Elementary Education
| Degree: | Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) |
| Major: | Elementary Education Certification |
| Minor: | Early Childhood Education |
| Department: | School of Education Building 85, Room 196 850-857-6306 http://uwf.edu/education/ |
| College: | School of Education |
| CIP Code: | 13.1202 |
| Semester Hours Required For Degree: 120 | |
The B.A. in Elementary Education leads directly to Florida teacher certification in Elementary Education for grades Kindergarten through Grade 6 with ESOL and Reading Endorsements. A grade below "C-" in any major course cannot be used to satisfy a program requirement.
Students interested in certification in Elementary Education and Exceptional Student Education should review the Exceptional Student Education major in this catalog.
Students interested in teaching at the middle or secondary level will complete their baccalaureate degrees in the discipline and are encouraged to earn the Professional Education Minor. The Professional Education Minor is designed for content majors to complete the requirements for a temporary middle or secondary certification in Florida. Coursework meets the requirement of the Professional Training Option (PTO) and is consistent with the program requirements of the Florida Department of Education. For additional information review the Professional Education Minor section of this catalog.
Students interested in teaching Science or Math at the middle or secondary level will complete one of 5 UWF-Teach programs (Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Mathematics, or Physics). For additional information review the undergraduate degrees in the catalog.
Responsibility for the teacher education programs at the University rests with the Dean of the School of Education, who is the head of the Professional Education Unit.
Requirements for teacher education programs may change due to legislative mandates. Therefore, the actual program requirements may differ from those listed in the catalog. Candidates must inquire with the Dean of the School of Education (SOE) or an advisor in the School of Education to obtain the most current program requirements.
Fingerprinting may be required for any placement in a school (including the field experience associated with EDF 1005). The Student Affidavit and Fingerprinting Applications may be required before any student can be placed in a school for Field Experiences or Student Teaching. Forms are available from the local school districts
Admission to Teacher Education
Students entering UWF or declaring a major in Teacher Education will automatically be placed in a pending status until they are fully admitted to the Teacher Education program.
Students must be admitted to the Elementary Education program prior to enrolling in higher-level education coursework. While in the pending status, students may take a limited number of 3000/4000 level education courses, including EDF 3234 Applied Foundations of Education, LAE 3314 Literacy for the Emergent Learner, EEX 3070 Methods in Inclusion and Collaboration, TSL 4080 ESOL Principles and Practices, EDG 4442 Effective Learning Environments, EDG 4373 Integrated Arts and Contemporary Educational Tools, EDG 4351 Educational Assessment, EDE 4200 Planning and Curriculum , and RED 3310 Literacy Instruction for the Elementary Learner.
To be admitted, students must meet the following requirements:
- A cumulative GPA of 2.50 in all previously attempted college work;
- A passing score on the General Knowledge Test of the Florida Teacher Certification Exam;
- Completion of EDF 1005 Introduction to Education with a grade of "C-" or higher.
The admission process requires students to complete the Application for Admission to Teacher Education and complete the orientation requirement.
All approvals for admission to teacher candidacy are provisional and subject to re-evaluation as students progress through the program. Students denied admission or removed from the program may appeal the decision to the Dean of the School of Education.
Clinical Experiences Progression
Prospective teachers are expected to adhere to the Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession in Florida and national standards of conduct associated with professional, accreditation, and state agencies. Teacher candidates who are struggling to meet content and/or disposition standards and/or competencies may be referred to the Teacher Education Remediation Process and Navigate, the university support system. If a student, who is referred to the remediation process, does not successfully complete the support/intervention process, the student may not be allowed to continue to enroll in any professional education program.
Students who receive an unsatisfactory grade, withdraw, or are administratively removed from a clinical course may apply for a second placement though one is not guaranteed. If a second placement is secured and the candidate fails to achieve the required performance by the specified time frame, under no circumstances will a third placement be attempted.
Readmission to Teacher Education
Readmission into a teacher education program requires the student to meet standards for the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), the Florida Department of Education (FDOE), and the University. Readmitted students will be required to complete the degree plan in effect at the time of readmission and to meet the requirements for admission to teacher education in effect at the time of readmission.
