BA, Elementary Education (UAA)

Mission
What will I learn?
What classes will I take?
What can I do with this degree?

UAA College of Education Mission

We prepare educators and support the lifelong learning of professionals to embrace diversity and to be intellectually and ethically strong, resilient, and passionate in their work with Alaska's learners, families, and communities.

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Student Learning Outcomes

Student learning outcomes for the program are based on the Standards for Alaska’s Teachers located at www.eed.state.ak.us/standards and the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) standards located at www.acei.org.

Assistant Professor Kitty Deal with BAEE graduate Michelle Griffin in 2012

Within a culturally responsive framework, program graduates will:

Construct learning opportunities that support K-6 students’ development, acquisition of knowledge, and motivation.
Design and implement curriculum that supports K-6 students’ learning of language arts, science, mathematics, social studies, the arts, health, and physical education.
Plan and implement instruction based on knowledge of K-6 students, learning, theory, curriculum, and community.
Create appropriate instructional opportunities to address diversity.
Use teaching strategies that encourage development of critical thinking and problem solving.
Foster active engagement in learning and create supportive learning environments.
Use effective communication strategies to foster inquiry and support interaction among K-6 students.
Use formal and informal assessments to inform and improve instructional practice.
Reflect on practice and engage in professional growth activities.
Establish positive collaborative relationships with families, colleagues, and the community.

Liberal Studies Area

Complete the liberal studies area. These courses are selected to provide future elementary teachers with the skills and background provide future elementary teachers with the skills and background knowledge in the various subjects they will be expected to teach. The selection is based on national and state standards for content preparation. Some of the liberal studies courses may also be used to meet General Education Requirements (GERs).

Sciences Core (15-24 credits)

LSIS A102          Origins: Earth-Solar System-Life (5)      5-8
or
GEOL A111       Physical Geology (4)
and one of the following lecture/lab combinations:
ASTR A103        Solar System Astronomy (3)
and
ASTR 103L         Solar System Astronomy Laboratory (1)
or
ASTR A104        Stars, Galaxies and Cosmology (3)
and
ASTR A104L      Stars, Galaxies and Cosmology Laboratory (1)

LSIS A201          Life on Earth (5)                                        5-8
or
BIOL A102         Introductory Biology (3)
and
BIOL A103         Introductory Biology Laboratory (1)
and one of the following:
BIOL A115         Fundamentals of Biology I (4)
or
BIOL A116         Fundamentals of Biology II (4)

LSIS A202          Concepts and Processes: Natural           5-8
Sciences (5)
or
CHEM A103      Survey of Chemistry (3)
and
CHEM A103L    Survey of Chemistry Laboratory (1)
and one of the following lecture/lab combinations:
PHYS A115        Physical Science (3)
and
PHYS A115L     Physical Science Laboratory (1)
or
PHYS A123        Basic Physics I (3)
and
PHYS A123L     Basic Physics I Laboratory (1)

Social Sciences and Humanities Core (36-39 credits)

Students must fulfill GERs for baccalaureate degrees including
6 credits of social sciences from two different disciplines and 6
credits of humanities.
ANTH A250      The Rise of Civilization (3)                         3
or
HIST A390A      Themes in World History (3)
HIST A131         History of United States I (3)                      3
or

HIST A132         History of United States II (3)
or
HIST A355         Major Themes in US History (3)
EDSE A212         Human Development and Learning (3)
ENGL A121       Introduction to Literature (3)                     3
or
ENGL A201       Masterpieces of World Literature I (3)
or
ENGL A202       Masterpieces of World Literature II (3)
HUM A211        Introduction to Humanities I (3)                3
or
HUM A212        Introduction to Humanities II (3)
or
HNRS A192       Honors Seminar: Enduring Books (3)
LSSS A111          Cultural Foundations of Human               3
Behavior (3)
or
HNRS A292       Honors Seminar in Social Science (3)
or
ANTH A202      Cultural Anthropology (3)
LSIC A231          Truth, Beauty, and Goodness (3)                3
or
PHIL A301         Ethics (3)
LSSS A311          People, Places, and Ecosystems (3)           3
or
ENVI A211        Environmental Science: Systems and
Processes (3)
LSIC A331          Power, Authority, and Governance (3)     3
or
SOC/PS A351    Political Sociology (3)
LSSS A312          Individuals, Groups, and Institutions (3) 3
or
PSY A111           General Psychology (3)
and
SOC A101          Introduction to Sociology(3)
or
SOC A375          Social Psychology (3)
or
PSY A375           Social Psychology (3)
LSIC A332          Science, Technology and Culture (3)         3

