Admission to Degree Program
Students are accepted into the elementary education teacher
preparation program by application only. Students must attend an
application meeting held by the Education Advisement and
Certification Office prior to making application for admission.
The application review process includes but is not limited to
the following:
- Significant experience working with elementary-age children.
- Controlled writing sample (reflective questions).
- Group interview.
- University cumulative GPA of 2.85 or higher.
- Being fingerprinted. See Education Advisement and
Certification Office (120 MCKB) for instructions.
- If admitted, departmental approval only for deferment from
the four-semester professional sequence.
The degree programs in elementary education carry
enrollment limitations. A maximum of two applications will be
considered for any individual.
Fingerprint and Background Check
All candidates for teacher licensure are required by state statute to
be fingerprinted and pass an FBI background check before
participating in required field experiences. Fingerprint clinics are
held in the McKay Building in November and March. Allow from
five to six weeks for fingerprints to be processed. FBI background
clearance is valid for only three years. If clearance expires before
graduation, candidates must repeat the fingerprinting and
clearance process, including a new fee payment.
Failing to expunge a police record prior to the background
check may result in a blocked registration while a panel reviews
the charges. Candidates who cannot pass an FBI background
check will be removed from the teacher education licensure
program.
Additional Licensing Requirements
It is the student's responsibility to be sure that the Praxis test has
been taken and that BYU has received the test scores, that their
fingerprint background clearance is current and that state
licensing fees have been paid prior to graduation. Students will
also be responsible for any additional requirements imposed by
the state prior to their graduation. To confirm the status of these
requirements contact the Education Advisement and Certification
Center, 120 MCKB, (801) 422-3426. Graduation and Utah licensure
cannot be processed until these requirements have been
completed.
The Discipline
Elementary education prepares teachers who, having gained their
own liberal education, help elementary school children learn by
improving the teaching children receive in the home, school,
church, and community. Elementary education helps students
enhance their thinking abilities, build their confidence in
exploring new ideas, and become self-motivated, independent
learners.
In the program prospective teachers learn about the culture of
the elementary school, develop a solid foundation in basic
principles of teaching and learning that originate in educational
theory and research, and become proficient in systematically
applying those basic principles in practical settings.
Career Opportunities
A degree in elementary education leads to opportunities for
teaching in elementary schools. By taking additional classes in
early childhood education, secondary education, music, or
teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) students
can extend their teaching credential to teach kindergarten, seventh
and eighth grade, elementary music, or TESOL.
