2024-25 Catalog

B.S. in Elementary Education

Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education - Planned Launch 2025

School of Public Safety, Legal Studies & Education (CIP #1101312021)

The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Elementary Education degree prepares aspiring teacher candidates for successful careers shaping the next generation of leaders.  This program, designed to layer on top of an Associate in Arts degree, will equip students with the information, skills, and experiences necessary to lead tomorrow’s elementary classrooms. Future teacher candidates in this program will have opportunities to engage in classroom settings while observing and interacting with students, teachers, and school administrators.  Students will learn from highly qualified faculty and highly qualified teacher mentors within their school of placement. During the program, students will gain skills and utilize strategies that will prepare them for addressing the needs of diverse learners.

Upon completion of the Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education program at Valencia College, graduates will be eligible for Florida Elementary Teacher Certification (K-6) and endorsements in Reading (K-12) and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL, K-12). Valencia graduates will be well prepared for employment in Florida public, charter, and private schools as teachers from kindergarten to grade six.

Potential Careers

  • Elementary Education Teacher

Salary and Earnings Information

 For salary and wage information, visit: www.salary.com

Contact Information

For the most up-to-date information, visit valenciacollege.edu/bachelordegrees. 

Your Student Success Coach contact information can be found in Atlas. Log into Atlas, click on the Courses tab, and check your Academic Profile information to find a link to your Coach. 

Application Fee

There is no application fee for this program.

Admission Requirements

  • Associate of Arts degree from a regionally accredited institution.
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher in all postsecondary coursework.
  • Proof of passing scores for at least 2 of the 4 subtests for the Florida Teacher Certification Examination (FTCE) General Knowledge Test (GKT) (please see Additional Program Requirements below).
  • Grade of "C" or better in EDF 2005 (or EDF 1005).
  • District background check for volunteers (please contact the Elementary Education department for information).  Students must pass the criminal background check and may also be subject to a drug screening.  Please see Florida Statute 1012.315 for details regarding disqualifying offenses. Please note, the offenses may prevent program completion and future employment in the field of education.

Program Outcomes

  • Students will apply knowledge of elementary education standards, content, and pedagogy to set goals and meet objectives for K-6 student learning.
  • Students will demonstrate the Florida Educators Accomplished Practices in culturally and linguistically diverse K-6 settings.
  • Students will apply the Uniform Core Curricula (UCC), Florida's Reading and ESOL competencies, and asset-based pedagogical practices in diverse K-6 settings.
  • Students will describe a teacher's legal and ethical obligations to students, the public, and the education profession.
  • Students will apply their knowledge and skills to impact K-6 student learning during their field experiences in culturally and linguistically diverse K-6 settings.

Admission requirements:

  • Associate of Arts degree from a regionally accredited institution.
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher in all postsecondary coursework.
  • Proof of passing scores for at least 2 of the 4 subtests for the Florida Teacher Certification Examination (FTCE) General Knowledge Test (GKT) (please see Additional Program Requirements below).
  • Grade of "C" or better in EDF 2005 (or EDF 1005).
  • District background check for volunteers (please contact the Elementary Education department for information).  Students must pass the criminal background check and may also be subject to a drug screening.  Please see Florida Statute 1012.315 for details regarding disqualifying offenses. Please note, the offenses may prevent program completion and future employment in the field of education.

Students with an A.A. degree

Students who have completed an Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree from a regionally accredited institution must complete:

