Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education: Interdisciplinary Major (grades 1-6)

Candidates in elementary education complete an Interdisciplinary Major (IDM) that is unique in the state.  The program was designed in partnership with Danbury and Bethel schools districts to best prepare elementary education teachers.

Elementary Education: Interdisciplinary – Program Information

 

Program Coordinator: Dr. Catherine O’Callaghan, ocallaghanc@wcsu.edu

 

Learning Outcomes

The goals, objectives and learning outcomes of WCSU’s Elementary Education: Interdisciplinary Program are varied and are critical to facilitate the development of elementary educators to work in diverse classrooms. The program is designed to prepare educators to:

1. Graduates of the program will demonstrate and apply knowledge of content;
   1. Synthesize and apply central concepts, structures of the discipline, and tools of inquiry of the content areas; organize this knowledge, integrate cross-disciplinary skills, and develop meaningful learning progressions for elementary candidates as indicated by the design of learning segments.
2. Graduates of the program will demonstrate the ability to plan, develop, and adjust services that meet the needs of diverse learners;
   1. Understand the role of professional judgment and practical knowledge for improving all candidates’ development and achievement as indicated by performance in residency.
   2. Accurately assess and analyze candidate learning, reflecting on adjustments needed for both instruction and assessment as indicated by the impact on candidate learning.
3. Graduates of the program will demonstrate the ability to use relevant pedagogical skills and educational psychology knowledge in the planning, development, delivery and assessment of professional services in support of relevant educational goals;
   1. Use foundational knowledge to design and/or implement an integrated, comprehensive, and balanced curriculum as indicated by clinical performance in residency.
4. Graduates of the program will demonstrate professional dispositions that are consistent with the conceptual framework and in accord with professional, state, and institutional standards.
   1. Demonstrate expertise in working collaboratively with colleagues to design instruction as indicated by clinical performance in residency.

 

Transfer Students

1. Before meeting with Admissions or an adviser, transfer students should download, print and read the Education section from the online undergraduate catalog available on the WCSU website: http://www.wcsu.edu/academics/programsheets/. Bring your program sheet to every meeting with an adviser.
2. It may take more time for transfer students to complete the Elementary Education program at WCSU because some electives taken at other colleges/community colleges may not transfer into the Education major.
3. Grades from previous colleges or universities will be calculated when determining the cumulative 2.7 GPA or higher (subject to change based on state mandates) for admission to and retention in the Education program. However, in order to graduate as an Education major from WCSU, students must achieve  a 3.0 GPA (subject to change) which is calculated solely on grades earned at WCSU by the senior year.