BSEd in Elementary Education with Emphasis in Elementary Education

Degree Program Description

The Elementary Education program leads to a Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary Education, grades one through six. Coursework focuses on development of the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to support teaching and learning in a variety of diverse settings, and includes elementary methods courses designed to support elementary school teaching and learning in all subject areas. Each semester includes extensive experiences in elementary classrooms working with teachers and children, with immediate opportunities to put course ideas into practice. Placements are carefully chosen to represent schools that represent diverse demographics and populations. The culminating Senior Year On-Site Program (SYOSP) is a unique yearlong internship that gives interns the opportunity to experience all facets of the teaching profession. SYOSP is designed to immerse the interns in the life and culture of a school community and begins with teacher back-to-school meetings and assisting with classroom set-up. Interns are regarded as full-time members of the school faculty and participate in all school events and experiences such as teacher workdays, professional learning communities, and data team meetings. Students will spend a minimum of three full days per week in the schools during the first semester while also completing a full course load that complements the internship. During the second semester, the internship extends to five full days in a single classroom where the SYOSP intern completes the student teaching experience.

Major Program Requirements

Students must complete all university, general education, and content requirements, in addition to the degree requirements.  Please meet with an Academic Advisor to discuss degree requirements and to create a semester plan.

Teacher Education programs in the College of Education & Human Development are accredited by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Curriculum changes mandated to earn teacher certification may become effective at any point during your academic program. Therefore, it is extremely important that you DO NOT SELF ADVISE.

Degree Requirements Sample Program

Cultural Diversity Requirement-Choose one of the following, or a course from the Multicultural Certificate Course List The course must be in addition to major Education and content course requirements (it cannot double dip with any other professional Education course requirement or content course requirement); however, it may count towards a general education requirement.3
Experiencing Cultural Diversity in the United States
Multicultural Study of Children and Families
Multicultural Certificate Course (https://multicultural.missouri.edu/application/course-list/)
Early Experiences
LTC 1100Orientation (Recommended)1
or SPC_ED 1100 Orientation: Special Education
LTC 2200School Health and Student Wellbeing3
ESC_PS 2010Inquiry Into Learning I3
ESC_PS 2014Inquiry into Learning I - Field Experience1
or ESC_PS 2014H Inquiry into Learning I - Field Experience - Honors
LTC 2040Inquiring into Schools, Community and Society I3
or LTC 2040H Inquiring into Schools, Community and Society I - Honors
LTC 2044Inquiry into Schools, Community and Society: Field1
IS_LT 2467Inquiry into Empowering Learners with Technology3
Mid-Level Experiences
LTC 4211Literacy Assessment and Development (Fall)3
LTC 4300Learning and Teaching Elementary Grades Mathematics I (Fall)3
LTC 4194Elementary Education Field Experience I (Fall)3
LTC 4250Music for Children2
LTC 4280Teaching Science in Elementary Schools3
SPC_ED 4020Teaching the Exceptional Learner3
LTC 4221Contexts and Methods for Elementary Reading Instruction (Spring)3
LTC 4310Learning and Teaching Elementary Grades Mathematics II (Spring)3
LTC 4294Elementary Education Field Experience II (Spring)3
LTC 4240Art for Children2
LTC 4260Elementary Social Studies3
LTC 4460Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages3
or LTC 4460H Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages - Honors
Advanced-Level Experiences
ED_LPA 4060Inquiring into Schools, Community and Society II3
SPC_ED 4310Behavioral and Classroom Management3
LTC 4231Contexts and Methods for Writing Instruction3
LTC 4241Diverse Literature for Children and Youth3
LTC 4971Internship and Capstone Seminar (The course is broken up into 3 credit hours and 12 credit hours. Students will take 3 credit hours in one term and take 12 credit hours in the following term.)15
Internship and Capstone Seminar - Honors (Honors students can choose to enroll in 6 credit hours of LTC 4971H and 6 credit hours of LTC 4971 to fulfill 12 credit hour requirement for Internship and Capstone Seminar.)

Back to Top

Semester Plan

Below is a sample plan of study, semester by semester. A student’s actual plan may vary based on course choices and where options are available.

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
LTC 11001LTC 22003
Cultural Diversity Requirement3General Education Math Requirement3
ENGLSH 10003Humanities3
Humanities3American History or Government3
Biological, Physical, or Mathematical Science3Elective3
 13 15
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ESC_PS 2010 or LTC 2040 (Social Science)3ESC_PS 2010 or LTC 2040 (Social Science)3
ESC_PS 2014 or LTC 20441ESC_PS 2014 or LTC 20441
IS_LT 24673Lab Science3
Biological, Physical, Mathematical Science3Social or Behavioral Science3
Humanities3Elective3
Writing Intensive3Elective2
 16 15
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
LTC 42113LTC 42213
LTC 43003LTC 43103
LTC 41943LTC 42943
LTC 4250 or 42402LTC 4240 or 42502
LTC 4280 or 42603LTC 4260 or 42803
SPC_ED 4020 or LTC 44603LTC 4460 or SPC_ED 40203
 17 17
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ED_LPA 40603LTC 497112
SPC_ED 43103 
LTC 42313 
LTC 42413 
LTC 49713 
 15 12
Total Credits: 120

Back to Top

Degree Audit

The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree. 

MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.

Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.

Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.

For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.

Back to Top

Major and Career Exploration

The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.

  • If you are considering a change of major or are exploring multiple majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573)884-9700 or through MU Connect Discovery Center service in you success network.

  • If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring the major

  • If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values and talents, visit the MU Career Center. No Appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.

For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.

Back to Top