Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education
Become a state-certified teacher and make a difference in the lives of young people.
Earn a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and Texas Teacher Certification with the Dreeben School of Education.
Course Overview
Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) offers an undergraduate degree concurrent with preparation for early childhood through 6th grade and Texas Teacher Certification. A student following this course of study will complete the UIW core, the Interdisciplinary Studies major, a minor in reading, special education coursework and the professional development course sequence.
Clinical Teaching Experience
The Teacher Education Program is a field-based program that provides intensive, realistic and high-quality experiences in school settings. Eligible students may apply for a clinical teaching experience offering them an opportunity spend full days in classrooms and other learning environments where they connect theory and practice, observe effective teaching practices, and interact with diverse populations. Through the program, apprentice teachers explore and develop their teaching skills in close interaction with cooperating teachers and university supervisors.
The clinical teaching experience is considered to be the capstone of the Teacher Education Program and is completed in the final semester. Clinical teachers complete a 15 to 16-week, full-day placement. Placements with partnership schools are arranged by the program.
Clinical teachers must meet all requirements for clinical teaching applicable to the semester to which they apply. Requirements are subject to change to reflect current Texas Education Agency and UIW Teacher Education Program standards.
At minimum, clinical teacher applicants must demonstrate content proficiency with a passing state exam score in their certification content area as well as demonstrate the professional disposition expected for a professional educator.
Specialized Minors
The reading minor offers an overview of reading and language acquisition. The reading minor is required for all B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) majors and is optional for students in all other majors.
The coursework presents an overview of literacy instruction, including emergent literacy, vocabulary development, comprehension development, dyslexia, English language acquisition, disciplinary literacy and children's literature.
The Special Education minor is optional for all majors. B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) majors are required to complete the first three courses (EDUC 2315, 3343, 3346); therefore, the addition of EDUC 3335: Advocacy for Exceptional Learners, completes the minor.
The coursework presents an overview of special education history and legislation, instructional considerations, and professional responsibilities. The minor was designed to prepare certification candidates for the TExES special education supplemental examination and for the general education teacher seeking to increase their knowledge of exceptional learners.
Admissions Criteria
Find out more about requirements, standards and processes to begin your journey as a Dreeben School of Education student.