the instructional resources of the school and community to effectively implement curricula
  • Apply theory to practice in order to effectively analyze teaching practices and experiences while engaging in the selection, planning, presentation, and evaluation of content knowledge
  • Apply and reflect on the practical application of theories and principles of learning to support and motivate learners
  • Collaborate with the broader community of education professionals and practice continuous professional growth
  • Engage with current research to plan and apply tenets of practitioner research that demonstrates an effective assessment of student learning and use those data to support learners and improve practices
  • Apply knowledge and skills in the use of technology to support instruction, access and manipulate data, enhance professional growth and productivity; communicate; and conduct research
Students studying

750+ Course Options

The Coppin State University Academic Catalog has a wide variety of skill-building courses designed to inspire and prepare you to be in-demand professionals and transformational leaders.

Program Requirements

To graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, students must complete 120 credit hours. These credit hours are split among:

  • General Education Requirements, or GERs (45 credits)
  • Program requirements (22 credits)
  • Core requirements (24 credits)
  • Methods and student teaching (27 credits)

Review the course descriptions to learn more about different types of major requirements.

General Education Requirements (GERs)

All elementary education majors must take (or transfer in) 45 credits. Choose from the following courses:

Course credits Name
ENGL 101 3 English Composition I
ENGL 102 3 English Composition II

WLIT 207

or

ENGL 2xx

3

World Literature

or

200 Level English

HIST 205 3 African American History I

HIST 206

3

African American History II

BIOL 101 4 Biological Science

MATH 131

or

MATH 203

3

College Algebra

or

Basic Statistics

PHSC 101

4 Physical Science 

PSYC 201 

3

Introduction to Psychology

PHIL 102 3 Introduction to Philosophy
HEED 101 3 Personal Health
IDIS 103 3 Visual Arts and Theatre
SOCI 201 3

Introduction to Sociology

MISY 150 3 Technology Fluency
FRSEM 101 1 Freshman Seminar

Program Requirements (22 credits)

Course credits Name
MATH 103 3 Math for Elementary Teachers I
MATH 207 3 Technology-Based Math
MATH 104 3 Math for Elementary Teachers II
PHSC 102 4 Earth and Space Science 

GEOG 102

3

World Geography

PSYC 304 3 Child Psychology
ENGL 321 3 Children's Literature

Core Courses (24 credits)

Course credits Name

EDUC 202

3

Educational Psychology

EDUC 300 3 Foundations of Reading
EDUC 201 3 Introduction to Race and Inequality
EDUC 330 3 Culture and Cognition
EDUC 408 3 Measurement and Evaluation

REED 401

3 Diagnosis and Remediation of Reading Disorders

REED 405

3

Strategies and Materials for Teaching Reading

SPED 201 3 Introduction to Needs of Exceptional Individuals

Methods and Student Teaching (27 credits)

Course credits Name
ELED 301 3 Curriculum, Planning, and Management

ELED 302

3

Methods of Teaching Mathematics in Elementary

ELED 303 3 Methods of Teaching Reading in Elementary
EDUC 331 3 Practice What You Teach
ELED 306 3 Methods of Teaching Social Studies in Elementary
ELED 305 3 Methods of Teaching Science in Elementary

ELED 412

3 Directed Teaching

ELED 413

3

Seminar

Remember! You must complete all major and prerequisite courses with a grade of C or higher.

Sample Degree Plan

This plan is only for example purposes. Your academic journey may be slightly different from another student’s, so be sure to always communicate with your academic advisor before finalizing your course schedule.

Fall Semester (16 credits)

Course credits name
ENGL 101 3 English Composition I
PSYC 201 3 General Psychology 

MATH 131

or

MATH 203

3

College Algebra

or

Basic Statistics

IDIS 103 3 Visual Arts & Theatre
MISY 150 3 Technology Fluency
FRSEM 101 1 Freshman Seminar

Spring Semester (16 credits)

course credits name
ENGL 102 3 English Composition II
MATH 103 3 Math for Elementary Teachers II
BIOL 101 4 Biological Science 
HIST 205 3 African American History I
HEED 101 3 Personal Health

Fall Semester (16 credits)

Course credits name
MATH 104 3 Math for Elementary Teachers I
PHSC 101 4 Physical Science
WLIT 207 3 World Literature
PHIL 102 3 Introduction to Philosophy
SOCI 201 3 Introduction to Sociology

Spring Semester (16 credits)

Course credits name
MATH 207 3 World Literature
HIST 206 3 African American History II
PHSC 102 3 Earth and Space Science
GEOG 102 3 World Geography
EDUC 300 3 Foundations of Reading

Fall Semester (15 credits)

Course credits name
EDUC 201 3 Introduction to Race and Inequality
EDUC 202 3 Educational Psychology
ELED 301 3 Curriculum Planning and Management
ENGL 321 3 Children's Literature
REED 401 3 Diagnosis and Remediation of Reading Disorders

Spring Semester (15 credits)

course credits name
EDUC 408 3 Measurement and Evaluation
EDUC 330 3 Culture and Cognition
PSYC 304 3 Child Psychology

SPED 201

3

Introduction to Exceptional Individuals

REED 405 3 Reading Materials and Strategies

Fall Semester (15 credits)

Course credits name
ELED 304 3 Methods of Teaching Language Arts 
ELED 302 3 Methods of Teaching Math
ELED 303 3 Methods of Teaching Reading
ELED 305 3 Methods of Teaching Science
ELED 306 3 Methods of Teaching Social Studies

Spring Semester (12 credits)

Course credits Name
ELED 412 9 Internship
ELED 413 3 Seminar

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College

Elementary Education lives in the Department of Teaching and Learning in the School of Education within the College of Arts & Sciences, and Education