The BA program in Education with a concentration in Elementary Education prepares students to work with children, grades K-8, in an educational setting. This program leads to K-8 elementary education certification in the state of Arizona.
Students receive a firm grounding in academic content with current research and best practices from nationally recognized faculty in their fields of expertise, accompanied by professional experiences. This program also provides extensive experience in integrating technology into teaching practices.
The teacher certification program for elementary education is clinically embedded during both the junior and senior years. Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College students complete internships during their junior year and a full-time, year-long apprenticeship, known as their senior year residency, in K-8 classrooms. Coursework is designed to support the development of instructional competencies, professional skills and content knowledge. Coursework is complemented by professional experiences which provide interns and teacher candidates opportunities to apply and reflect upon their knowledge and skills in teaming and collaborative models. Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College faculty and highly qualified mentor teachers from partner school districts and charter schools work in collaboration to support professional growth aligned to each student's personal goals. Additionally, the professional experience pathway provides students an opportunity to work directly with children and make an immediate impact on student achievement. This intensive, hands-on professional experience model of teacher preparation creates highly sought-after graduates and is unmatched in Arizona.
Graduates are recommended for grades K-8 elementary teacher certification. Those desiring to teach in a public school must pass the appropriate Arizona educator exams (National Evaluation Series or Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments) to be certified to teach in the state of Arizona.
