Teacher Education | Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (Building Essential Skills Together – BEST)
The Building Essential Skills Together [BEST] program is a pilot program approved by the Kansas Department of Education. At this time admission is limited - Contact the teacher education department for more information.
Program Summary
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | 34 | |
| Cognate | ||
| Statistics | 3 | |
| Required Courses | ||
| Professional Studies & Major Courses (Non-restricted) | 30 | |
| Major Courses (Restricted to program admits) | 48 | |
| Student Teaching (Restricted to program admits) | 12 | |
| Open Electives 1 | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 130 | |
Students are encouraged to apply TEEL 231 Human Growth and Development to the Social and behavioral Sciences area. This will result in 6 hours of open electives.
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Open electives are the credit hours required to reach a minimum of 120 total hours and 45 upper division hours. The number listed assumes all courses are completed at FHSU as listed. This number may vary if students transfer courses, or have individual substitutions allowed. Students should speak with their advisor if either situation applies to determine if the number will vary, and to ensure they enroll in a minimum of 45 upper division hours.
Students entering within 1 year of high school graduation will take UNIV 101 Freshman Seminar and may apply that hour in the open elective category.
Program Requirements
General Education
All undergraduate degrees require completion of the Kansas Systemwide General Education.
Courses identified with GE on this page may satisfy a general education requirement in addition to the identified degree requirement. Students who apply a degree requirement to satisfy a general education requirement will typically add an equal number of hours to the university elective category. This flexibility may allow you to complete a minor or certificate within the 120 hour degree. Transfer students are especially encouraged to select these courses in completing General Education requirements to maximize the likelihood of completing the degree with 120 credit hours.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | 34-35 | |
Effective in Fall 2025 the math pathway course identified below is required for this degree.
The General Education Math Pathways course identified for this major is MATH 101 Contemporary Mathematics . All students pursuing this degree program will be required to complete this course or the corequisite support course. Students who place into a higher level math course may be able to satisfy this requirement; consult with your Academic Advisor for additional information.
Placement measures for MATH 101 Contemporary Mathematics include:
- Math ACT: 19 or higher OR
- Math SAT: 510 or higher OR
- ALEKS PPL: 30 or higher OR
- Accuplacer QAS: 255 or higher OR
- HS GPA and Course Grade: 3.00 cumulative GPA (unweighted) and C- or higher in Second Semester Algebra 2 or Integrated Math 3 OR
- Institutional Measure
Students who do not meet any of the placement measures listed above will need to register for the corequisite support course: MATH 100 Contemporary Mathematics with Review. Credit for the corequisite support course will satisfy any requirement for the pathway course listed above.
Program Admission Requirements & General Education Courses
To earn an undergraduate degree at FHSU, you must complete 34 hours of General Education coursework. For the Elementary Education degree the following classes typically applied to the general education requirements must be completed with the specified grade for admission to the teacher education program, these include:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| COMM 100 | Fundamentals of Oral Communication (Grade B) GE | 3 |
| ENG 101 | English Composition I (Grade C) GE | 3 |
| ENG 102 | English Composition II (Grade B) GE | 3 |
| MATH 101 | Contemporary Mathematics (Grade C) GE | 3 |
| or MATH 100 | Contemporary Mathematics with Review | |
| or MATH 110 | College Algebra | |
| or MATH 105 | College Algebra with Review | |
| MATH 110 | College Algebra (Grade C) GE | 3 |
| or MATH 105 | College Algebra with Review | |
| MATH 250 | Elements of Statistics (Grade C) GE | 3 |
| or MATH 245 | Elements of Statistics with Review | |
For a current list of all teacher education admission requirements check out the programs website.
In addition to the courses above required as program admission requirements, TEEL 231 Human Growth and Development and MUS 366 Elementary School Music from the program courses can be applied to general education requirements.
"Non-restricted" courses below are open to Teacher Education majors who have not yet been admitted to the Teacher Education program (some prerequisites apply).