Coursework completed before readmission will be reviewed for compliance with current CAEP, FDOE, and University requirements. Students will be required to retake courses, not in compliance with these requirements.
Admission to Student Teaching
The student teaching program, administered through the School of Education (SOE), consists of a semester-long full-time practicum in schools, or a two-semesters-long full-time internship supervised by a highly qualified teacher. The student teaching/internship experience is scheduled during the student’s senior year.
Requirements for admission to student teaching/internship include the following:
- Full admission to teacher education;
- A minimum GPA of 2.5 in teacher education (major) courses. A grade below “C-” cannot be used to satisfy a program requirement;
- Completion of specialization courses required in the major, if applicable, (see the section of this catalog related to the appropriate specialization for specific course requirements);
- Passing results on the general knowledge, professional, and subject area tests of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination;
- Recommendation of the student’s academic advisor and approval of the Dean of the School of Education.
During the time a student is engaged in student teaching, any outside employment or additional academic work (except senior seminar) must be approved by the SOE Dean.
Title II Reports
In compliance with the Higher Education Act, annual reports about teacher preparation in the state are available online. Select the appropriate year from the left column of the webpage and then click on Florida.
Program Requirements
In addition to general University requirements, students seeking the B.A. in Elementary Education and seeking admission to the CAEP/FDOE-approved teacher education program must meet and complete the admission requirements detailed above.
The Elementary Education Certification program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and is a Florida DOE (FDOE) approved program that leads directly to teacher certification in Elementary Education for Kindergarten through Grade 6 with ESOL and Reading Endorsements. Students must successfully complete the Florida Teacher Certification Exams (FTCE) in Elementary Education, General Knowledge, and Professional Education.
General Education
ADDENDUM - 06/12/2025
In addition to the General Education requirements, students must satisfy all additional State of Florida requirements, including the College-Level Communication and Computation, Civic Literacy, and Foreign Language requirements. With appropriate planning and coordination with an academic advisor, students may satisfy some of the general University requirements through the General Education curriculum. For a complete listing of general degree requirements, refer to the State University Requirements and Degree Requirements sections of this catalog.
General Education Curriculum:
Civic Literacy Requirement
The 2017 Florida Legislature amended Section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, to require students initially entering a State University System (SUS) and/or Florida College System (FCS) institution in 2018-2019 and thereafter to demonstrate competency in civic literacy by passing an assessment or taking AMH 2020 United States Since 1877 or POS 2041 American Politics.
The 2021 Legislature further amended Florida Statutes, requiring students to complete both a civic literacy course and an exam. In 2024, the Board of Governors made an additional revision, recognizing two new courses meeting the Civic Literacy requirement, AMH 2010 United States to 1877 and AMS 2010 Civil Discourse and the American Political Order. As a result, there are four cohorts of students currently matriculating at Florida public institutions that are subject to varying requirements.
As demonstrated in the table below, the exact civic literacy requirements are based on the academic term in which a student first enrolled in a Florida public institution.
| Students Included in Cohort | Civic Literacy Competency Requirement |
| Cohort 1: Students initially entering the SUS or FCS before fall 2018 | None |
| Cohort 2: Students initially entering the SUS or FCS in Academic Year 2018 through Academic Year 2020 | Complete a course or Assessment. |
| Cohort 3: Students initially entering the SUS or FCS in Academic Year 2021 through Academic Year 2023 | Course and Assessment. |
| Cohort 4: Students initially entering the SUS or FCS in fall 2024 and thereafter | Course and Assessment. |
Additionally, for Cohorts 3 and 4, approved accelerated mechanisms may meet the course and/or assessment requirement, and students who pass the Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FCLE) in high school are exempt from the postsecondary exam requirement.
There are multiple ways to satisfy this requirement. Students should work with their academic advisor to determine which option is best for their degree requirements/degree plan.
Additional information can be found on our Civic Literacy website, SUS regulation BOG 8.006, and Florida Statute s.1007.25(4,a-b).
