About

Do you have a passion for working with children? Are you interested in teaching? Do you want to apply your creativity to plan learning experiences that are highly engaging and will motivate young learners?

East Carolina's BS in elementary education program allows students to work closely with faculty regarded as experts in their field. A hallmark of the elementary education program at East Carolina is the prevalence of practicum experiences throughout the program. Even from the beginning of the program, students have the chance to be observing and working in classrooms throughout eastern North Carolina. Each semester, students have the opportunity to be in an elementary classroom applying the concepts and knowledge from their coursework.

The program culminates in a yearlong internship placement in a K-6 elementary classroom. In the first semester, students spend one day a week in their placement getting to know the students, teaching lessons, and collaborating with the teacher. In the second semester, students attend their internship every day and gradually pick up teaching responsibilities until they are teaching all day long. Student interns have the support of ECU faculty, the classroom teacher, and a university supervisor as they finish program requirements and prepare to enter the work force.

ECU Advantage

East Carolina's elementary education program is nationally recognized for excellence in developing pre-service educators. ECU faculty members have been called upon by organizations from around the country to present on the innovative methods used with teacher candidates in East Carolina's undergraduate elementary education program.

ECU is the largest producer of new teachers in North Carolina. Our graduates are highly sought after and can be found working throughout the region and around the United States. Many graduates go on to earn master's degrees and become nationally board certified in their area of expertise.

As an ECU student, you can research your future career in Steppingblocks. Explore real-world stats about your major, your interests, and your dream job title with data-powered career exploration tools designed for doers like you.

What You Will Study

Program Coordinator: Paige Everett (252-328-2970; everettje@ecu.edu)

The Elementary Education, BS prepares graduates to teach in the K-6 classroom.

The degree requires a minimum of 120 s.h. as follows:

1. General education requirements including the following - 40 s.h.

(For information about courses that carry general education credit view the General Education Program section.)

  • ART 3850 - Art in the Elementary School OR

  • MATH 1065 - College Algebra OR
  • MATH 2127 - Basic Concepts of Mathematics

  • MUSC 3018 - Introduction to Basic Music Skills for Elementary School Teachers • Choose 3 s.h. humanities (literature)*
2. Professional studies - 28 s.h.
  • EDTC 4001 - Technology in Education

  • EDUC 3002 - Introduction to Diversity
    • OR
  • PSYC 2777 - Ethnocultural Psychology
    • OR
  • SOCI 1010 - Race, Gender, Class

  • EDUC 3200 - Foundations of American Education
  • ELEM 2123 - Early Experience for the Prospective Teacher
  • ELEM 4324 - Internship in the Elementary School
  • ELEM 4325 - Internship Seminar: Issues in Elementary Education
  • READ 3501 - Foundational Literacy Skills: Differentiated Instruction and Assessment for the Elementary Classroom
  • SPED 4020 - Teaching Students with Exceptionalities in Elementary Classrooms
3. Academic concentrations - 12-18 s.h.

Each of the following academic concentrations require 18 s.h. Five of the academic concentrations; however, require general education designated courses or offer electives that may in some cases count toward the general education requirement of the degree. For these five concentrations, a maximum of six semester hours may count toward the general education requirement. Students are encouraged to discuss this option with their advisor prior to developing the four year plan.

Choose one of the following academic concentrations:

    a. Academically and intellectually gifted

    In addition to a concentration to the Elementary Education, BS, Academically and Intellectually Gifted (AIG) is a K-12 add-on to a North Carolina (NC) professional educator's license through the NC Department of Public Instruction (DPI).

    As part of the 18 s.h. for the AIG concentration, course requirements for the K-12 AIG (K-12) add-on are met: 12 s.h. of study in gifted (GIFT) education - GIFT 4000, GIFT 4100, GIFT 4200, and GIFT 4300. After successful completion (a grade of C or higher in all four required courses) and once the professional educator's license is earned teachers can petition DPI for the AID (K-12) add-on.

