Online Bachelor of Science in Education: Elementary Education: Competitive
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Program Information Admission Criteria Semester Schedule Frequently Asked Questions Application Requirements Application
Technical Requirements
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| ***Fort Hays State University is now accepting applications for students to begin the competitive online program in Spring 2008*** |
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Program Information (top) |
Prepares candidates to apply for K-6 teacher licensure in the state of Kansas in elementary education with a minor in special education.
The Fort Hays State University's Online Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education program is designed to help candidates with previous college experience complete their degrees and enter the rewarding field of education.
The online Bachelor of Science in Education program offers candidates the opportunity to pursue teacher licensure in Kansas in the following areas:
- Elementary Education (K-6)
- Endorsement in Special Education: Adaptive (K-6)
Our Bachelor of Science program is approved by the Kansas Board of Regents. The elementary education program with a minor in special education K-6 has been approved by the Kansas State Department of Education and meets other licensure requirements. Candidates who complete the program are recommended for Kansas teacher licensure K-6. In most cases, Kansas' rigorous licensure guidelines provide for a smooth transition of licensure to other states.
The Fort Hays State University Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education may be obtained through several formats: on campus, IPTV, online, and through the competitive cohort online format.
PREFERENCE WILL BE GIVEN TO THOSE FROM KANSAS WHO INTEND TO TEACH IN KANSAS
Curriculum
This program is cohort-based, meaning candidates will move through the education courses with the same group of people. This is a great way to build trust and common understanding and has been shown to greatly increase student retention and success. Candidates will take education courses exactly as prescribed below.
Candidates enter as a cohort in either the fall or spring and progress through the education course sequence together over a 3 year period.
Each cohort will be assigned the same advisor. The advisor will work with the cohort to evaluate transfer credits and help students get started on content courses. This program consists of 88 credits once the student has met the application requirements.
Student Teaching and Internships
The Elementary Education Program requires students to complete 15 weeks of full-day student teaching and an additional 150 hours of in-school pre-student teaching internships.
Program of Study
The chart below details the required education courses for each term. Candidates may not take extra education courses in any semester; taking more than the recommended number of courses will not enable candidates to graduate in fewer than three years.
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Online Bachelor of Science in Education: Elementary Education
(with a Minor in Special Education)
(Competitive Program of Study)
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Course Rotation
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| Semester 1 |
Credit Hours |
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Online Intro |
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1 |
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EAC 202 Foundation of Education |
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3 |
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TEEL 273 Professional Practice and Observation |
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2 |
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TEEL 260 Children's Literature |
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3 |
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EAC 231 Human Growth and Development |
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3 |
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Total |
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12 |
| Teacher Education Acceptance (Application should be submitted to the Licensure Specialist during the first semester) |
| Semester 2 |
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TEEL 230 Diverse Learners |
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3 |
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TECS 290 Introduction to Instructional Technology |
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3 |
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SPED 601 Education Exceptional Students |
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3 |
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HHP 315 Health & Physical Ed Methods & Curriculum for Elementary Educators |
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3 |
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Total |
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12 |
| Semester 3 |
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TEEL 350 Curriculum and Assessment |
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3 |
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SPED 370 Technology Applications in Special Ed |
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3 |
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MUS 366 Elementary School Music |
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2 |
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SPED 330 Behavior Strategies & Support |
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3 |
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ART 300 Elementary Art Methods |
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2 |
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Total |
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12 |
| Semester 4 |
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TEEL 365 Reading and Language Arts Methods |
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4 |
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TEEL 378 Internship 2 |
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1 |
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TEEL 362 Mathematics and Science Methods |
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4 |
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TEEL 478 Internship 3 |
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1 |
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Integrative Course |
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3 |
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Total |
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13 |
| Semester 5 |
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TEEL 363 Elementary School Social Studies Methods |
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3 |
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TEEL 377 Internship 1 |
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1 |
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TEEL 480 Correction of Reading Disabilities Internship |
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3 |
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TEEL 481 Correction of Reading Disabilities |
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3 |
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TEEL 431 Educational Psychology |
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3 |
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Total |
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11 |
| Semester 6 |
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TEEL 495 The Elementary School |
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3 |
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TEEL 496 Directed Teaching |
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6 |
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SPED 495 Directed Teaching |
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6 |
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Optional Research |
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1 |
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Total |
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15 (16) |
| Summer 1 |
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IDS 350 Multiculturalism in the United States |
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3 |
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SPED 320 Programs, Procedures & Issues in Special Ed |
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3 |
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Total |
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6 |
| Summer 2 |
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SPED 350 Assessment in Special Ed |
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3 |
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SPED 360 Principals of Instruction in Special Ed |
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3 |
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Total |
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6 |
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| Admissions Criteria(top) |
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This program consists of 136 semester credits. The final 88 hours of credit for the program must be taken at Fort Hays State University.
Official transcripts are sent to the FHSU Registrar's Office. A degree analyst conducts official transfer credit reviews. To have your transcripts reviewed, you will need: |
- Official transcripts from each college or university you attended
- A completed application for admission to FHSU
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New students can start the program two times per year: fall semester and spring semester.
