Adult Studies: Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with Early Childhood Mission Statement

The purpose of the Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education program with Early Childhood add-on is to provide candidates with a degree program leading to initial teacher licensure in Elementary Education and an additional area of certification in the area of Early Childhood (P-2).  The program is designed in accordance with guidelines established by the South Carolina State Department of Education. This program is nationally recognized by the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

The program consists of a general education core strand; a professional education strand; and methods courses in science and social studies, mathematics, language arts and reading, fine arts, physical education, and literature. A teacher candidate learns strategies for teaching and assessing students in 2^nd through 6^th grade classrooms in these major courses, as well as taking specified courses for early childhood wherein the candidate studies the growth and development of young learners from birth through eight years and learns developmentally appropriate strategies for teaching and assessing learners in this age range. In accordance with the South Carolina State Department of Education, candidates must reach or exceed a GPA of 2.75 in order to successfully complete the program.

In addition to the GPA requirement listed above, no grade below “C” in a course required for the major or minor (including cognates and specified electives) will count toward satisfying that course requirement. This policy does not refer to general education requirements or elective courses.

Elementary Education with Early Childhood Add-on majors will complete a series of 4 benchmarks as they progress through the program. The successful benchmark is based on the teacher candidate meeting the specified requirements that have been established in accordance with the principles of the Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC), along with evaluation instruments aligned to the South Carolina State Department of Education and the College of Education’s dispositional themes as outlined in the Teacher Candidate Handbook.

Benchmark Requirements

Benchmark I  

Benchmark II  

Benchmark III  

Exit exam. All education majors must satisfy state competency requirements in English/Reading, Mathematics, and Writing either through passing the Praxis Core test or through ACT/SAT exemption. All education majors must take the PRAXIS II and Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) exams administered by Educational Testing Services as a requirement for entering Clinical Experience.

College of Education Vision Statement

In keeping with the vision of Anderson University, the College of Education seeks to produce Christian educators who are characterized by a commitment to learning and service and are dedicated to inspire these values in their own classrooms of learners.

Curriculum Summary - Elementary Education

General Education Core	40 Credit Hours
Education Core	64 Credit Hours
Early Childhood Concentration	12 Credit Hours
Cognates	4 Credit Hours
Total Hours	120 Credit Hours