Elementary Education - Panama City Campus

College: Education, Health, and Human Sciences
Degree: BS
Specialized Admission: No

Description of Major

*Please Note: Face-to-face/in-person instruction of this program is ONLY available at the Panama City, FL campus. This program is NOT available via Online/Distance Learning.*

The FSU PC Elementary Education Bachelor’s program will prepare you to teach children at the kindergarten through sixth grade levels in all content areas. Through extensive field experiences with students of varying socioeconomic backgrounds and grade levels, you will be prepared to work with culturally, linguistically, and academically diverse student populations. Our coursework is grounded in research-based “best practices” that prepare you to be a leader in your field and community.

Upon completion of the undergraduate program, you will earn a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. You will be eligible for a Florida Professional Educator’s Certificate in Elementary Education grades K - 6 with endorsements in ESOL and Reading.

Prerequisite Coursework

Required Prerequisite Coursework: (3 hours)
The following coursework must be completed with a final grade of C minus or better:

EDF 1005 (3) Introduction to Education or an equivalent course offering a broad view of education from a historical, cultural, psychological, political, social, and philosophical perspective. The course must include a field experience.

Application Deadline
The FSU PC Elementary Education program accepts applications for the Fall and Spring semesters. Fall applications are due July 1. Spring Applications are due November 1. All application materials including official transcripts must be received by application deadline.

Common Admission Requirements
All prospective students to Educator Preparation must meet the following minimum requirements for admission:

1. Complete 60 credit hours of college-level coursework.
2. Earn a 2.50 cumulative GPA in all attempted college coursework. In calculating your GPA, we use all attempted courses (including D's, F's,
and WF's) from every college you have attended. If a course is repeated, we will use both grades.
3. Complete FSU General Education Requirements or earn an AA degree from a Florida public college.
4. Complete EDF 1005 - Introduction to Education with a C minus or better.

See http://liberalstudies.fsu.edu/curriculum.html for Liberal Studies curriculum.

See http://liberalstudiescourses.fsu.edu for a list of approved Liberal Studies courses.

Educator Preparation Application
The Educator Preparation application is available online at https://cehhs.fsu.edu/teacher-ed-admissions.

Additional Requirements for Transfer Students
Transfer students must satisfy the university’s minimum requirements for admission including demonstration of satisfactory academic progress, college- level English and mathematics proficiency, and world language proficiency.
See http://admissions.fsu.edu/transfer/ for details.

FTCE General Knowledge Exam
Effective July 1, 2021, the FTCE General Knowledge Exam is no longer an admission requirement for the Panama City campus Elementary Education program. Completion of all four sections of the FTCE General Knowledge Exam is required to participate in Student Teaching and to graduate from the Panama City campus Elementary Education program.

Requirements

Major Program of Study at FSU

Major Coursework: (60 hours)

EDE 4943 (12) Student Teaching in the Elementary School
EDG 4410 (3) Classroom Management and Legal Issues
EEX 4070 (3) Including Students with Disabilities in the General Education Classrooms
EEX 4486 (3) Differentiated Instruction for Students with Exceptionalities
LAE 4314 (3) Language Arts in the Elementary School
MAE 4114 (3) Learning Progressions in Mathematics
MAE 4326 (3) How Children Learn Mathematics
RED 4241 (3) Differentiating Reading Instruction
RED 4310 (3) Foundations of Reading
RED 4510 (3) Teaching Reading for Understanding
RED 4941 (3) Reading/ESOL Practicum
SCE 4891 (3) Introduction to the Nature of Science and Scientific Inquiry for Elementary Teachers
SCE 4892 (3) Problem-Based Science Learning for Elementary Teachers
SSE 4113 (3) Elementary School Social Studies
TSL 4080 (3) Applied ESOL Instruction in PK-12 Classrooms
TSL 4251 (3) Methods in Teaching English Language Learners in PK-12 Classrooms
TSL 4520 (3) Second Language Acquisition and Cross-cultural Communication for Teachers

University-Wide Graduation Requirements:

Digital Literacy: (3 hours)
EME2040 recommended, but can be completed by other University approved coursework

