Elementary Education

A major in Elementary Education consists of the courses necessary to meet the requirements for elementary education (K-6) licensure in the public schools of North Carolina. The following courses are required of all elementary education majors:

Foundational Courses

• BIO 101 Topics in General Biology 3 sh
• BIO 102 General Biology Lab 1 sh
• SCI 121 Science Without Borders 4 sh
• POL 111 American Government 4 sh
• HST 123 The U.S. and N.C. since 1865 4 sh
• MTH 210 Mathematics for Elementary and Middle Grades Teachers 4 sh (General Studies Math requirement or equivalent is a prerequisite; C- or better in MTH 210 required for admission to the program)
• CIS 220 Computers and Teaching 3 sh
• PSY 321 Educational Psychology 4 sh (C- or better required for admission to the program)
• PEH 362 Healthful Living in the Elementary School 2 sh
• FNA 369 Fine Arts in the Public Schools 4 sh
• EDU 298 Children's Literature 4 sh
  EDU 211 School and Society 4 sh
  Cultural Perspective Concentration
  EDU 323 Literacy Development I: Principles and Practices 3 sh
• EDU 324 Literacy Development II: Strategies &
• Instruction for Struggling Readers 3 sh
• EDU 346 Classroom Management 2 sh
• EDU 451 Teaching Diverse Learners 4 sh
• Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) I 8 sh
  • EDU 311 Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) I
    Concentration areas:
    Language Arts and Social Studies Methods and Materials
    or
  • EDU 312 Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) I
    Concentration areas:
    Mathematics and Science Methods and Materials
• Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) II 8 sh
  • EDU 411 Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) II
    Concentration areas:
    Language Arts and Social Studies Methods and Materials
    or
  • EDU 412 Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) II
    Concentration areas:
    Mathematics and Science Methods and Materials

Students who enroll in EDU 311 will enroll in EDU 412 in the following semester. Students who enroll in EDU 312 will enroll in EDU 411 in the following semester. This will ensure that all four content areas are addressed.

• EDU 481 Supervised Observation and Student Teaching 10 sh
• EDU 482 Critical Issues in Education: Capstone Seminar I 2 sh
• EDU 483 Thoughtful Analysis of Practice: Capstone Seminar II 2 sh

TOTAL 95 sh

Cultural Perspective Concentrations

Elementary Education majors are encouraged to pursue a minor in one of the following areas:

• African/African American Studies
• Asian Studies
• Foreign Language
• International Studies
• Italian Studies
• Latin American Studies
• Women's/Gender Studies

When a minor is not possible, Elementary Education majors are required to choose a minimum of 12 credit hours in a concentration with at least four hours at the 300-400 level. Students are strongly encouraged to study abroad for a semester or winter term to meet these requirements. Courses fulfilling the cultural perspective concentration requirement may, as appropriate, also fulfill general studies requirements.

Minors in other areas are also encouraged. In cases where students elect to take a minor in an area other than one of the above, they are strongly encouraged to study abroad and, as possible, take courses in an area of cultural concentration.

Listed below are the approved cultural perspective concentrations:

• Education for Social Justice - Students choosing this concentration are encouraged to expand the concentration to complete a minor in one of the following areas: African/African American Studies, Non-Violence Studies, or International Studies. Possible courses for Social Justice concentration.
• International Studies - Students choosing the International Studies Concentration should begin their course of study with HST/INT 221 (4 sh) World in the Twentieth Century and then choose one of the following options:
  • Foreign Language Study (8 sh of one modern foreign language)
  • Regional Concentration (choose from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America)

Students are encouraged to expand the International Studies Concentration to complete a minor in one of the following areas:

• • African/African American Studies
  • Asian Studies
  • Foreign Language
  • International Studies
  • Latin American Studies

*Global Studies is not an option as a minor.

