Elementary Education, Bachelor of Arts
The Elementary Education (grades 1-5) major is a 33-credit major that offers students coursework and a path to become an elementary (grades 1-5) teacher in the State of Louisiana. Successful completion of all coursework and a two-semester residency is a requirement of any individual seeking teaching certification in the State of Louisiana. Students who choose not to pursue teacher certification may complete an applied research project in lieu of the residency.
Students must meet the SoPA core requirements and the Elementary Education requirements. Students will work with a SoPA advisor to ensure all requirements are met.
Students pursuing this bachelor’s degree must earn a minimum of 120 credit hours in their degree and a 2.000 minimum GPA. Additionally, students must complete the School of Professional Advancement core curriculum. More information on general degree and core curriculum requirements can be found here.
See Sample Plan of Study below.
Curriculum Requirements
The elementary education (grades 1-5) major requires 33 credit hours. Students who successfully complete all requirements below, including the clinical residency, become eligible for the elementary education (grades 1-5) teaching license in the State of Louisiana.
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 2000 | Education In A Diverse Society EDUC 2000 was formerly EDLA 2000 | 3 |
| or EDLA 2000 | Education In A Diverse Society | |
| EDUC 3410 | The Craft of Teaching | 3 |
| EDUC 3422 | Foundations of Elementary Literacy | 3 |
| PSYC 3210 | Child Psychology | 3 |
| EDUC 3803 | Elementary Education Reading Methods | 3 |
| EDUC 3805 | Elementary Reading Instruction for All Learners | 3 |
| EDUC 4310 | Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Education | 3 |
| EDUC 4320 | Teaching Science in the Elementary Classroom | 3 |
| EDUC 4330 | Teaching Math in the Elementary Classrooms | 3 |
| CHOOSE | ||
| EDUC 5310 | Residency I - Elementary Education Student Residency * | 3 |
| EDUC 5320 | Residency II - Elementary Education Student Residency * | 3 |
| OR | ||
| EDUC 5271 | Applied Research Project I * | 3 |
| EDUC 5281 | Applied Research Project II * | 3 |
- *
Students choose the certification or non-certification pathway by taking 6 credits of either Residency or the Applied Research Project.
Additional Requirements for Certification
Students in the Elementary Education Major must maintain a 2.5 GPA in education courses. To enroll in and progress through the Residency program for certification, students must:
- Successfully complete and meet program requirements and competencies
- Complete all required Praxis II exams prior to residency
- Complete the Praxis II (Principles of Learning and Teaching) prior to or during residency
- Successfully pass the Gateway to Teaching
The student teaching/ practitioner residency is an intensive teaching experiential-learning pathway taken over the course of two consecutive semesters. During this time, the student completes a carefully designed and fully supported yearlong teacher residency at a school. The student is supervised over the course of their clinical experience by a team comprised of the school-based mentor teacher, the residency school site principal or their designee, as well as a Tulane faculty supervisor. Note that successful completion of a two-semester residency is a requirement of any individual seeking licensure in the State of Louisiana.
Sample Plan of Study
This sample plan of study for the Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education assumes a fall start, a four-year timeline, and reflects the full set of program requirements (subject to course availability). Students are responsible for reviewing all university, school, and program requirements-including prerequisites, transfer credit applicability, and appropriate course sequencing-in coordination with their academic and major advisors.
| Year 1 | Credit Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| PSYC 1000 & PSYC 1001 | Introductory Psych and Psychology Beyond Classroom | 3 |
| EDUC 2000 & EDUC 2890 | Education In A Diverse Society and Service Learning | 3 |
| EDUC 3410 & EDUC 3893 | The Craft of Teaching and Service Learning | 3 |
| SoPA Core and General Electives | 21 | |
| Credit Hours | 30 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| PSYC 3210 | Child Psychology | 3 |
| EDUC 3422 | Foundations of Elementary Literacy | 3 |
| EDUC 3803 | Elementary Education Reading Methods | 3 |
| SoPA Core and General Electives | 21 | |
| Credit Hours | 30 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| EDUC 4310 | Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Education | 3 |
| EDUC 4320 | Teaching Science in the Elementary Classroom | 3 |
| EDUC 4330 | Teaching Math in the Elementary Classrooms | 3 |
| SoPA Core and General Electives | 21 | |
| Credit Hours | 30 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| EDUC 3805 | Elementary Reading Instruction for All Learners | 3 |
| EDUC 5310 or EDUC 5271 | Residency I - Elementary Education Student Residency or Applied Research Project I | 3 |
| EDUC 5320 or EDUC 5281 | Residency II - Elementary Education Student Residency or Applied Research Project II | 3 |
| SoPA Core and General Electives | 21 | |
| Credit Hours | 30 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
Program String and Field of Study: BAUBA_UG, EDEL
For more information, visit https://sopa.tulane.edu/degrees-programs/programs-study/education.