Elementary Education (P-5), B.A.

Program Coordinator: Nicole Lambright, Ph.D.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education (P-5) program is offered fully online and qualifies graduates to earn both a baccalaureate degree in Elementary Education (P-5) and an Ohio teaching license in Elementary Education (P-5). The Elementary Education (P-5) program is accredited by the Ohio Department of Higher Education.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants to the Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education (P-5) program are selected on the basis of their academic background and experience. Admission requirements include the following:

• submission of official transcripts of all previous college or university courses completed to date; (applicants without any prior college or university coursework must submit an official high school transcript or GED, including ACT scores, if taken);
• an overall GPA of 2.50 (on a 4.00 scale) for all previous college or university coursework completed to date (an applicant with a minimum cumulative GPA of less than 2.50 or who has not completed any prior college or university coursework to date may apply for probationary or provisional admittance);
• completion of a statement of purpose and contact information for at least two references;
• completion of an admission interview or seminar with the GPS Education Program Coordinator;
• completion of an online application and Registration Agreement Form.

Applicants from foreign countries and U.S. territories must also provide recent evidence of proficiency in English by: 1) scoring 80 or above on the Internet-based TOEFL with subscores in writing, reading, speaking and listening of at least 20; 2) scoring 550 or above on the written TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) with subscores in writing and reading of at least 50; or 3) scoring 6.0 or above on the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). All tests of English proficiency must have been taken in the last two years to be considered for acceptance.

Some applicants may be admitted under probationary admission status if they satisfy each of the following requirements:

• earned a 2.00-2.40 cumulative GPA (on a 4.00 scale) for all previous college or university coursework completed to date;
• complete all other regular admission requirements as noted above.

To move from probationary admission status to regular admission status, a student must successfully complete each of the first three courses in his/her program with final grades of "C" or better and with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50.

Applicants who have no previous college or university coursework may only receive provisional admittance. To move from provisional admission status to regular admission status, a student must complete a minimum of twelve (12) credit hours of General Education coursework with a cumulative GPA of 2.50.

PROGRAM CONTINUATION

A student who has enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education (P-5) program with regular admission status will be placed on academic probation at any time that his/her cumulative GPA falls below a 2.50. The student who is placed on academic probation must achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 at the completion of an additional six (6) credit hours with no grade lower than a "C".

A candidate may be dismissed from the Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education (P-5) program after:

1. receiving two consecutive failing grades; and/or
2. failing to achieve the required grade point average in the program at the end of any probationary period.

ADDITIONAL GENERAL EDUCATION COURSES: 28 Credit Hours

TOTAL: 123 Credit Hours

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

The student must complete a minimum of 123 credit hours (with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50) including:

1. Successful completion of the GPS General Education Core (39 hours):
   • 15 credit hours in Arts and Humanities (Minimum of 3 credit hours in an English composition course with a research writing component; minimum of 3 credit hours in Bible/Theology)
   • 15 credit hours in Natural and Social Sciences, and Mathematics (Minimum of 3 credit hours in Mathematics; minimum of 3 credit hours in Social Science; and minimum of 3 credit hours in Natural Science with laboratory)
   • 9 credit hours in Liberal Arts electives 
2. Completion of at least 30 credit hours of upper division course work (3000 level or higher);
3. Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 in all Education courses;
4. Successful completion of the 123 credit hours of the Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education (P-5) curriculum with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50. A student who receives a grade below "C-" in any Education course will be required to repeat that course until a grade of "C-" or better is earned. All repeated coursework to replace grades of D+, D, F, W, or X is at the student's expense.

An advanced undergraduate may enroll in the Educational Studies major, a non-teaching, non-licensure program. The student must petition to and be approved by the GPS Education Program Coordinator before enrolling in this major. Please contact a member of the Education Department for additional details.

Elementary Education (P-5) Major Requirements (84 credit hours)

• completion of all required coursework and deficiencies with a minimum GPA of 3.00 and with no grade lower than a "C-";
• satisfactory recommendation from student teaching University supervisor;
• completion and submission of the Teacher Performance Assessment;
• no more than two (2) Yellow Flag Alert Reports.

Recommendation for Licensure

• pass all required Ohio licensure exams;
• complete background checks and fingerprinting (if not done within the past 12 months);
• submit application for licensure and pay fee.