Online classes have limited space so apply early to ensure availability on your preferred start date. Only those students meeting the minimum qualifications will start through a cohort group. |
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| Frequently Asked Questions: Bachelor of Science in Education -- Online Competitive (top) |
| Is this a part time program? |
| No. The program of study requires full-time semesters of coursework. |
| How long will it take to finish my degree? |
| After admission requirements are met, it will take 3 years to progress through the program of study. |
| What is a cohort? |
| A cohort is a group of students who enter a program at the same time and progress through it together. Studies have shown that cohort-based programs, particularly for distance education, result in higher retention and better student success. |
| Do I have to take the Praxis I before I can start the program? |
| Yes. The Praxis I exam, which involves the PPST or scores of 22 or above on the ACT subjects of Reading, English, and Mathematics must be successfully completed prior to acceptance into the program. You will have to pass the Praxis I requirements prior to being considered for the program. Verification must be sent to FHSU by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). You must request this when you register for the exam. Candidates who hold a bachelors degree are exempt from the Praxis I requirements. |
| I have a Bachelor's Degree already but it's not in education. Is this the program I should pursue to become a teacher? |
| It could be. You must meet the admission requirements. The courses that you must take for the program are courses for an elementary education degree with a minor in special education. |
| Are online students eligible for financial aid? |
| Yes! There are a number of different kinds of aid (federal grants and loans, state grants, etc.) for which you may be eligible, depending on your financial situation. |
| What kind of computer will I need? |
| It is strongly recommended that students in this program own their own computer. FHSU recommends a Tablet PC. Success will depend on reliable, consistent access to a computer, preferably with high speed internet access, which can be configured as required by online courses. |
| What software will I need? |
| You will need to obtain Microsoft Office for use while you are an FHSU student. |
| What other Technology Resources are needed? |
| How do I know what transfer credits I'll get? |
| Upon acceptance to FHSU, your official transcripts(s) will be evaluated by a degree analyst who will provide you with a list of transfer credits you'll receive and the specific program requirements they satisfy. |
| What is an internship? |
| An internship is a 40 clock hour field experience in a K-6 elementary school that is a co-requisite to one of the three methods courses you will be taking. |
| What is student teaching and how does it work? |
| Student Teaching for the program requires the candidate to spend 5 days per week for 15 weeks with a cooperating teacher in an appropriate elementary (K-6) setting. The candidate will spend 7 1/2 weeks with an elementary teacher and 7 1/2 weeks with an adaptive special education teacher. It is expected that your cooperating teachers will be master teachers. The college of Education and Technology will work with you to arrange a school-based, field placement in the area where you live or work. Once an acceptable site is found, FHSU will work with the school's principal and cooperating teachers regarding meeting the course's objectives/goals. |
| I don't live near Hays. How do I find internship and student teaching placements? |
| We know online students live in lots of places other than Hays. Don't worry; the coordinator of field experiences and internship supervisor from FHSU Education will work with you to find an appropriate site in the area where you live and work. Observations by supervisors will utilize web cam and internet capabilities and/or video taping of teaching episodes. |
| Will I be automatically certified as a teacher after I complete the program? |
| Upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Science online Elementary Education program and passing the Praxis exams (PLT and Content exams), FHSU will recommend you to the Kansas Department of Education, which issues teacher licenses. |
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| Technical Requirements (top) |
Students need particular hardware and software to successfully participate in our online programs. They also need certain computer skills and knowledge to install, configure, and operate the hardware and software.
The sections below list minimum computer hardware and software requirements. Wherever possible, we avoid changing requirements for existing students, but please note that students with a minimum hardware or software may need to make some upgrades before they complete the degree program. |
| Computer Hardware |
| Students must have access to a computer that has the following minimum configuration: |
- Processor: 800 MHz or more
- RAM: 256 MB (Megabytes) or more
- Disk: 2 GB free space
- CD-ROM
- Modem: 56 K BPS (High speed internet is highly recommended)
- Monitor: 800 x 600 resolution, 16 bit color
- System: Windows 2000 or XP
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Computer Software |
| The following set of software programs are required: |
- MS Office 2000 or later
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 SP1 or Netscape Navigator 7.1 or higher.
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Note: While most Web browsers should work, students report fewer problems with Internet Explorer. |
Other software may be required for particular courses.
All software must be installed and operational one week before classes begin.
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Internet Connectivity |
Students will need access to the Internet to connect to the FHSU online courses.
We strongly advise that students sign up with an Internet Service Provider (ISP) immediately after being accepted to the program.
Note: Students find that certain ISP's including America Online (AOL) and free ISP's that display ads are less usable for online courses.
Thank you for your interest in Fort Hays State University's online undergraduate Elementary Education program!
Your decision to apply to Fort Hays State University is a step toward the best preparation you can make for a teaching career. We invite and encourage you to learn as much as possible about Fort Hays State University - our traditions and our reputation for academic excellence. Our enrollment staff is eager to help answer any questions you have regarding the University, requirements for admission, the application process, or financing the cost of a Fort Hays State University education. |
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| Application Requirements (top) |
* These Requirements can be modified on a case by case basis. If you have any questions regarding your application situation please feel free to e-mail the Department of Teacher Education at teachered@fhsu.edu or phone us at (785) 628-4204
- Be accepted to FHSU as an undergraduate students
- complete all course work leading up to the competitive program of study
- complete the required background check
- Successfully complete the required PPST or ACT scores for Reading, Writing, and Mathematics and provide official verification of those scores to FHSU
- Have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale
- Complete these general education classes with a "C" or higher:
- English Composition I and II
- Fund. of Oral Communication
- College Algebra
- Elements of Statistics
- Complete these education courses with grade of "C" or higher:
- Foundations of Education
- Human Growth and Development
- Early Field Experience (Secondary Education)
- Children's Literature (Elementary Education)
- Professional Practice and Observation (Elementary Education)
- More information on Teacher Education requirements
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