    The academically and intellectually gifted concentration requires 18 s.h. as follows:

    • GIFT 4000 - Diverse Gifted and Talented Children
    • GIFT 4100 - Foundations of Gifted and Talented Education
    • GIFT 4200 - Instructional Practices in Gifted and Talented Education
    • GIFT 4300 - Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Problem Solving in Gifted and Talented Education
    • 6 s.h. electives
    • 6 s.h. AIG program coordinator approved electives
      • Certificate information

      Students can earn an Equity and Advocacy in Gifted and Talented Education Certificate by successfully completing a total of 15 s.h. (5 courses) in gifted education: GIFT 4000, GIFT 4100, GIFT 4200, GIFT 4300, and GIFT 4400. Successful completion requires a grade of C or higher in all required courses.

      A teaching license is not required to earn this ECU granted certificate, which is awarded upon graduation. See the certificate page for more details.

      b. Birth through kindergarten
      • HDFS 2000 - Child Development I: Prenatal Through Early Childhood
      • HDFS 3150 - Introduction to Early Childhood Intervention
      • HDFS 3306 - Guiding Children's Behavior
      • HDFS 3321 - Infant and Toddler Curriculum
      • HDFS 4121 - Social Studies, Math, and Science Curriculum in Early Childhood
      • HDFS 4122 - Language and Literacy Curriculum in Early Childhood
      c. Content integration generalist

      Choose courses from the areas of educational pedagogy, literacy, mathematics education, and science education, as specified below. 

        Educational pedagogy (9 s.h.)
        • Program coordinator approved courses
          Literacy (3 s.h.)
          • READ 3000 - Literacy Learning in a Diverse World
            • OR
          • READ 3550 - Literacy Instruction and Intervention Across the Grades
          Mathematics education (3 s.h.)
          • MATE 3067 - Algebra and Number Foundations
            • OR
          • MATE 3330 - Rational Number
          Science education (3 s.h.)
          • SCIE 3270 - Physical Science for Grades K-6
            • OR
          • SCIE 3280 - Life and Environmental Science Grades K-6
            • OR
          • SCIE 3290 - Earth Systems Science Grades K-6
        d. English
        • ENGL 2000 - Interpreting Literature

        • ENGL 2200 - Major American Writers
          • OR
        • ENGL 3020 - History of American Literature to 1900

        • ENGL 3950 - Literature for Children
          • OR
        • LIBS 4950 - Literature for Children

        • ENED 4319 - Teaching English and Language Arts in the Middle Grades
        • ENED 4970 - Literature for the Younger Adolescent
        • LING 2710 - English Grammar
        e. General science
        • SCIE 3216 - Teaching Science in the Elementary School
        • SCIE 3270 - Physical Science for Grades K-6
        • SCIE 3280 - Life and Environmental Science Grades K-6
        • SCIE 3290 - Earth Systems Science Grades K-6
        • SCIE 3336 - Science and Methods in Informal Settings and Field Experience
        • Choose 3 s.h. of general education science credits
        • Choose 3 s.h. of general education science credits
        f. History
        • HIST 1030 - World Civilizations to 1500
        • HIST 1031 - World Civilizations Since 1500
        • HIST 1050 - American History to 1877
        • HIST 1051 - American History Since 1877
        • Choose 6 s.h. HIST electives of which 3 s.h. must be above 2999
        • Choose 6 s.h. HIST electives of which 3 s.h. must be above 2999
        g. Interdisciplinary human studies
        • Choose 9 s.h. from the following:
        • HLTH 3010 - Health Problems
        • HLTH 4410 - Planning, Implementing, and Assessing Sexuality Education
        • HLTH 4605 - Community Strategies for Health Education
        • KINE 2900 - Teaching Skillful Movement
        • KINE 3300 - Applied Sports Psychology
        • KINE 3900 - Elementary School Instruction in Physical Education
        • PSYC 1000 - Introductory Psychology
        • PSYC 4350 - Psychology of Sexual Behavior
        • SOCI 1025 - Sociology of Intimate Relationships
        • SOCI 3325 - Sociology of Human Sexuality

