2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog

Sep 20, 2025

2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Elementary and Middle School Education and Teaching, BS

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This interdisciplinary degree program prepares students seeking licensure in both Elementary (PK-6) and Middle School (6-8). Elementary and Middle School Education and Teaching students select one of four Middle School concentrations: English, Math, Natural Science, or Social Science.

Students in this program take the multi-disciplinary Civitae Core requirements, advanced courses in numerous disciplines, and education courses that address human growth and development, assessment, literacy, and content area methods. Additionally, Elementary and Middle School Education and Teaching students have a variety of educational experiences in the field connected to Practica, Partnership, and Student Teaching.

Civitae Core Requirements (39-40 credits)

Civitae Core Curriculum

Elementary and Middle School Education and Teaching majors must take the following courses to satisfy the Civitae Core requirements listed below. If a Civitae Core requirement is not listed below, majors can satisfy those with any of the choices listed in the Civitae Core options.

Pillar Courses:

Historical and Contemporary Insights - HIST 221 or HIST 222
Human Behavior and Social Institutions - EDUC 245
Scientific Reasoning - BIOL 114
Aesthetic Expression - COMM 101 (for Middle School English concentrators only)

Perspectives Courses:

For Middle School Social Science concentrators, ECON and HIST courses in the requirements below may be a Perspectives course.

Additional Degree Requirements

MATH 310 - Probability, Statistics, and Programming 3 credits

English

Required (9 credits)

ENGL 380 - Children’s Literature 3 credits
ENGL 382 - Grammar: Theory and Practice 3 credits
ENGL 479 - Writing: Theory and Practice for the Middle and Secondary Classroom 3 credits
or
ENGL 483 - Writing: Theory and Practice for the Elementary Classroom 3 credits

Mathematics

Required (6 credits)

MATH 309 - Numeration Systems 3 credits.
MATH 313 - Geometry and Reasoning 3 credits.

Natural Science

Required (8 credits + 3 in Civitae)

PHYS 103 - Conceptual Physics 4 credits
BIOL 114 - Biology for the Teaching Professional 4 credits
EASC 300 - The Dynamic Planet 3 credits

Social Science

Required (9 credits + 3 in Civitae)

POSC 100 - The American Political System 3 credits
GEOG 310 - Thinking Geographically 3 credits
HIST 221 - United States History Colonial-1877 3 credits
OR
HIST 222 - United States History 1877-Modern Times 3 credits
(Either HIST 221 or HIST 222 will fulfill the Historical and Contemporary Insights pillar)

Fine Arts (3 credits)

Select one:

ART 448 - Integrated Arts/Visual Arts 3 credits
MUSC 448 - Integrated Arts/ Music 3 credits.
THEA 448 - Integrated Arts/Theatre 3 credits.

Physical Education (3 credits)

KINS 389 - Methods of Teaching Health and Physical Education for Elementary Classroom Teachers 3 credits.

Students must choose and complete one of the following Concentrations

Middle School English Concentration (6 credits + 3 in Civitae)

ENGL 350 - Linguistics and Language Learning 3 credits
ENGL 381 - Literature for Young Adults 3 credits
COMM 101 - Public Speaking 3 credits

Middle School Mathematics Concentration (7-10 credits)

MATH 164 - PreCalculus 4 credits
or
MATH 261 - The Differential and Integral Calculus I 4 credits
MATH 430 - Teaching Mathematics in the Middle Schools 3 credits.
MAED 255 - Using Assessments and Differentiation in the Mathematics Classroom 3 credits

Optional Algebra I Endorsement

Students can add an additional endorsement in Algebra I, see catalog description.

Middle School Natural Science Concentration (10-12 credits)

Choose one of the following (4 credits):

CHEM 101 - General Chemistry 4 credits
CHEM 111 - Fundamentals of Chemistry I 4 credits

Choose 6 - 8 credits from the following:

PHYS 115 - Astronomy 4 credits
ENSC 162 - Explorations in Environmental Science 3 credits
GNED 261 - Exploring Science in Our World 4 credits
PHYS 121 - General Physics II 4 credits
SCED 330 - Integration of Mathematics and Science Principles 1.5 credits each
or
MAED 330 - Integration of Mathematics and Science Principles 1.5 credits each
BIOL 250 - Introduction to Genetics and Cell Biology 4 credits
or
BIOL 251 - Introduction to Ecology and Evolution 4 credits
CHEM 112 - Fundamentals of Chemistry II 4 credits
or
CHEM 211 - Organic Chemistry I 3 credits
EASC 211 - Environmental Geology 4 credits
or
EASC 212 - Atmospheric Science 4 credits

Middle School Social Science Concentration (9 credits)

The following courses must be taken (6 credits):

HIST 150 - Historical Inquiry I 3 credits
or
HIST 151 - Historical Inquiry II 3 credits
Then either
HIST 221 - United States History Colonial-1877 3 credits
or
HIST 222 - United States History 1877-Modern Times 3 credits
not taken above.

Elective in Social Science (3 credits)

ANTH 325 - Gender and Society 3 credits
or
SOCL 325 - Gender and Society 3 credits
POSC 343 - American Foreign Policy 3 credits
POSC 350 - The American Presidency 3 credits
Any ECON course
Any HIST course at the 300 or 400 level

Professional Requirements for Elementary and Middle School Licensure

Prior to Teacher Prep. Admission (8 credits + 3 credits in Civitae)

EDUC 245 - Human Growth as a Function of Social, Political and Economic Institutions 3 credits
EDUC 261 - Introduction to the Teaching Profession: Practicum 3 credits
EDUC 280 - Instructional Design and Assessment 2 credits
SPED 389 - Survey of Exceptional Children 3 credits

Practicum Integration Semester (5 credits)

These courses are taken the semester prior to Partnership. In order to advance to the Partnership semester, students must earn a C+ or better in EDUC 310 and EDUC 361. Any student receiving licensure in Elementary and Middle may repeat EDUC 310 and EDUC 361 only once if the student is unsuccessful due to insufficient academic performance.

EDUC 310 - Foundations of Literacy Instruction 3 credits
EDUC 361 - Practicum Integration 2 credits

Partnership Semester (16 credits)

These courses MUST be taken together during the semester prior to Student Teaching. Any student receiving licensure in Elementary and Middle may repeat Partnership courses (EDUC 423, 433, 443, 461, and 467) only once if the student is unsuccessful due to insufficient academic performance. In order to be successful in the Partnership semester, students must have B- or better in each Partnership course.

EDUC 423 - Elementary Literacy Methods 3 credits
EDUC 433 - Elementary Mathematics, Science, & Social Studies Methods (PK-6) 3 credits
EDUC 443 - Middle School Literacy, Math, Science and Social Studies Methods (6-8) 4 credits
EDUC 461 - Practicum Application 3 credits
EDUC 467 - Classroom Management and System Issues (Elementary & Middle) 3 credits

Student Teaching Semester (12 credits)

Note: Passing scores on Praxis II, VCLA and Praxis Teaching Reading: Elementary (5205) are required prior to beginning student teaching.

EDUC 400 - Middle and Elementary Directed Teaching 10 credits
EDUC 420 - Elementary and Middle Student Teaching Seminar 2 credits

Longwood University