Program: Elementary Education and Special Education (Composite) - BS - Utah State University

Provisional Admission Process and Requirements

More students major in Elementary Education at USU than in any other major. Therefore, competition for admission into the program is very keen. Due to increased demands for admission, coupled with limited resources, a ceiling of 180 students has been placed on admissions each year. Thus, admission to USU does not necessarily guarantee admission into the Elementary Education Program.

Provisional admission to the Elementary and Early Childhood Teacher Education Program is determined by (1) the student’s GPA in a set of core courses, (2) ACT scores or PPST test results, (3) the number of credits a student has taken, and (4) successful completion of a group assessment interview. (Additional factors to be weighted may be gender and/or minority status consistent with applicable law.) Additional requirements for application to the program are a speech and hearing test, a Teacher Education Writing Exam, and a background check through the Utah State Office of Education. Students must also pass and provide written evidence of the Praxis II Elementary Education: Content Knowledge Exam with a score of 150 or higher prior to admission. Applications are accepted each semester. Because there are typically more applicants than there is space available, the number accepted is limited. Students who are not accepted may reapply.

Admission to the Teacher Education Program is a prerequisite for enrollment in the major, starting with Level II. A student desiring admission to the Teacher Education Program should file an application in the Elementary Education Office, located in room 373 of the Emma Eccles Jones Education Building.

University Studies Requirements

Elementary Education Majors and Early Childhood Education Majors are required to take certain classes to fulfill the University Studies requirements. The following sections list the specific courses to choose from:

Quantitative Literacy (QL) (3 credits)

(A grade lower than a C- will not be accepted in these courses.)

STAT 1040 - Introduction to Statistics (QL) 3
(MATH 1050 or Math ACT score of 25 or higher is required to apply to the Teacher Education Program.)

Breadth Requirements (18-19 credits)

Choose one course from the following to meet the BAI requirement:

Choose one course from the following to meet the BCA requirement:

Choose one course from the following to meet the BHU requirement:

Choose one course from the following to meet the BSS requirement:

Choose one course from the following to meet the BLS requirement:

Choose one course from the following to meet the BPS requirement:

Exploration Requirement (3-4 credits)

Students in the Elementary and Early Childhood Education majors should fulfill this requirement by completing PHYS 1200 (BPS).

Depth Education Requirements

Communications Intensive (CI) (2 courses) (included in major)

Quantitative Intensive (QI) (1 course)

(A grade lower than a C- will not be accepted in this course.)

MATH 2020 - Introduction to Logic and Geometry (QI) 3

Depth Course Requirements (4 credits minimum)

Complete at least 4 credits in approved University Studies depth courses designated DSC, DHA, or DSS (outside of area of emphasis).

Composite Elementary Education and Special Education Major

Elementary Education Major (65 credits) (includes Teaching Support Courses)

Students should complete all of the following courses as indicated.

Note:

Teaching licensure requires a 2.75 cumulative grade point average (GPA). (Grades lower than a C will not be accepted toward the major.)

Level I (6 credits) (2.75 GPA required in Level I courses)

Level II (courses taken concurrently during spring semester) (17 credits)

Students must be admitted to the Teacher Education Program prior to taking these classes.

Level III (courses taken concurrently during fall or spring semester) (16 credits)

Level IV (15 credits) (taken during fall or spring semester)

ELED 5100 - Student Teaching - Primary (Grades 1-3) 6 or
ELED 5150 - Student Teaching - Elementary (Grades 4-6) 6
SPED 5210 - Student Teaching in Special Education: Dual Majors (CI) 3-15 ¹ (6 credits required)
ELED 5250 - Advanced Classroom Management and Student Teaching Seminar 3

Teaching Support Courses

Note:

¹Students must complete Special Education major coursework prior to student teaching.

² Required for Special Education—Severe specialization only.

Special Education Major (33 or 29 credits)

Students should choose either the Mild/Moderate specialization or the Severe specialization.

Students must be admitted to the Special Education program prior to taking these courses.

Mild/Moderate Specialization (33 credits)

Fall:

SPED 5010 - Applied Behavioral Analysis 1: Principles, Assessment, and Analysis (QI) 3
SPED 5040 - Foundations of Effective Assessment and Instructional Practices 3
SPED 5070 - Policies and Procedures in Special Education 1-3 (3 credits required)
SPED 5310 - Teaching Reading and Language Arts to Students with Mild/Moderate Disabilities 2-4 (4 credits required)
SPED 5330 - Eligibility Assessment for Students with Mild/Moderate Disabilities 1
SPED 5410 - Practicum: Direct Instruction Reading and Language Arts for Students with Mild/Moderate Disabilities 1-3 (3 credits required)

Spring:

Severe Specialization (29 credits)

Fall:

SPED 5010 - Applied Behavioral Analysis 1: Principles, Assessment, and Analysis (QI) 3
SPED 5040 - Foundations of Effective Assessment and Instructional Practices 3
SPED 5070 - Policies and Procedures in Special Education 1-3 (3 credits required)
SPED 5510 - Curriculum for Students with Severe Disabilities 3-4 (4 credits required)
SPED 5600 - Practicum: Instruction in Academic Skills 3

Spring:

Minimum University Requirements

Total Credits	120
Grade Point Average (most majors require higher GPA)	2.00 GPA
Credits of C- or better	100
Credits of upper-division courses (#3000 or above)	40
USU Credits (30 USU credits, 20 of which must be upper-division courses, 10 of which must be courses required for student’s major)	30 USU credits
Completion of approved major program of study	See college advisor
Credits in minor (if required)	12
Credits in American Institutions (ECN 1500 ;HIST 1700 , HIST 2700 or HIST 2710 ; HONR 1300 ; POLS 1100 ; or USU 1300	3
General Education Requirements and University Studies Depth Requirements

Elementary Education and Special Education (Composite) - BS

Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services

School of Teacher Education and Leadership

Provisional Admission Process and Requirements

Provisional Admission Process and Requirements

University Studies Requirements

Quantitative Literacy (QL) (3 credits)

Breadth Requirements (18-19 credits)

Choose one course from the following to meet the BAI requirement:

Choose one course from the following to meet the BCA requirement:

Choose one course from the following to meet the BHU requirement:

Choose one course from the following to meet the BSS requirement:

Choose one course from the following to meet the BLS requirement:

Choose one course from the following to meet the BPS requirement:

Exploration Requirement (3-4 credits)

Depth Education Requirements

Communications Intensive (CI) (2 courses) (included in major)

Quantitative Intensive (QI) (1 course)

Depth Course Requirements (4 credits minimum)

Composite Elementary Education and Special Education Major

Elementary Education Major (65 credits) (includes Teaching Support Courses)

Note:

Level I (6 credits) (2.75 GPA required in Level I courses)

Level II (courses taken concurrently during spring semester) (17 credits)

Level III (courses taken concurrently during fall or spring semester) (16 credits)

Level IV (15 credits) (taken during fall or spring semester)

Teaching Support Courses

Note:

Special Education Major (33 or 29 credits)

Mild/Moderate Specialization (33 credits)

Fall:

Spring:

Severe Specialization (29 credits)

Fall:

Spring:

Minimum University Requirements