The Elementary Education Concentration within Bushnell University’s Teacher Education program equips aspiring educators with the knowledge, skills, and field-based experiences needed to teach at the elementary level. Rooted in a foundation of diversity, developmental theory, and evidence-based instructional practices, this concentration prepares students to create inclusive and engaging classroom environments. Students gain expertise across multiple subjects—literacy, math, science, social studies, physical education, and the arts—while integrating technology and Christian faith into their teaching philosophy. Students in this concentration complete 13 credits.

Prerequisites:
Before enrolling in the Teacher Education program, students must complete the following introductory courses and admission steps:

• EDUC 210 School Diversity (also satisfies core Social Science or Diversity requirement)

• EDUC 230 Technology for Teaching and Learning (includes school-based service learning)

• PSY 200 General Psychology

• MATH 105 Introduction to College Mathematics or higher

• MATH 211 Mathematics for Elementary Teachers

• MATH 212 Mathematics for Elementary Teachers

Admission to the Teacher Education Program also requires:

1. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75

2. Official transcripts of all undergraduate coursework

3. A 2–3 page Statement of Purpose

4. One letter of recommendation and two disposition assessments

5. A personal interview with the Admissions Committee

Concentration Requirements (13 credits):

• EDUC 330 Child Development (3)

• EDUC 340 Elementary Literacy Methods & Children’s Literature (3)

• EDUC 350 Elementary Math & Science Methods (3)

• EDUC 420 P.E. & Health Methods (2)

• EDUC 430 Visual Arts & Social Studies Methods (2)

Bushnell University’s Secondary Education Concentration prepares students to teach in middle and high school classrooms by blending foundational educational theory with practical, real-world classroom experience. Designed for students pursuing a subject-specific endorsement—such as English, Social Studies, Science, Math, Health, Physical Education, or Spanish—this concentration complements content-area coursework with targeted training in adolescent development, instructional strategies, and classroom literacy. Students in this concentration complete nine credits in addition to their content endorsement classes.

Prerequisites:
Before enrolling in the Teacher Education program, students must complete the following introductory courses and admission steps:

• EDUC 210 School Diversity (also satisfies core Social Science or Diversity requirement)

• EDUC 230 Technology for Teaching and Learning (includes school-based service learning)

• PSY 200 General Psychology

• MATH 105 Introduction to College Mathematics or higher

• MATH 211 & MATH 212 (required unless earning a non-math endorsement)

Admission to the Teacher Education Program also requires:

1. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75

2. Official transcripts of all undergraduate coursework

3. A 2–3 page Statement of Purpose

4. One letter of recommendation and two disposition assessments

5. A personal interview with the Admissions Committee

Concentration Requirements (9 credits):

• EDUC 360 Literacy Methods for All Content Areas (2)

• EDUC 370 Adolescent Learners (3)

• Choose two of the following methods courses (4 total credits):

  • EDUC 324 Secondary Health Methods

  • EDUC 362 Secondary Language Arts Methods

  • EDUC 366 Secondary Science Methods

  • EDUC 367 Secondary Math Methods

  • EDUC 368 Secondary Social Studies Methods

  • PHED 429 PE Methods for All Grades

  • SPAN 470 Teaching World Language Methods

Students pursuing licensure for middle or high school teaching must select at least one of the following subject-area endorsements. Each endorsement equips future educators with in-depth content knowledge and subject-matter mastery. Endorsements typically range from 15 to 24 credits.

