BA in Elementary Education

The BA in Elementary Education program is a traditional, 4 year program on-campus at West Virginia University that prepares students to earn a teaching certification in multi-subjects grades K-6 upon graduation. As part of the program, students complete work in local, public school placements for 4 semesters before the final, student teaching semester. This field and clinical experience totals over 600 hours in the classroom. The BA in Elementary Education program values the learning that happens not only in the WVU classrooms, but also in the application of these lessons in the field. This is why students graduate with hundreds of hours of practice and experience teaching. In addition to an emphasis on experience in local schools, the BA in Elementary Education program is committed to high academic standards at the state and national levels. Program faculty work with national accreditation standards and contribute to the profession at university, state, and national levels. This work involves exploration of technology, diversity, global initiatives, and culturally responsive teaching, facilitated by faculty who are leaders in research, teaching, and service. The BA in Elementary Education program also allows the space for students to find their individual areas of interest, for which many pursue a Master's degree. Students in the BA in Elementary Education program can begin working as a classroom teacher after graduation while simultaneously earning their graduate degree. Many of our Master’s degrees are offered online, like Special Education, Reading, School Counseling, Advanced Elementary Education, and more. Major Learning Goals The learning goals for the WVU Four-Year Elementary Teacher Education Program are to prepare students who: Have commitment and skills to engage in life-long learning. Are effective communicators Recognize that teaching is a professional, moral, and ethical enterprise with well-developed ethical frameworks which facilitate effective teaching. Will serve as a facilitator of learning for all students Possess in-depth knowledge of both pedagogy and content, and the relationships between them. Are reflective practitioners Are aware of, and have respect for, human diversity. Value and integrate knowledge from a wide variety of fields, are creative and open to new ideas, and are able to act constructively in a world characterized by technological, cultural, and societal diversity and change.