Possible courses for International Studies concentration

• Italian Studies - Students choosing the Italian Studies concentration are encouraged to expand the concentration and complete a minor in Italian Studies. Possible courses for Italian Studies concentration
• Semester Abroad - A semester abroad may substitute for the concentration requirements. Check with your advisor for appropriate semester abroad options.
• Society and Environment -This concentration is designed for teacher candidates who would like to pursue a more scientific approach to issues of diversity. This concentration is an exceptionally good fit with the elementary science curriculum. Possible courses for Society and Environment concentration
• Women's/Gender Studies - Students choosing the Women's/Gender Studies concentration are encouraged to expand the concentration to complete a minor in Women's/Gender Studies. Possible courses for Women's/Gender Studies concentration

The courses listed under each concentration below provide examples of possibilities. Courses in the minor and additional courses may be approved by the department chair in education in consultation with the appropriate department chair or program director. These courses may also count toward general studies requirements.

Education for Social Justice

• ENG 255 Topics in Literature (as thematically appropriate)
• ENG 238 African-American Literature before 1945
• ENG 239 African-American Literature since 1945
• ENG 337 Asian Literature of Social Change
• ENG 359 African-American Novels
• ENG 370 Simple Living
• ENG 372 Literature of Non-Violence
• ENG/GST 373 America and Vietnam
• MUS/GST 343 African-American Composers
• PHL 352 Eastern Philosophy
• PHL 348 Environmental Ethics
• PHL/GST 330 Economic Justice
• HST 133 Civil Rights Movement
• HST 363 African-American History, 1850-Present
• HST 388 History of the Caribbean
• REL 341 Christian Ethics
• REL 345 Theology of Human Liberation
• REL 348 Environmental Ethics
• REL 353 Buddhism
• REL 377 Feminist Ethics
• REL 279 Topics in Eastern Religion
• GEO 310 Development and the Environment in Latin America, Africa, Asia
• GEO 320 Geography of Africa
• GEO 331 Study Abroad: Analyzing Your Experience
• GEO 342 Gender and Environment in South America
• POL 141 International Relations
• POL 324 Civil Liberties
• POL 342 U.S. Foreign Policy
• POL 345 International Terrorism
• POL 367 Politics of Africa
• POL 368 Latin American Politics
• POL 374 Judicial Administration
• POL 377 Politics of Victimization
• POL 441 Peace, War and Conflict Resolution
• PSY 325 Psychology of American Protest Music
• PSY 327 Psychology of Non-Violence
• PSY 357 Criminal Behavior
• SOC 241 Social Issues and Problems
• SOC 245 Non-Violence of the Brave: From Ghandhi to King
• SOC 341 Ethnic and Race Relations
• SOC 343 Social and Cultural Change

International Studies

HST/INT 221 (4) World in the Twentieth Century - This course is required in this concentration.

Regional Concentration: Africa

• • ART 341 African Art (4)
  • ENG 255 Topics in Literature (as thematically appropriate)
  • ENG 338 African Experiences in Literature
  • FRE 362 Francophone Cultures Outside France
  • HST 313 Modern Africa
  • HST 314 History of Southern Africa
  • GEO 320 Geography of Africa
  • POL/INT 141 International Relations
  • POL 367 Politics of Africa
  • JCM 346 African Film
  • AAA 361 Seminars in African/African American Studies
  • AAA 491 Independent Study

Regional Concentration: Asian/Pacific

• • ENG 255 Topics in Literature (as thematically appropriate)
  • ENG 337 Asian Literature of Social Change
  • PHL 352 Eastern Philosophy
  • PHL 353 Zen and the Culture of Japan
  • HST 320 China, Japan and the Pacific Century
  • REL 353 Buddhism
  • REL 356 Hinduism
  • POL/INT 141 International Relations
  • POL 363 Politics of Asia
  • POL 365 Politics of Eurasia
  • SOC 329 Peoples & Cultures of Southeast Asia
  • SOC 344 Socio/cultural Change in India
  • ENS 310 Environmental Issues of Southeast Asia

Regional Concentration: Europe

• • ENG 222 British Literature II
  • ENG 325 Romanticism
  • ENG 326 Realism and the Later 19th Century
  • ENG 356 The Novel: British Women Writers
  • PHL 433 Marx, Darwin and Freud
  • FRE 332 Introduction to French Literature II
  • FRE 361 French Civilization
  • SPN 333 Spanish Civilization
  • SPN 351 Studies in Peninsular Literature
  • SPN 353 Survey in Peninsular Literature
  • HST 316 The History of Imperial Russia to 1917
  • HST 317 Russia & the Soviet Union since 1917
  • HST 324 England Within the British Empire
  • HST 326 History of Ireland
  • HST 327 History of Scotland
  • HST 335 Growth of Modern Europe
  • HST 336 Europe, 1914-1945
  • HST 337 Europe, 1945 to present
  • HST 338 Germany, Democracy & Hitler 1914-1945
  • HST 339 A History of the Holocaust
  • POL/INT 141 International Relations
  • POL 364 Politics of Europe
  • POL 365 Politics of Eurasia
  • POL 428 Comparative Public Policy

