Bachelor of Arts: Elementary Education

All Professional Education, Elementary Education Core, and Liberal Arts Core courses require a grade of B- or higher.

Professional Education Core: 15 Credits

These courses must be completed at Northwest Nazarene University EDUC2005, EDUC1125, EDUC2555, EDUC3175, EDUC4955

Elementary Education Core:  30 Credits

These courses must be completed at Northwest Nazarene University: EDUC3245, EDUC3255, EDUC3265, EDUC4465, EDUC4555, EDUC4815, EDUC4905

Liberal Arts Core: 15 credits

Choose at least 15 credits from the following. Consider GE requirements, endorsement area, academic needs, and personal interest.

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education requires the completion of one endorsement field, grades 5-9.  Endorsement courses require a grade of C, or higher, excluding Teaching Methods and the Liberal Arts Core courses listed in the endorsement requirements. Teaching Methods and Liberal Arts Core courses require a grade of B- or higher. 

The following courses must be completed at Northwest Nazarene University: EDUC3010, EDUC3580, EDUC3570, EDUC3640

English Middle Level Endorsement (5-9)

Requirements: 23 credits, including 3 credits in methods

History Middle Level Endorsement (5-9)

Requirements: 20 credits, including 2 credits in methods

Mathematics Middle Level Endorsement (5-9)

Requirements: 20 credits, including 2 credits in methods

Science Middle Level Endorsement (5-9)

Requirements: 26 credits, including 2 credits

Social Studies Middle Level Endorsement (5-9)

Requirements: 20 credits, including 2 credits in methods

Program Admission Requirements

Upon completion of general education requirements, the Accelerated Certification in Education Program requires a full calendar year of coursework, plus one complete university semester of full-time student teaching in a variety of approved Idaho public schools. In addition, students will complete approximately 100 hours of course-specific field experience in an approved public school during the program. Field experience placements are determined by the program. A cohort model is used in the program with new cohorts beginning each Fall semester. Admission to the Accelerated Certification in Education Program is provisional until candidates formally pass Checkpoint 1.  Admission to the program requires the following items before the candidate is fully admitted. 

The following are factors in determining acceptance into the program:

• Completion of the general education classes
• Checkpoint 1 Interview
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Grade of B- or better in all education major and liberal arts core courses
• Writing Sample
• Field Experience Reports
• Disposition Assessments

The Accelerated Certification in Education Program will not admit candidates into the teacher preparation program that have:

• Previously been denied an Institutional Recommendation (IR) for teacher certification
• Received a grade in internship or student teaching which resulted in not obtaining an Institutional Recommendation from that institution
• Withdrew, or were removed from, an internship or student teaching experience
• Previously been dismissed from a teacher preparation program

Program Certification Requirements:

To receive an institutional recommendation to the Idaho State Department of Education for an institutional certificate with an endorsement, the candidate must meet the following standards:

1. Completion of all requirements for a baccalaureate degree.
2. Completion of requirements of the educator preparation program in effect at the time of admission to teacher education and any additional requirements if required by changes in the standards of state regulatory agencies.
3. Completion of all education and liberal arts core courses with a grade of B- (2.7) or better.
4. Middle level endorsement courses with a grade of C or better.
5. Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
6. Sufficient score on the PRAXIS Elementary Education Content Knowledge Multiple Subjects test (#5001).
7. Sufficient score on the PRAXIS for the middle level endorsement field.

Completing an Idaho approved teacher education program will enable a candidate to be recommended for certification in other states. Deviations from the teaching major or certification requirements must be authorized by the program director.

• Checkpoint 1: End of First Semester of Professional Education Classes - Admission to Educator Preparation Program
  Application for admission to teacher education should be made during the first semester in the Accelerated Certification in Elementary Education. Decision factors about admission to the program include: oral interview, cumulative GPA (3.0), grade of B- or better in all education and liberal arts core courses, grade of C or better in all middle level endorsement courses, field experience reports, PRAXIS Elementary Education Content Knowledge Multiple Subjects test scores, and disposition assessments. No person convicted of a felony will be admitted to the Educator Preparation Program.
• Checkpoint 2/3: End of Second Semester - Admission to Student Teaching
  Upon completion of the second semester of coursework, candidates' files will be evaluated. Decision factors about proceeding in the Accelerated Certification in Elementary Education include: successful completion of Checkpoint 1 requirements, PRAXIS Middle School content area test scores, cumulative GPA (3.0), grade of B- or better in all education and liberal arts core courses, grade of C or better in all middle level endorsement courses, field experience reports, and disposition assessments. Candidates will not be permitted to student teach without passing all required PRAXIS exams.
• Checkpoint 4: Program Completion and Recommendation for Certification
  Upon completion of student teaching, candidates' performance will be evaluated. Decision factors concerning recommendation for certification include: successful completion of all Checkpoint requirements, achieving a Basic or Proficient level of performance on all 22 elements on the Danielson Framework for Teaching, evaluated by NNU supervisors, receiving a grade of A or B in Student Teaching, and a favorable vote of the Teacher Education Council.

Academic Standing and Dismissal

• Candidates must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher to remain in good standing in the Accelerated Certification in Education. 
• If a candidate drops below a cumulative GPA of 3.0, the candidate will receive a warning letter from the program director and will be placed on academic probation for the duration of one 16-week program semester.  Academic probation includes an academic plan for improvement created collaboratively and signed by the candidate and the program director. 
• If the cumulative GPA at the end of the probationary semester falls below the required 3.0, or if the candidate fails to meet the requirements of the academic improvement plan, the candidate may be academically dismissed from the program.  Candidates are notified of academic dismissal by the program director in writing.
• Candidates must pass all education classes and liberal arts core courses with a grade of B- or better.  Candidates who do not pass a class with a B- or better must re-enroll in the course and pass the class with a B- or better in order for the class to contribute toward graduation/certification requirements.  
• Candidates must complete all middle level endorsement with a grade of C or better.
• Candidates must demonstrate appropriate content knowledge, demonstrated by passing all required Praxis tests. Candidates may take the same Praxis test twice. If the candidate does not pass on the second attempt, the candidate will inform the director and an academic improvement plan will be created collaboratively and signed by the student and the program director. If the candidate fails to meet the requirements of the academic improvement plan, the candidate may be academically dismissed from the program.  Candidates are notified of academic dismissal by the program director in writing.
• Candidates must demonstrate appropriate dispositions for teaching outlined by the program: communication, relationships, social-emotional presence, professional commitment, advocacy, and cognitive processing. Data from dispositions is gathered through Checkpoint interviews, Field Experience teacher evaluations, education department faculty, other faculty, coursework, and student teaching observations. If a candidate demonstrates areas of improvement needed in dispositions, an improvement plan will be created collaboratively and signed by the student and the program director. Candidates may be dismissed from the program based on unfavorable disposition report data if candidates do not demonstrate acceptable levels of improvement in identified areas of deficiency.