Oct 07, 2024  
2024-2025 Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Catalog

Education Studies (with and without teaching license), BA or BS


Entering freshmen at SOU have an opportunity to explore their interests during their freshman and sophomore years while fulfilling the University Studies (general education) requirements. General education and elective course selection in the first 90 credit hours will vary by students’ needs and backgrounds. Certain upper-division courses in the field are restricted to majors. Students are encouraged to meet with an advisor in the Education Department early in their freshman year.

Students should declare an education major at the end of their sophomore or the beginning of their junior year. Students seeking the BA/BS degree along with an initial teaching license must apply and be formally admitted to the licensure track. Applications for licensure coursework are usually submitted during the winter term in the junior year. Admission to this track is competitive. The Education Department notifies students of its decision after reviewing applications. Information about the application process and criteria for admittance is available from individual advisors, from the Education Department website, and from the office coordinator.

The undergraduate Education program has strong partnerships and articulation agreements with RCC and other state and regional community colleges. Community college transfer students who wish to earn a bachelor’s degree in education may apply their previous credits upon acceptance at SOU. Transfer students should seek early advisement in SOU’s Education Department to learn more regarding application and admittance procedures to the education degree and licensure program.

Majors in education take upper-division coursework in their junior and senior years that includes teacher preparation requirements, including content knowledge, pedagogy, and field experiences. The coursework focuses on understanding children in unique stages of development and learning, children and families from diverse backgrounds, multidisciplinary content knowledge and pedagogy, and field experiences in multiple, diverse settings. 

Requirements for the Major


 (Credits shown are SOU credits. Transfer credits may vary.)

1. Fulfill baccalaureate degree requirements.


2. Students must achieve grades of C- or above in all required prerequisite courses taken for the major. 


3. Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.75 in all coursework for the major.


Students must receive a C- or better in all courses in the major.

4. Different Course Requirements depending on license


Course requirements are different in the senior year for students seeking a degree with a preliminary teaching license and those seeking a degree without a license.  (See Pedagogy and Field Experience requirements for licensure and non-licensure.)

5. Demonstrate proficiency in reading, writing, and mathematics before being admitted.


To meet this requirement, students may choose to take the Essential Academic Skills Test (EAST), the California Basic Skills Test (CBEST), or the Praxis I Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST). The NES Elementary Education Test (subtests I and II) can be taken in lieu of the Essential Academic Skills Tests.  The NES Elementary Education Test (subtests I and II) must be passed to receive a teaching license.

Required Core Courses for All Students in Education Studies (69-74 credits)