Regional Concentration: Latin America

• • ENG 255 Topics in Literature (as thematically appropriate)
  • ENG 335 Latin American Literature and Culture
  • SPN 334 Latin American Civilization
  • SPN 352 Survey of Latin American Literature
  • SPN 354 Studies in Latin American Literature
  • HST 341 Modern Central American History
  • HST 350 History of Brazil
  • HST 351 History of Mexico
  • HST 353 Colonial Latin America
  • HST 354 Modern Latin America
  • GEO 342 Gender and Environment in South America
  • ENS 365 Natural History, Ecology of Latin America
  • POL/INT 141 International Relations
  • POL 368 Latin American Politics
  • SOC 363 Latin American Social Movements
  • SOC 364 Inequality and Development in Latin America

Italian Studies

• ART 343 Renaissance Art History
• ART 312 Greek and Roman Art
• ENG 321 Classical Literature
• ENG 322 Medieval Literature
• FNA 265 Fine Arts in Italy (Study Abroad)
• GST 214 Contemporary Italy
• GST 274 Italy Heritage
• HST 131 Special Topics related to Italy
• HST 381 History of Ancient Rome
• ITL 121 Elementary Italian I
• ITL 122 Elementary Italian II
• ITL 221 Intermediate Italian I
• ITL 222 Intermediate Italian II
• ITL 300 Studies in Italy / semester abroad program (when approved by Minor coordinator)
• ITL 321 Italian Conversation
• ITL 373 History of Italian Cinema (Special Topic)
• JCM 371 Special Topic/Italian Film
• MUS 471 The Opera (special topics)
• PHL 337 Dante’s Journey
• REL 335 Christianity: Ancient and Medieval

Society and Environment

• ENG 339 American Environmental Writers
• PHL/REL 348 Environmental Ethics
• ECO 335 Economics of Environmental Issues (prereq. ECO 201)
• GEO 310 Development and the Environment in Latin America, Africa and Asia
• POL 224 Environmental Policy and Law
• POL 344 International Environmental Policy
• BIO 112, 114 Introduction to Population Biology and Lab
• BIO 215 Organismal Biology and Field Techniques
• ENS 111, 113 Introduction to Environmental Science and Lab
• PHY 110 Energy and the Environment
• BIO 335 IS Field Biology in Belize
• BIO 379 IS Field Biology in the Galapagos
• ENS 310 Environmental Issues of Southeast Asia
• ENS 365 Natural History, Ecology of Latin America
• ENS 372 Environmental Visions ? Alternative Futures
• BIO 344 Evolution
• ENS/GEO 350 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems

  Women's/Gender Studies

• ENG 255 Topics in Literature (as thematically appropriate)
• ENG 333-WG Women in Literature: Feminist Approaches
• ENG 356-WG The Novel: British Women Writers
• ENG 361-WG Gender Issues in Cinema
• PHL 345-WG Feminist Philosophy
• HST 364-WG History of Women in the U.S.
• REL 347-WG Women and Religion
• ECO 270-WG Economics of Gender
• GEO 342 Gender and Environment in South America
• POL 241-WG International Relations
• PSY 215-WG Psychology of Personal Relationships
• PSY 315-WG Psychology of Sex and Gender
• SOC 311-WG The Family
• SOC 345-WG Sociocultural Perspectives on Gender
• GST 270-WG Women, Men and Society
• GST 257-WG Women, Culture and Development
• GST 369-WG Men and Masculinity
• GST 269 Women and Leadership
• WGS 300 Current Controversies in Feminism
• WGS 461-469 Special Topics in Women's Studies/Gender Studies
• WGS 481 Internship in Women's Studies/Gender Studies
• WGS 491 Independent Study