The Elementary Education faculty believes that well prepared elementary
school teachers are facilitators of active learning. As reflective practitioners,
teachers engage students in the learning process by using research findings
and experience-based strategies and practices to make sound educational
decisions. These decisions should be based upon an articulated educational
philosophy, a thorough knowledge of students' strengths, and needs and
an analysis of various learning environments.
The Elementary Education Program fulfills the goal of preparing such
teachers through a program based on a broad liberals arts background and
professional preparation, including a planned sequence of courses and field
experiences in the Baltimore Metropolitan area.
Departmental faculty are uniformly committed to students. As an integral part of the developmental teaching/learning experience, and reflecting commitment to the university's intentional academic advising program, students work with advisers in a strategic and progressive planning process across all years at the university. Accordingly, to support their personal and professional success, all COE students are required to confer prior to registration each semester with their assigned advisers.
The Curriculum
The major in elementary education leads to certification to teach in grades one through six. The program integrates college classroom and field experiences using a professional development school model to prepare students as beginning teachers for the public school systems. Students meet prerequisite and University general education requirements by completing 65 credits hours in the core academic subjects prior to admission to the program. A minimum of 126 credits is required to complete the Elementary Education major. A listing of the required courses can be found in the Towson University catalog.
Admission to the Program
The Elementary Education program is a screened and capped major. Screen majors require all students to meet certain minimum requirements to be considered for admission. Currently, students applying to the Elementary Education program must meet the following criteria: a minimum GPA of 2.75 on all prerequisite courses, a passing score on Praxis I as set by the Maryland State Department of Education, passing a speech and hearing test, submitting a complete application, and attending a departmental orientation session in the semester prior to admission.
The Elementary Education Department admits a limited number of students each semester. Admission is competitive and based on the GPA on the courses required for admission to the department. Students should consult the department office for specific application requirements. It is the student's responsibility to meet all deadlines for applying to the department.
Students with the AAT degree from Maryland Community Colleges are considered in the same manner as on campus students, see your local community college AAT coordinator for details. Transfer students should note that the Elementary Education department has very specific degree requirements and you may be required to take additional courses to meet the prerequisite and University general requirements prior to program admission.
Chair
Dr. Robert Blake
Psychology Building, PY 103
8000 York Road | Towson, MD 21252 | 410-704-2000
