Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education

The Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education ranks No. 15 nationally and is the top school in the Southeast for students seeking undergraduate teaching degrees, according to new rankings from the site Teaching Degree Search. The Teacher Education Program at Elon University prepares teachers to be effective practitioners who are engaged learners, ethical leaders, globally aware citizens, and advocates for equity and excellence.

Students may opt to focus on special education for their degree. You can do this but you have to major in one of the primary education majors and then can add Special Education as your secondary major.

Elementary Education

If you are interested in Elementary Education, you can focus on these classes in your first year:

  • Political Science (POL) 1110: American Government (Society)
  • American History course (pick one): (all are Civilization)
    • HST 1200: Unruly Origins – US to 1865 (NC focus)
    • HST 1210: Unruly Origins – US to 1865
    • HST 1220: Contested Democracy: US from 1865
    • HST 1230: Contested Democracy: US from 1865 (NC focus)
  • Any Lab Science though BIO 1064: Biology, the Science of Life is recommended (Lab Science).
  • Education (EDU) 2110: Education and Society

Middle Grades Education

Middle Grades education allows students to concentrate in four different areas. For all areas, youwill take:

  • Sociology (SOC) 2430: Sociology of Education (Society)

Here are additional course options based on each area you may select:

English Language Arts Concentration: (Expression/Literature)

  • English (ENG) 2240: American Literature after 1865
  • ENG 2250: African-American Literature before 1945

Social Studies Concentration:

  • Economics (ECO) 1000: Principles of Economics (Society)
  • Geography (GEO) 1310: The World’s Regions
  • Political Science (POL) 1110: American Government (Society)
  • History (HST) 1120: Search for Order in Modern Europe (Civilization)
  • HST 1220: Contested Democracy: US from 1865 (Civilization)

Mathematics Concentration:

  • Statistics (STS) 1100: Intro to Statistical Reasoning (base on Math placement)
  • Math (MTH) 1510: Calculus I (based on Math placement)

Science Concentration:

  • Biology (BIO) 1012: Topics in General Biology with BIO 1013: General Biology Laboratory
  • Science (SCI) 1210: Science without Borders
  • Chemistry (CHM) 1110: General Chemistry I with CHML 1110: General Chemistry Lab
  • Physics (PHY) 1020: Introduction to Astronomy with PHYL 1020: Astronomy Lab

Outdoor Leadership and Education

Outdoor Leadership and Education is the only major in the School of Education that doesn’t require teacher licensure. You can pick from one of three concentrations, all of which allow some additional class options. The concentrations are a sub-discipline of the major and are:

  • Environmental Focus
  • Inter/Intra Personal Focus
  • Learning & Leadership Focus

For all concentrations, you can start by taking:

  • ABL 2250: Intro to Adventure-Based Learning

Science Education

Science Education has overlapping classes regardless of the concentration you plan to pursue. You can pick from Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, or Physics. Here are the common classes you can take regardless of which concentration you might choose:

Science Concentration:

  • Biology (BIO) 1112: Cellular Biology with BIO 1113: Cellular Biology Laboratory
  • Chemistry (CHM) 1110: General Chemistry I with CHML 1110: General Chemistry Lab
    Physics (PHY) 1020: Introduction to Astronomy with PHYL 1020: Astronomy Lab

If you are interested in Environmental Education, you may also opt for:

  • Environmental Science (ENS) 1110: Intro to Environmental Science with ENS 1130: Intro to Environmental Science Lab

If you are interested in Physics, you may also opt for:

  • Physics (PHY) 2210: University Physics
  • Math (MTH) 1510: Calculus I

Secondary Education

For Secondary Education, you will start with the following class:

  • Sociology (SOC) 2430: Sociology of Education (Society)

Select course from the concentration of interest using the Academic Catalog major requirements. Course options vary depending on your area of focus.