Requirements after Admission into the Elementary and Early Childhood Programs
- Maintain at least a 2.50 GPA in professional education and specialization coursework. If a student falls below 2.50 GPA he/she may be dismissed and/or may be required to meet with the departmental Professional Standards Committee.
- Receive a grade of C- or higher in all required courses to progress to the following semester or he/she may be dismissed and/or required to meet with departmental Professional Standards Committee.
- Pay for costs in addition to tuition, fees, and books such as:
- Chalk and Wire access codes that are purchased at the bookstore
- Transportation to and from school sites required in courses and internships
- Criminal background checks and fingerprinting for internships
- Assignments in some classes (e.g., printing/binding of group project reports, academic and professional portfolio, digital recording equipment, etc.)
Reading Endorsement
Students may complete a state-approved program to be eligible for licensure in Early Childhood Education Pre-Kindergarten/Primary (age 3 - Grade 3). The current program of studies includes both coursework and extensive field experiences in early childhood settings to enable students to integrate theory with teaching practice. Graduation is dependent upon successful completion of the required courses, associated internships, and critical tasks demonstrating the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices. Early Childhood majors will be eligible for certification in Pre-Kindergarten/Primary (age 3 - Grade 3). Students must pass all Chalk and Wire assignments and upload every assignment to their Chalk and Wire account in order to graduate from the program.
The College of Education offers a full ESOL Endorsement for all Early Childhood Education major graduates. The special requirements for ESOL endorsement through infusion are as follows:
- Successful completion of TSL 4080 and TSL 4251 , with a minimum grade of 70 percent or better on all sections of the ESOL Comprehensive Exam administered in the two ESOL courses;
- Successful completion of a 20-hour early ESOL field experience in TSL 4080 ;
- Successful completion of a late ESOL field experience where students plan, implement, and evaluate lessons for one or more ESOL students over 10 days; and
- Successful completion of all Chalk and Wire assignments as required, including from the two ESOL courses and the ESOL-infused classes.
State Mandated Common Course Prerequisites
Students wishing to transfer to USF should complete an A.A. degree at a Florida College System institution. Some courses required for the major may also meet General Education requirements thereby transferring maximum hours to the university.
If a student wishes to transfer without an A.A. degree and has fewer than 60 semester hours of acceptable credit, the student must meet the university’s entering freshman requirements including ACT or SAT test scores, GPA, and course requirements.
Transfer students are also required to comply with the immunization, foreign language, and continuous enrollment policies of the university.
Students should complete the following prerequisite courses at the lower level prior to entering the university. If these courses are not taken at a Florida College System institution, they must be completed before the degree is granted.
Unless stated otherwise, a grade of C- is the minimum acceptable grade in prerequisite courses.
- EDF X005 Introduction to Education - 3 credit hours
A minimum of 6 semester hours with an international or diversity focus is required. Eligible courses will be determined by the Florida College System institution or university where the student is currently earning the Associate in Arts or baccalaureate degree. Foreign language courses may be used to meet this requirement.
FOR EDUCATION MAJORS: General education courses will be determined by the college or university where the student currently is earning the Associate in Arts or baccalaureate degree, and will be published in the institution’s existing catalog and delineated in the Statewide Course Numbering System.
Research Opportunities
Undergraduate students in any degree program are able to participate in undergraduate research. Several options exist to show mentored undergraduate research activity on a student’s official transcript. Those who wish to enroll in an undergraduate research course should consult with their academic advisor to understand how the credit will apply towards the degree requirements. If no credit is needed, students may be eligible to enroll in the 0-credit IDS 4914 course. This course will not impact degree credits or GPA but will show on an official transcript and document the experience. The Office of Undergraduate Research is able to assist with further inquiries.