Students in the Bachelor of Arts in elementary education degree program are assessed relative to national and state standards, including National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education standards, the Alaska Teacher Standards, the Alaska Student Content and Performance Standards, and the Alaska Standards for Culturally Responsive Schools. Course work provides students on the Fairbanks campus and in remote sites with the experience necessary to be eligible for an elementary teacher license. The integrated major/minor degree requirements are designed to prepare students to meet standards that recognize, respect and build upon Alaska’s cultural, linguistic and geographic factors. Completion of the B.A. in education will meet the requirements for a major and minor.

The interdisciplinary degree requirements provide breadth in the content areas necessary for successful teaching at an elementary level. They provide depth in the opportunities to connect theory and practice in real classroom, school, and community contexts. Students completing this degree benefit from collaborative efforts with academic departments across campus and from School of Education partnerships with a wide range of Alaska’s rural and urban schools and districts.

The degree has four central components:

1. subject area course work in the designated UAF general education requirements;
2. additional subject area course work in those areas important for successful teaching at an elementary level;
3. an integrated set of education courses and fieldwork in schools and the community to provide the foundation for a successful professional internship year; and
4. a capstone year-long school internship with a mentor teacher, with concurrent enrollment in professional course work that focuses on the integration and application of theory, research and practice in real school environments. Students follow the calendar of the school or district in which they complete their internship. Candidates serving internships are charged a $400 fee per semester.

Degree and program requirements include multiple types of on-going assessments throughout the programs. There is a strong emphasis on performance assessment and portfolio development and evaluation relative to national and state standards.

B.A. in elementary education students should enroll in the School of Education’s recommended sequence of core and major course requirements during their first two years. By following the sequence recommended in Transition One (see School of Education website), students will be knowledgeable about their status relative to their progress toward meeting the criteria for admission to the professional internship year. To make certain that students will be able to receive the support necessary to prepare for the internship year, all B.A. in elementary education students are required to submit Praxis I or Praxis ASE scores (passing scores are not required until applying to the internship year) to the School of Education prior to enrolling in EDSE F316, and Praxis II (test 5018) test scores must be submitted with the intern year admission packet. Prior to enrollment in professional-year courses and prior to receiving an internship placement in a classroom, all students must submit the materials listed below and meet admission requirements as described in Transition Two. Declaring a B.A. major in elementary education does not guarantee admission to the professional internship year.

Internships begin in August or September on the date when teachers return to school (this varies across districts). Since internship placements are arranged with principals and mentor teachers in the spring, all materials necessary for determining admission to the School of Education must be submitted by Feb. 1. Faculty in the School of Education consider multiple criteria in making valid and reliable judgments about each applicant’s knowledge, skills and professional characteristics prior to approval for the yearlong internship in a classroom with elementary school-age children.

Students must submit the following information to the School of Education by Feb. 1:

1. Copies of transcripts from all institutions attended.
 Evidence of plan of completion of all B.A. degree in elementary education degree courses by Aug. 1 (except for those required in the professional internship year), with a minimum of a 2.75 overall GPA, a 2.0 in each major academic area, and a C or better in all required courses. Students with less than a 2.75 overall GPA may be considered for conditional admission in special circumstances.
2. Official copies of ACT or SAT scores.
3. Alaska Passing scores from the Praxis I or Praxis Core ASE exams in reading, writing and math, and Praxis II exam (test 5018).
4. Two letters of reference that address qualifications and potential as a teacher.
5. A current and complete resume/curriculum vitae.
6. Two one-page essays on topics determined by the School of Education.
7. Completed Elementary Teacher Education Academic Analysis and Life/Work Form to provide information on breadth and depth of prior course work and/or documented life experiences relative to ten Alaska Student Content Standard areas.
8. A one-to-two-page autobiographical sketch (appropriate for presenting to prospective principals and mentor teachers).
9. Extemporaneous writing sample. Contact the School of Education advising office for date, time and location information.
10. Evidence of successful experiences in teaching and learning situations.
11. Evidence of ability to work collaboratively and respectfully in cross-cultural contexts.
12. Completed Alaska Student Teacher Authorization Packet, including fingerprint cards and criminal background check. Forms are available from the School of Education.
13. Complete an interview, when requested.
14. Some school districts may require interns to pass a general physical exam and require additional shot records.

Note: Students are admitted for a specific academic year and must reapply if they do not enroll in the year in which they were reviewed.

Minimum Requirements for Degree: 121 credits

Students must earn a C grade or better in each course.