Oral Communication Competency: (3 hours)
Completed within major coursework (EDG 4410)

Natural Science Lab: (1 hour)
Completed within General Education/elective coursework

Scholarship-In-Practice: (3 hours)
Completed within major coursework (TSL 4251)

Upper-Division Writing: (3 hours)
Completed within major coursework (RED 4310)

Via
A Via membership is required for all Educator Preparation candidates. The membership costs $139 and must be purchased within the first 30 days of your first semester in the program. Throughout your program, courses will include Signature Assessments that must be completed and uploaded into Via for evaluation by your instructors. Your membership is good for five years and allows you to retain evidence of your demonstration of the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices (FEAPS) and Reading Competencies.

Required Examinations

1. FTCE General Knowledge Exam - $130
2. FTCE Professional Education Exam (Pro Ed) - $150
3. FTCE Subject Area Exam - $150

The FTCE’s are state mandated requirements and cannot be waived. The exams must be completed before a candidate can participate in Student Teaching or graduate from the program.

Criminal Background Screening
To comply with the Jessica Lunsford Act, all teacher candidates must complete a Level II background screening for Bay County. The background screening must be completed in the first semester of enrollment. Under no circumstance may a teacher candidate enter a public school for the purposes of completing an early field experience without a completed background screening.

Field Experiences
Field Experiences are a required component of all educator preparation programs at Florida State University. They provide students an opportunity to participate in teaching activities in a classroom setting with a certified teacher. The location, duration and frequency of field experiences vary by semester and program. Prospective students should think carefully about their transportation needs, work schedule, extracurricular activities, and time management.

Student Teaching
Student Teaching is the culminating experience in Florida State University’s Educator Preparation Program. During this semester-long experience, you will be given an opportunity to demonstrate the various skills that you have learned throughout your program.

Professional Behaviors and Dispositions
While enrolled in an Educator Preparation program, candidates are expected to demonstrate positive behaviors and dispositions that conform to the "Code of Ethics" (State Board of Education Rule 6A10.080 FAC) and the "Principles of Professional Conduct in Florida" (State Board of Education Rule 6A10.081 FAC). Each program reserves the right to refuse or discontinue enrollment of any student who violates these expectations or in the judgment of a majority of the program faculty does not meet the program standards.

Program Completion
All Educator Preparation candidates must demonstrate mastery of the Florida Department of Education Uniform Core Curriculum and positive dispositions prior to graduation. Upon admission to the program, students will receive a copy of the Educator Preparation Handbook that outlines these requirements in detail. A copy of the current Educator Preparation Handbook is available online at https://education.fsu.edu/educator-preparation.

Minimum Program Requirements – Summary

Total Hours Required: 120
General Education: 36
Lower Division Elective Coursework: 15
Digital Literacy: 3
Oral Communication Competency: 3
Natural Science Lab: 1
Pre-Education Coursework: 3
Major Coursework: 60

Mapping

Mapping is FSU’s academic advising and monitoring system. Academic progress is monitored each Fall and Spring semester to ensure that students are on course to earn their degree in a timely fashion. Transfer students must meet mapping guidelines to be accepted into their majors. You may view the map for this major at www.academic-guide.fsu.edu/.

Remarks

1. A minimum of 45 hours at the 3000 level or above, 30 of which must be taken at this University.
2. All of the major course semester hours must be completed in residence at this University.
3. The final 30 hours must be completed in residence at this University.

Employment Information

Salary Information: National Association of Colleges and Employers, Occupational Outlook Handbook

Representative Job Titles Related to this Major: Teacher of Elementary School and Early Middle School, Guidance Counselor (with graduate school), Recreation Supervisor, Youth Organization Worker, Sales Representative, School Equipment & Supplies, Curriculum Leader of Schools and districts, Reading/Literacy Coach in Schools and districts.

Representative Employers: Schools- Public, Private Boards of Education; Correctional Institutions; Adoption & Child Care Agencies; Community Organizations; YMCA & YWCA’s; Government Agencies; Manufacturers of Childcare Products, Private Businesses.