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Studies & Major Courses (Non-restricted) | ||
| ART 300 | Elementary Art Methods (Grade C) | 2 |
| MATH 180 | Concepts of Elementary Mathematics (Grade C) | 3 |
| TECS 301 | Introduction to Instructional Technology (Grade C) | 3 |
| TEEL 202 | Foundations of Education (Grade C) 1 | 3 |
| TEEL 231 | Human Growth and Development (Grade C) 1, GE | 3 |
| TEEL 260 | Children's Literature (Grade C) 1 | 3 |
| TEEL 340 | Classroom Management (Grade C) | 3 |
| TESP 302 | Educating Students with Exceptionalities (Grade C) | 3 |
| TESP 320 | Programs, Procedures & Issues in Special Ed (Grade C) | 3 |
| TESP 325 | Technology Applications in Special Education | 2 |
| Total Hours | 28 | |
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Must complete course before applying to Teacher Education.
Admission to Teacher Education is a prerequisite for "Restricted" courses. You're also required to complete General Education courses, and Teacher Education Program admission requirements include several courses that can satisfy General Education requirements. Students wishing to complete their degree as efficiently as possible are advised to choose these classes in their General Education choices.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Courses (Restricted) | ||
| TEEL 365 | Science of Reading I (Grade C) | 4 |
| TEEL 378 | Science of Reading I Internship (Grade C) | 1 |
| TEEL 471 | Institute in Education I (Integrated Elementary Methods I) | 6 |
| TEEL 476 | Apprenticeship in Education I (Mentoring Seminar/Internship I) | 3 |
| TEEL 481 | Science of Reading II (Grade C) | 3 |
| TEEL 482 | Science of Reading II Internship | 1 |
| TEEL 607 | Education Conference (Integrated Elementary Methods II) | 6 |
| TEEL 673 | Problems in Education I (Mentoring Seminar/Internship II) | 3 |
| TEEL 674 | Institute in Education II (ntegrated Elementary Methods III) | 8 |
| TEEL 678 | Field Experience II (Mentoring Seminar/Internship III) | 3 |
| TEEL 689 | Problems in Education 2 (Mentoring Seminar/Internship IV) | 1 |
| TESP 330 | Behavior Strategies & Support | 3 |
| TESP 350 | Assessment in Special Education | 3 |
| TESP 360 | Principles of Instruction in Special Education PreK - Grade 6 | 3 |
| Total Hours | 48 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Student Teaching (Restricted) | ||
| TEEL 675 | Seminar in Education I (Grade C) | 1 |
| TEEL 679 | Practicum in Education I (Grade C) | 8 |
| TESP 679 | Practicum Special Education (Grade C) | 3 |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
- All program courses must be completed with a C or better
- Program requires a 2.75 GPA (higher program required GPA prevails over the university level requirement listed below).