Mathematics Pathway
Students are advised to complete the following courses to fulfill the mathematics pathway that aligns with the mathematics skills needed for success in their program and their career goals. Students should refer to their academic advisor for questions about the math pathway for their program. For information about this requirement, refer to the catalog page for Mathematics Pathways. These courses may also fulfill requirements for General Education and Common Prerequisites.
| Mathematical Thinking in Context | ||
| MGF 1130 | Mathematical Thinking | 3 |
| MGF 1131 | Mathematics in Context | 3 |
| or MAC 1105 | College Algebra | |
| or MAC 1105C | College Algebra with Lab | |
Common Prerequisites
State-mandated common prerequisites must be completed prior to admission to the Elementary Education program. See the Common Prerequisite Manual for course substitutions from Florida colleges and universities.
| EDF 1005 | Introduction to Education | 3 |
| Total Hours | 3 | |
Lower Division Advisor-Approved Electives
| Students must complete sufficient 1000/2000 level advisor-approved electives to satisfy at least 60 semester hours (sh) in the lower division. Current UWF students may substitute courses at other levels (3000-4000) with permission. The following are recommended courses for aspiring teachers: | ||
| MAC 1105 | College Algebra | 3 |
| PHI 2103 | Critical Thinking | 3 |
| SPC 2608 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| STA 2023 | Elements of Statistics | 3 |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Human Development Across the Lifespan | ||
| General Psychology | ||
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Major
| EDE 4200 | Planning and Curriculum + | 3 |
| EDF 3234 | Applied Foundations of Education + | 3 |
| EDG 3945 | Clinical Experience 1 + | 3 |
| EDG 4373 | Integrated Arts and Contemporary Educational Tools + | 3 |
| EDG 4351 | Educational Assessment + | 3 |
| EDG 4442 | Effective Learning Environments + | 3 |
| EDG 4949 | Clinical Experience 2 + | 3 |
| EEX 3070 | Methods in Inclusion and Collaboration + | 3 |
| LAE 3314 | Literacy for the Emergent Learner + | 3 |
| MAE 4310 | Teaching Mathematics in Elementary Schools + | 3 |
| RED 3310 | Literacy Instruction for the Elementary Learner + | 3 |
| RED 4542 | Assessment and Differentiated Instruction in Reading + | 3 |
| SCE 4310 | Teaching Science in Elementary Schools + | 3 |
| SSE 4113 | Social Studies for Elementary Teachers + | 3 |
| TSL 4080 | ESOL Principles and Practices + | 3 |
| TSL 4081 | Teaching English to ESOL Students + | 3 |
| Students must choose one of the following student teaching options: | 12 | |
| Option 1 | ||
| Senior Seminar and Clinical Practicum in Reading + | ||
| Student Teaching + | ||
| Option 2 | ||
| Senior Seminar and Clinical Practicum in Reading + | ||
| Teaching Internship I + | ||
| Teaching Internship II + | ||
| Total Hours | 60 | |
- +
Courses included in the major GPA.
Early Childhood Education Minor
The Early Childhood Minor is designed to provide skills and understandings necessary to work with the youngest children we teach, Preschool and primary grades children. As a Minor within the Elementary Education Program, upon completion, the graduate will be prepared to work with very young children in public school, Headstart and early Headstart, prekindergarten and prekindergarten disabilities programs, child care and education centers and various agencies that serve young children. The FDOE-approved Elementary education degree results in Florida DOE certification in grades K-6. Completion of this minor and passing of required testing will allow students to add a Prekindergarten/Primary endorsement to the Elementary teaching certificate.
Requirements
A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 is required to enroll in the minor. Students must earn a "C-" or higher in each course and a cumulative 2.50 in the minor.
Prospective teachers are expected to adhere to the Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession in Florida and national standards of conduct associated with professional, accreditation, and state agencies. Teacher candidates who are struggling to meet content and/or disposition standards and/or competencies may be referred to the Culture of Achievement through a System of Tiered support (CAST) process. Any student who is referred to CAST and does not successfully complete the intervention process may be denied continued enrollment in the minor.
Course Requirements
| Advisor Approved Elective | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 12 | |