Take the Next Step
Finding the right college means finding the right fit. See all that the College of Health, Education, and Human Services has to offer by visiting campus.
Bachelor of Science in Education: Elementary Education P-5
Pre-Kindergarten - Grade 5
On this page:
- Why Choose Elementary Education P-5?
- Careers
- Real-World Experience
- Success Stories
- Academics and Curriculum
- Admission
- Licensure
Why Choose Elementary Education P–5?
The elementary education P-5 program leads to the Bachelor of Science in Education degree with licensure. You can complete general education and content courses during your first and second years and begin the elementary education program in the spring of your third year as a member of a cohort group. The cohort portion of the program consists of two semesters of integrated coursework and a year-long student teaching placement. Recommendation for licensure requires successful completion of the program and passing scores on required licensure examinations.
Upon successful completion of the licensure portion of the program and passing the appropriate licensure exams, you are eligible for an Ohio resident educator license Primary Education P-5. Please consult with an advisor for current licensure test information.
Specific courses have been included to ensure you will develop theoretical and practical knowledge in humanities, mathematics and technology, social sciences, biological and physical sciences, the arts, and personal health and fitness. Courses that incorporate multicultural and global perspectives are also included in the general education requirements. If you pursue a teacher licensure program, you are required to complete the Ohio Department of Education prescribed exams for your intended area of licensure.
Wright State University’s programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, fully approved by the Ohio Department of Higher Education, and meet the requirements for the Ohio Department of Education 4 Year Resident Educator teaching license. Licensure and certification requirements vary from state to state, and we have not determined if this program meets educational requirements outside of Ohio. If you are planning to pursue professional licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please contact the appropriate licensing entity in that state to seek information and guidance regarding that state’s licensure or certification requirements. You will benefit from relevant and up-to-date training, such as Youth Mental Health First Aid Training and other professional development opportunities in accordance with Ohio’s Strategic Plan for Education focused on the whole child.
Program Highlights
- Early and frequent field experiences provide learning and networking opportunities for you in preschool to grade 5 classrooms.
- Cohort model allows students to move through the program as a group and take the same courses together. This creates more connection and support among peers.
- Based on feedback from employers, Wright State prepares you especially well to collaborate effectively with other teachers, administrators, and staff.
- Over the past five years, 97 percent of Wright State program completers passed the state’s licensure examinations.
- Teachers prepared at Wright State consistently perform above the state average on the Ohio Teacher Evaluation System (OTES).
Contact Information
David Herick, M.Ed. (EED Director)
482 Millett Hall
937-775-2963
david.herick@wright.edu
For general questions, admission information, licensure information, and transcript evaluation contact an academic advisor in the CHEH Academic Advising Office.
Careers
Demand for teachers is high, with many parts of the state and nation currently unable to hire as many teachers as they need. Areas with the highest need include special education (intervention specialist), math, science, world language, and teaching English as a second language (TESOL). Teaching is unique in that it provides you an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of students, carry out your passion for your content area, and advocate for issues related to education. There are also plenty of opportunities to move up and through the education field, including becoming a lead teacher, administrator, school counselor, or further your specialties through endorsements and certificates. You may take an opportunity to move your career to advocacy, government agencies, or higher education.
The College of Health, Education, and Human Services has provided a dedicated career consultant to assist you in connecting your major to a career. The career consultant focuses on staying up to date on career trends in education, kinesiology and health, leadership, and human services. Our assigned career consultant is an extension of services offered through Wright State’s Career Services.
Visit our Educator Quality Data page for additional details on employment and salary.
View the elementary education P-5 program profile for sample occupations, average salary, and employment projections.
Real-World Experience
You will enjoy extensive real-life experience and practice in P-12 schools because it is at the heart of Wright State’s teacher preparation programs. As an education major, you will benefit from the highest quality instruction interwoven with clinical practice throughout your program. Working in close partnership with nine local school districts and many other schools in the region, our programs provide you with the following advantages:
- Early in your program, you will have the opportunity to begin serving in schools through ED 2100 Education in a Democracy, a designated service-learning course.
- You will be in the schools early and often, including at least four semesters in which you are in the field.
- You will spend more hours on the ground in schools practicing and refining your skills than in nearly any other program in the state. Although the state only requires 100 hours prior to student teaching, Wright State’s elementary education program requires 685 hours.
- All of your field experiences will be supervised by clinical faculty (trained former teachers, principals, and curriculum directors) who will provide quality, constructive feedback to improve your readiness to teach.
- In addition to your regular field experiences, you will have one or more education courses (e.g. classroom management, science methods, etc.) in which your professor will deliver portions of your university class on-site at a local school district to enrich your experience and bridge the gap from theory to practice.
- Your experience will culminate in a year-long student teaching internship where you will start and end the year with the same mentor teacher and classroom.
- Our Office of Partnerships and Field Experiences works to place our candidates in a variety of school settings (urban, rural, suburban) to allow for varying experiences.
Success Stories
Academics and Curriculum
View the Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary Education P-5 program information, degree requirements, and graduation planning strategy in the Academic Catalog.
Elementary Education GPS (PDF)
Admission
Admission Requirements
- Program application due September 15. New cohorts begin every spring semester.
- Cumulative minimum GPA of 2.6
- Earn grades of "C" or better and "P" for all pre-requisite ED/EDS/EED coursework and EED content courses
- Completion of all Wright State Core and EED content courses prior to admission
- Field placement application (EED 3210)
- Passing scores in each of the following areas:
- One of the following Reading scores:
- ACT Reading score of 19 or better
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score of 520 or better
- ETS Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators Reading score of 162 or better
- One of the following Math scores:
- ACT Math score of 17 or better
- SAT Math score of 510 or better
- ETS Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators Math score of 158 or better
- One of the following Writing scores:
- ACT Writing score of 6 or better
- SAT Essay-Writing Dimension score of 5 or better
- ETS Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators Writing score of 165 or better
- One of the following Reading scores:
Be aware that WHEN you took the test is an important factor in determining whether your score meets the minimum criteria for admission, due to revisions that have occurred over time in the ACT, SAT, and Praxis tests. Acceptable Test Scores for Admission to Teacher Education Programs (PDF)
**Due to accreditation requirement changes, admissions requirements are subject to change. You should continue to check for updates, and work with your advisor to be informed of upcoming changes.
Admission Process
New Students
1
Apply to the University. You will be admitted as a pre-major until you meet the criteria for acceptance into the major.
Current Wright State Students
2
Work with your academic advisor to develop your graduation plan and determine when to apply for admission.
3
Complete the program application.
New cohorts begin in spring only. Applications are due September 15 to begin the following Spring Semester.
4
Submit the application for a field placement (EED 3210). View detailed application instructions.
Deadline: September 15
5
Complete a FBI and BCI Background Check (PDF) and request a copy for your records.
6
Attend a field experience orientation session provided by OPFE staff. Session information will be sent out via Wright State email and will also be posted on the OPFE website.
7
If your reading, writing, or math ACT/SAT scores do not meet the minimum scores listed above, complete the appropriate ETS Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test.
Applicants have until November 15 to attempt tests needed for admission. Please do not schedule any additional testing attempts after this date.
Applicants also have the option to appeal one or more admission requirements or an admission decision through our Educator Preparation Appeal Process.
Licensure Exams
EED candidates are required to pass specific Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) tests before they are allowed to begin their student teaching experience. Information on the tests and preparation materials can be found on the OAE website.
