COURSE CURRICULUM

The Elementary Education BS degree is a 121-credit program designed to prepare students for professional teaching in elementary schools while also meeting Mississippi state licensure requirements. The program is built on a strong general education foundation that includes written communication through ENG 101 and ENG 102, natural sciences with laboratory work selected from disciplines such as biology, chemistry, geology, physics, and environmental science, humanities courses including literature, history, philosophy, and religion, aesthetic appreciation through arts or music, social and behavioral sciences such as psychology, sociology, political science, and geography, and a mathematics requirement that ensures basic quantitative reasoning or college algebra skills. A key feature of the program is its specialized education coursework, which develops teaching competencies through structured blocks focusing on classroom management, literacy instruction, curriculum development, educational psychology, technology integration, and assessment strategies. Students also complete practicum experiences in elementary classrooms, allowing them to gain real-world teaching experience before their final student teaching semesters. The program includes a strong emphasis on literacy, requiring courses in reading, writing across the curriculum, and literacy assessment and instruction, along with methods courses in mathematics and science specifically designed for elementary teaching. In the senior year, students complete full student teaching placements in both lower and upper elementary grades, serving as the capstone experience that demonstrates readiness for professional practice. Additionally, students must complete endorsement requirements in at least one content area such as English, mathematics, science, social studies, or foreign language, ensuring subject specialization beyond general teaching skills. The program also includes coursework in child development, special education, and fine arts integration, helping future teachers address diverse learner needs. Overall, this degree prepares graduates to become certified elementary school teachers with strong instructional skills, classroom experience, and academic specialization, making them eligible for Mississippi Educator Licensure with reading and content endorsements.