BA in Elementary Education K-6

Program Advisor:
Dr. Linnea Weiland
Phone: X2331
Email: weilandl@wpunj.edu

Education Advisor: Assigned upon declaration of the major.

Program Description:

The K-6 major is a thirty (30) credit sequence of courses that qualifies candidates to become eligible for certification as a teacher from kindergarten through grade six (K-6). In addition to general education requirements (University Core Curriculum), students must also take an appropriate academic major. The purpose of the program is to prepare preservice candidates for teaching in K-6 elementary schools.

Optional Endorsements:

View Requirements and Course Descriptions: Elementary Education, BA

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Steps to matriculation in the Undergraduate K-6 Elementary Major:

  • Enroll as an elementary education major and as an appropriate liberal arts or sciences major as indicated by the state.
  • Complete required bilingual, multicultural, and child development courses with at least a C grade.
  • Pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators exams (#5751) (X2139).
  • Successfully complete the required interview process.
  • Obtain a NJ Substitute Teaching License.
  • Achieve a cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher.
  • Complete required math courses before the clinical experience (3rd) semester.
  • Complete two science courses before the clinical experience semester.
  • Complete two history courses, one of them American History, before the clinical experience semester.
  • The PRAXIS Subject Assessment (formerly the Praxis II) exam in Elementary Education Multiple Subjects. Content Knowledge must be taken before Clinical Practice I and successfully passed before entering Clinical Practice II.

Please Note: No more than one additional course may be taken during clinical practice.

Exit Requirements:

  • Complete program requirements successfully.
  • A cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 and a GPA of at least 3.0 in education courses on a 4.0 scale.

View Requirements and Course Descriptions: Elementary Education, BA

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The Praxis Subject Assessment (formerly Praxis II) for Elementary Content Knowledge required for certification in New Jersey as of September 1, 2014 is #5001, Elementary Content Knowledge, Multiple Subjects Test. Passing the appropriate Praxis II is required before you can student teach. It is advised to take the Praxis Subject Assessment exam as soon as your UCC courses are completed so the content information is still freshest. Also, taking it early in your education sequence of courses gives you an opportunity to retake the whole test or any of the four sections if you do not pass.

If you passed the previously approved test before September 1, 2014, you do not need to take the new exam. However, New Jersey is not accepting scores on the old test for those who take Praxis II after September 1, 2014. The link below has the schedule for upcoming tests. It shows that both the old and the new (5001) are available for registration at Educational Testing Services (ETS). Be careful to register for the #5001 test.

http://www.ets.org/praxis/register/centers_dates/computer