Mathematical Skills (9-13 credits)

MATH A205      Communicating Mathematical Ideas        3
and
STAT A252         Elementary Statistics (3)                          3-4
or
STAT A253         Applied Statistics for the Sciences (4)
and
Select one additional course from quantitative skills GERs    3-6

Oral and Written Communication Skills (9 credits)

Select one course from oral communication GERs              3
Select two courses from written communication GERs      6
Select one course from fine arts GERs                                   3

Major Requirements

It is strongly recommended that you see an advisor to stay on track. Field experiences in public schools are required as part of most courses.

Complete the following core courses (22 credits)

EDEC A242        Family and Community Partnerships (3) 3
or
HRNS A310       Community Service: Theory and
Practice (3)
EDEL A205        Becoming an Elementary Teacher             2
EDEL A392        Elementary Education Seminar I:
Culturally Responsive Teaching (2)
EDFN A206        Introduction to Assessment in Education 1
EDFN A300       Philosophical and Social Context of
American Education (3)                            3
or
EDFN A304       Comparative Education (3)
EDFN A301       Foundations of Literacy and
Language Development                              3
EDFN A302        Foundations of Educational Technology   2
EDFN A478        Issues in Alaska Native Education, K-12   3
EDSE A482        Inclusive Classrooms for All Children      3

Complete the following methods courses (18 credits)**:

EDEC A106        Creativity and the Arts in Early Childhood Education    3
EDEL A325        Teaching Literacy in Elementary Schools 6
EDEL A327        Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Schools 2
EDEL A426        Teaching Mathematics in Elementary Schools 3
EDEL A428        Teaching Science in Elementary Schools   2
PEP A345           Incorporating Health and Physical Activity into the Pre-K-6 Classroom   2
**Concurrent enrollment in multiple courses is required. See an advisor for details.

Complete the following field experiences and internship (16- 19 credits):

EDEL A395        Elementary Education Practicum I: Literacy and Social Studies                         2
EDEL A492A     Elementary Education Seminar II: Learning Environment                                2
EDEL A492B      Elementary Education Seminar III: Teaching Capstone                                       3
EDEL A495A     Elementary Education Practicum II: Learning Environment, Mathematics, Science                                                           3
EDEL A495B      Elementary Education Internship          6-9
or
For Honors Option Senior Requirement:
HRNS A499       Thesis (3)
and
EDEL A495B      Elementary Education Internship (6)
4.      A total of 125-141 credits is required for the degree, of which
42 credits must be upper division.

BAEL and Honors College option

Take the following Honors College Core Program Courses (16 credits) HNRS A192 Honors Seminar:
Enduring Books                            3
HNRS A292 Honors Seminar in Social Science                             3
HNRS A310 Community Service: Theory and Practice               3
HNRS A392 Honors Thesis Seminar                                              1
HNRS A499 Honors Thesis                                                              3
and taken concurrently with EDEL A495B Internship (6)          3
(three credits of Internship apply to the Senior Requirement)
Important: See an advisor if considering the Honors Option.

Institutional Recommendation

Elementary Teacher Certification (K-6) Following are the requirements for an institutional recommendation:

Major requirements completed with a grade of C or higher.
Cumulative GPA of 2.75.
Cumulative GPA of 3.00 in all Major Requirements, EDSE A212 and MATH A205.
Passing scores on the Praxis I (PPST) and Praxis II (0014) exams.
Internship satisfactorily completed.
BA in Elementary Education degree conferred.

The BA in Elementary Education (Grade K-6) is a professional degree nationally recognized by the Association of Childhood Education International (ACEI). Unique features of the program include an emphasis on culturally responsive teaching in Alaska’s context; a strong liberal studies focus; exposure to a range of teaching and curriculum design approaches, including integration of educational technology; and focused field experiences, developmentally sequenced and in a variety of school/classroom settings.

Skills

Plan lessons that teach students subjects, such as reading and math, and skills, such as study skills and social skills
Assess students to evaluate their abilities, strengths, and weaknesses
Teach students as an entire class or in small groups the lessons they have planned
Grade students’ assignments to monitor their progress
Communicate with parents about their child’s progress
Work with individual students to challenge them and overcome their weaknesses
Prepare students for standardized tests required by the state
Develop and enforce classroom rules to teach children proper behavior
Supervise children outside of the classroom—for example, at lunchtime or during recess*