        • Choose 9 s.h. from the following:
        • BIOL 2130 - Survey of Human Physiology and Anatomy
        • EHST 2110 - Introduction to Environmental Health Sciences
        • HLTH 2125 - Responding to Emergencies with Basic Life Support
        • HLTH 2126 - Responding to Emergencies with Basic Life Support Laboratory
        • HLTH 3020 - Understanding and Achieving Health Equity
        • HLTH 3244 - Health Methods for Elementary Grades
        • HLTH 3355 - Trends in Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs
        • KINE 2202 - Motor Learning and Performance
        • KINE 3805 - Physiology of Exercise
        • KINE 3850 - Introduction to Biomechanics
        • KINE 3906 - Adapted Physical Education
        • KINE 4804 - Measurement and Evaluation in Exercise and Sport Science
        • KINE 4805 - Exercise Evaluation and Prescription Laboratory
        • KINE 4806 - Exercise Evaluation and Prescription

        • NUTR 1000 - Contemporary Nutrition
          • OR
        • NUTR 2105 - Nutrition Science
        h. Mathematics education
        • MATE 2129 - Investigations into Concepts of Elementary Mathematics
        • MATE 3030 - Geometry and Measurement for Elementary Teachers
        • MATE 3060 - Mathematics and Methods for Grades 3-6
        • MATE 3067 - Algebra and Number Foundations
        • MATE 3330 - Rational Number
        • MATE 3630 - Mathematical Modeling for Elementary Grades
        i. Psychology
        • MATH 2228 - Elementary Statistical Methods I
          • OR
        • PSYC 2101 - Psychological Statistics

        • PSYC 1000 - Introductory Psychology
        • PSYC 3206 - Developmental Psychology

        • PSYC 3225 - Psychology of Learning
          • OR
        • PSYC 3226 - Cognitive Psychology

        • Choose 6 s.h.
        j. Reading (optional add-on licensure)
        • READ 3000 - Literacy Learning in a Diverse World
        • READ 3501 - Foundational Literacy Skills: Differentiated Instruction and Assessment for the Elementary Classroom
        • READ 3502 - Reading for Understanding: Differentiated Instruction and Assessment for the Elementary Classroom
        • READ 3550 - Literacy Instruction and Intervention Across the Grades
        • READ 4000 - Connecting Theory and Practice in K-12 Literacy Instruction
        • READ 5317 - Adolescent Literacy in the Content Areas
        k. Social studies
        • HIST 1030 - World Civilizations to 1500
          • OR
        • HIST 1031 - World Civilizations Since 1500

        • HIST 1050 - American History to 1877
        • HIST 1051 - American History Since 1877

        • HIST 3100 - North Carolina History
          • OR
        • MIDG 3200 - North Carolina History Standards Curriculum and Planning in the Middle Grades Classroom

        • POLS 1010 - National Government
        • Choose 3 s.h.
      4. Specialty area - 24 s.h.
      • ELEM 3000 - Curriculum and Standards in Elementary School
      • ELEM 3100 - Learning and Instruction in Elementary School
      • ELEM 3215 - Language Arts Methods for Elementary Teaching
      • ELEM 3300 - Grades K-2 Practicum
      • ELEM 3500 - Teaching Social Studies in Elementary School
      • ELEM 3600 - Differentiated Instruction in the Elementary Classroom: Grades 3-5 Practicum
      • ELEM 4300 - Classroom Organization and Management in Elementary School
      • ELEM 4400 - Assessment for Elementary Educators
      5. Cognates - 16-19 s.h.

      Note: ENGL 3950 is designated as a humanities general education course and can count as the general education elective. If counted as the general education elective, 16 s.h. of cognates will count toward the minimum degree requirement.

      • ENGL 3950 - Literature for Children
        • OR
      • LIBS 4950 - Literature for Children

      • MATE 2129 - Investigations into Concepts of Elementary Mathematics
      • MATE 3050 - Mathematics and Methods for Grades Pre-K-2
      • MATE 3051 - Field Experience in Mathematics Grades K-2
      • MATE 3060 - Mathematics and Methods for Grades 3-6
      • READ 3502 - Reading for Understanding: Differentiated Instruction and Assessment for the Elementary Classroom
      • SCIE 3216 - Teaching Science in the Elementary School
      For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.
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