Advanced Mathematics (19 credits)

• MATH 130 Precalculus (3)

• MATH 331 Topics in Discrete Mathematics (3)

• MATH 251 Calculus I (4)

• MATH 252 Calculus II (4) [Optional]

• MATH 315 Applied Statistics (3)

• MATH 320 Linear Algebra (3)

• MATH 460 Mathematical Proofs and Reasoning (3)

Basic Mathematics (15 credits)

• MATH 105 Introduction to College Mathematics (3)

• MATH 130 Precalculus (3)

• MATH 211 Mathematics for Elementary Teachers I (3)

• MATH 212 Mathematics for Elementary Teachers II (3)

• MATH 331 Topics in Discrete Mathematics (3)

Health (22 credits)

• NUTR 220 Nutrition (4)

• EXSC 210 Functional Anatomy and Physiology (3)

• EXSC 311 Kinesiology (3)

• EXSC 330 Health Methods for the Exercise Science Professional (3)

• PSY 211 Cross-Cultural Psychology (3)

• PSY 370 Cognition (3)

• PSY 390 Behavioral Neuroscience (3)

Integrated Science (22 credits)

• BIOL 111/111L Principles of Living Organisms (4)

• BIOL 112/112L Principles of Biodiversity (4)

• CHEM 121/121L General Chemistry (5)

• PHYS 201/201L Introduction to Mechanics (5)

• PHYS 202/202L Introduction to Electromagnetism (4)

Language Arts (21 credits)

• ENG 201 Introduction to Literature (3)

• ENG 211 Survey of American Literature (3)

• ENG 212 Survey of British Literature (3)

• ENG 340 World Literature (3)

• ENG 345 Multiethnic American Literature (3)

• ESOL 415 English Grammar and Syntax (3)

• Any ENG upper-division elective (3)

Social Studies (21 credits)

• Choose 3 credits from:

  • ANTH 210 Cultural Anthropology

  • SOC 200 Introduction to Sociology

• Choose 3 credits from:

  • ECON 201 Microeconomics

  • ECON 202 Macroeconomics

• GEOG 210 Cultural Geography (3)

• HIST 370 Ancient Near East (3)

• HIST 340 Race, Ethnicity, and Gender in American Culture (3)

• HIST 430 History of American International Relations (3)

• Choose 3 credits from:

  • HIST 151 History of Western Civilization I

  • HIST 152 History of Western Civilization II

  • HIST 161 World History I

  • HIST 162 World History II

World Languages: Spanish (24 credits)

• HIST 440 Latin American Civilization (3)

• SPAN 201 Second-Year Spanish I (3)

• SPAN 202 Second-Year Spanish II (3)

• SPAN 310 Advanced Spanish Conversation and Composition (3)

• SPAN 315 Introduction to Spanish Literature (3)

• SPAN 350 Spanish Vocabulary and Usage (3)

• SPAN 420 Spanish Translation and Interpreting (3)

• SPAN 470 Teaching World Language Methods (3)

Specialty endorsements equip educators to work with specific populations or in specialized instructional settings. These can be added to an initial license and often pair with elementary or secondary endorsements.

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) – 14 credits

• EDUC 485 ESOL Practicum (2)

• ESOL 310 Second Language Acquisition and Applied Linguistics (3)

• ESOL 415 English Grammar and Syntax (3)

• ESOL 420 ESOL Theory, Methods, and Assessment I (3)

• ESOL 425 ESOL Theory, Methods, and Assessment II (3)

Multiple Subject Elementary

(Completed as part of the Elementary Education major)

Physical Education – 8 credits

• PHED 383 Introduction to Movement (2)

• PHED 384 Adaptive Physical Education (2)

• PHED 429 P.E. Methods for All Grades (2)

• PHED 485 Physical Education Practicum (2)

Special Education – 18 credits

• SPED 301 Foundations of Special Education I (1)

• SPED 302 Foundations of Special Education II (1)

• SPED 303 Foundations of Special Education III (1)

• SPED 310 Interventions for Accessibility and Functional Skills (2)

• SPED 320 Assessment and Evaluation in Special Education (2)

• SPED 330 Advanced Classroom and Behavior Management (2)

• SPED 340 Special Education History and Current Issues (2)

• SPED 350 Academic Instructional Supports and Universal Design for Learning (2)

• SPED 395 Special Education Field Experience I (1)

• SPED 396 Special Education Field Experience II (1)

• SPED 495 Special Education Field Experience III (3)