EDF 2005INTRODUCTION TO THE TEACHING PROFESSION3
Total Credit Hours3

Elementary Education Core Courses

EDG 2413STUDENT-CENTERED CLASSROOM LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS3
EDF 2051TEACHING AND LEARNING THEORY3
RED 3042INTRODUCTION OF READING AND CONTENT FOR K-123
RED 4352DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENT FOR LITERACY3
EDF 2291INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES3
EEX 3084DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION OF EXCEPTIONAL AND DIVERSE STUDENTS3
EDF 3609SOCIAL AND HISTORICAL FOUNDATIONS OF EDUCATION3
TSL 3080ESOL FOUNDATIONS: CULTURE AND LANGUAGE3
TSL 4100ESOL: CURRICULUM, METHODS, AND ASSESSMENT3
SCE 3310TEACHING SCIENCE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL3
SSE 3312TEACHING SOCIAL STUDIES3
LAE 4314TEACHING LANGUAGE ARTS 3
MAE 3310TEACHING MATHEMATICS I 3
SCE 3832SCIENCE CONCEPTS AND PROCEDURES IN THE K-6 CLASSROOM3
MAE 4311TEACHING MATHEMATICS II3
RED 4941CLINICAL FIELD EXPERIENCE IN READING3
EDE 4943STUDENT TEACHING IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION9
EDE 4936SEMINAR IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION3


Additional Program Requirements:

  • Students must pass all four of the General Knowledge Test (GKT) subtests by the end of their first semester in the program.
  • Students must complete all courses with a grade of "C" or better and pass the Professional Education Test and the Elementary Education K-6 subject area examination before enrolling in RED 4940, EDE 4943, and EDE 4936. If certification tests are not passed by scheduled student teaching field experiences start date, or if a student willingly postpones scheduled student teaching field experiences, successful completion of a Senior Student Teaching Extension Plan (SSTEP) will be required to enroll in senior student teaching field experiences for the subsequent semester. The SSTEP will be approved by Elementary Education department and will be designed to support students with a timeline and resources to pass the required Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) or to address specific student needs.
  • Students must complete RED 4940, EDE 4943, and EDE 4936 successfully with a grade of "C" or better, and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better.

Graduation Requirements

  • In addition to completing the course requirements detailed in the curriculum in order to graduate, students must:
  • Earn a minimum 2.0 Valencia College and Overall GPA.
  • Complete all Core course work with a minimum grade of C (2.0) in all courses.
  • Satisfy Valencia’s 36 credit hour General Education requirements and Gordon Rule requirements unless you hold an Associate in Arts or Bachelor’s degree or have completed the entire general education program at a regionally accredited institution.

  • Satisfy the civic literacy requirement. As per Florida Rule 6A-10.04213, prior to the award of an associate in arts or baccalaureate degree, students initially entering a Florida College System institution in the 2021-22 school year*, and thereafter must demonstrate competency in civic literacy prior to graduation by:
    a. receiving a passing score on the Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FCLE), and
    b. successful completion of one of the following:

    • successfully passing POS 2041 U.S. GOVERNMENT, or AMH 2010 UNITED STATES HISTORY TO 1877 or AMH 2020 U.S. HISTORY 1877 TO PRESENT or

    • successfully passing a prescribed assessment:
      AP Government & Politics: United States Test** (passing score =3), or
      AP United States History Test** (passing score = 4), or
      CLEP American Government** (passing score = 50)
      CLEP History of the United States I** (passing score = 50)

    • *The Department of Education has provided guidance that the Civic Literacy requirement is based on the student's governing catalog year (e.g., it is for all students who have a catalog year of Fall 2021 or after even if they had previously attended a Florida public institution).
      **receiving a passing score will satisfy both the FCLE and course requirements.

  • Complete at least 25% of the 120 credit hour degree program (30 credits) at Valencia College, based upon the Florida College System's requirement of a 2+2 admission into the baccalaureate program.  Fifteen of those hours must be 3000 or 4000 level courses from the program course list.
  • Submit an application for graduation through Atlas by the deadline date listed in the Academic Calendar in the online official catalog.  The student must have at least the minimum number of college-level credits for the degree, including all courses currently registered, in order to submit a graduation application.
  • Fulfill all financial obligations to Valencia College.
  • Foreign Language: Successfully complete the Florida foreign language requirement: two years high school or one year of college (at least eight credits) in a single foreign language. American Sign Language is acceptable. Foreign language taken at the college level does not satisfy the General Education credits.

Total Semester Credits required – 120 credit hours in addition to completing the Foreign Language Requirement above.  The credit courses required may vary depending on the credits the student brings to the BS program.  Additional courses to complete the required 120 credit hours for graduation must apply to the degree and be approved by an advisor.