B.S.E.D in Elementary Education

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.E.D.) in Elementary Education (K-6) at Mississippi College is a comprehensive and professionally-focused program designed to prepare highly skilled and marketable educators for elementary school settings. This program goes beyond theoretical knowledge, emphasizing extensive field-based practicum experiences every semester, ensuring students gain practical, hands-on experience in diverse school environments. Graduates not only earn initial Mississippi Educator licensure for grades K-6 but are also prepared to earn a minimum of two endorsements, significantly enhancing their marketability. The program is built upon a framework aligned with standards from the Mississippi Department of Education, the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC), and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), ensuring a high-quality, relevant education.

CAEP-Accredited: Mississippi College's educator licensure programs, including the B.S.E.D. in Elementary Education, hold full accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). This national accreditation, granted in April 2021 with the next site review scheduled for Fall 2027, signifies that Mississippi College meets CAEP's rigorous national standards for educator preparation. This includes adherence to standards concerning content and pedagogy, clinical partnerships and practice, candidate recruitment and support, program impact, quality assurance, and continuous improvement. CAEP accreditation is a crucial indicator of program quality and ensures that graduates meet high professional standards, which is often a requirement for licensure and employment in many states.

Curriculum: The B.S.E.D. in Elementary Education curriculum at Mississippi College is structured to provide a strong liberal arts background integrated with specialized knowledge for teaching. The program encompasses a university core, interdisciplinary requirements, and specific professional education courses. Key areas of study include foundations of education, child development, educational psychology, curriculum design, instructional strategies, and classroom management. A significant component of the curriculum involves a sequence of carefully planned practicums, beginning with observations and one-on-one work with K-6 students, progressing to working with small and whole groups, and culminating in full-time student teaching internships in diverse school settings. Students are prepared for the PRAXIS II exam, a critical component for licensure, and gain skills in evidence-based instruction and reading intervention. The curriculum emphasizes working with students from diverse cultural backgrounds and experiencing various teaching, learning, and behavior styles.

Research Focus: While the primary focus of the B.S.E.D. in Elementary Education is on practical teaching skills and preparation for licensure, the program integrates research-based practices throughout its curriculum. Students learn to apply evidence-based instruction and assessment techniques, grounded in current scientific research on cognition, learning, and teaching. Faculty, who are committed to providing challenging experiences, guide teacher candidates in observing and working with diverse students, translating abstract theories and research into concrete classroom activities. Although not a research-intensive degree in the traditional sense of conducting original empirical research, students are expected to critically evaluate and apply educational research to improve their teaching effectiveness and enhance student achievement. The curriculum's framework is informed by national standards and best practices, which are themselves products of extensive educational research.

Industry Engagement: Mississippi College's Elementary Education program boasts strong industry engagement, primarily through its extensive field-based experiences and practicums. Students accumulate a substantial number of field-based instruction hours (over 840 hours), working directly with K-6 students in diverse school settings every semester. This consistent engagement with real classrooms and experienced mentor teachers provides invaluable practical experience and fosters strong connections within the educational community. The program's commitment to "high quality, evidence-based instruction" directly aligns with the needs and expectations of schools and school districts. Career Services at Mississippi College actively connects education majors with employment opportunities, with K-12 education being a top employment industry for MC graduates. The program's emphasis on preparing students for Mississippi licensure and the PRAXIS exams also ensures direct alignment with industry entry requirements.

Global Perspective: Mississippi College maintains a commitment to fostering a global perspective within its educational environment, partially evidenced by its diverse international student population and the support offered through the Office of Global Education. While the B.S.E.D. in Elementary Education curriculum may not feature explicit global studies courses, the program inherently addresses a global perspective through its emphasis on teaching diverse student populations. Teacher candidates learn how to work effectively with students from many culturally diverse communities, and their field experiences expose them to a variety of teaching, learning, and behavior styles that reflect a multicultural society. The InTASC standards, which guide the program, include a focus on understanding individual differences and diverse cultures and communities to ensure inclusive learning environments. This prepares future educators to create welcoming and effective classrooms for students from all backgrounds, reflecting the increasingly globalized nature of modern societies.