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All bachelor degrees require: | ||
| GPA of 2.0 on FHSU courses & 2.0 on all coursework (Higher program requirements prevail over the 2.0 when set) | ||
| A minimum of 30 hours earned from FHSU with a grade of D, C, B, or A | ||
| Successful completion of an upper division Writing and Information Literacy course (Most majors contain a course designated) | ||
| A minimum of 45 hours of recognized upper division credit | ||
| A minimum of 120 hours of recognized college credit | ||
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | |
| MATH 101 or MATH 100 |
Contemporary Mathematics (Math Pathway Gateway Course: SGE030 - Math and Statistics Discipline Area - Required Grade: C) or Contemporary Mathematics with Review |
3 |
| ENG 101 | English Composition I (SGE010 - English Discipline Area - Required Grade: C) | 3 |
| COMM 100 | Fundamentals of Oral Communication (SGE020 - Communication Discipline Area - Required Grade: C) | 3 |
| UNIV 101 | Freshman Seminar | 1 |
| TEEL 202 | Foundations of Education (Required Grade: C) | 3 |
| SGE050 - Social and Behavioral Sciences Discipline Area | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| SGE070 - Institutionally Designated Area: Personal and Professional Development | 3 | |
| SGE040 - Natural and Physical Science Discipline Area | 4 | |
| ENG 102 | English Composition II (SGE010 - English Discipline Area - Required Grade: B) | 3 |
| TEEL 231 | Human Growth and Development (SGE050 - Social and Behavioral Sciences Discipline Area - Required Grade: C) GE, 1 | 3 |
| SGE060 - Arts and Humanities Discipline Area | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| MATH 250 or MATH 245 |
Elements of Statistics (Required Grade: C) or Elements of Statistics with Review |
3 |
| SGE070 - Institutionally Designated Area: Critical Thinking | 3 | |
| TEEL 260 | Children's Literature (Required Grade: C) | 3 |
| TECS 301 | Introduction to Instructional Technology (Required Grade: C) | 3 |
| TESP 302 | Educating Students with Exceptionalities (Required Grade: C) | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| MATH 180 | Concepts of Elementary Mathematics (Required Grade: C) | 3 |
| TEEL 340 | Classroom Management (Required Grade: C) | 3 |
| TESP 320 | Programs, Procedures & Issues in Special Ed (Required Grade: C) | 3 |
| TESP 325 | Technology Applications in Special Education (Required Grade: C) | 2 |
| Open Electives | 2 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Third Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| TEEL 365 | Science of Reading I (Required Grade: C) | 4 |
| TEEL 378 | Science of Reading I Internship (Required Grade: C) | 1 |
| TEEL 471 | Institute in Education I (Required Grade: C) | 6 |
| TEEL 476 | Apprenticeship in Education I (Required Grade: C) | 3 |
| TESP 350 | Assessment in Special Education (Required Grade: C) | 3 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| TEEL 481 | Science of Reading II (Required Grade: C) | 3 |
| TEEL 482 | Science of Reading II Internship (Required Grade: C) | 1 |
| TEEL 607 | Education Conference (Required Grade: C) | 6 |
| TEEL 673 | Problems in Education I (Required Grade: C) | 3 |
| TESP 330 | Behavior Strategies & Support (Required Grade: C) | 3 |
| TEEL 431 | Educational Psychology (Required Grade: C) | 3 |
| Hours | 19 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| TEEL 674 | Institute in Education II (Required Grade: C) | 8 |
| TEEL 678 | Field Experience II (Required Grade: C) | 3 |
| TESP 360 | Principles of Instruction in Special Education PreK - Grade 6 (Required Grade: C) | 3 |
| MUS 366 | Elementary School Music (SGE060 - Arts and Humanities Discipline Area - Required Grade: C) | 3 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| TEEL 679 | Practicum in Education I (Required Grade: C) | 8 |
| TESP 679 | Practicum Special Education (Required Grade: C) | 3 |
| TEEL 675 | Seminar in Education I (Required Grade: C) | 1 |
| TEEL 689 | Problems in Education 2 (Required Grade: C) | 1 |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Total Hours | 126 | |
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Suggested General Education course, which also fulfills a major requirement
Academic Degree Maps are term-by-term sample course plans that specify milestones, courses, and special requirements that are necessary for facilitating on-time completion. Degree Maps are examples and are not prescriptive. Individualized choices such as concentration options, transfer credits, optional minors, advisory programs (certificates), etc. can alter the recommended coursework. Course offerings are subject to change. Students should consult with their academic advisors for additional guidance on course planning.
To determine courses to take in the directed choices (often listed as Program Elective Course) and directed elective course blocks see the overview tab for courses. Open electives indicate the student is free to choose courses from any subject, but students should discuss with their advisor how many of these hours must be upper division. To locate approved courses in General Education areas (Undergraduate Programs) see the general education section of the catalog.
The undergraduate course maps typically advise the most efficient route for students to complete the general education requirements. Courses that are required in the major may be listed as fulfilling relevant general education requirements. This will result in more open elective course hours in some maps than is listed on the degree overview page.