Earn a bachelor of science degree in teaching with an elementary education option.
Turn your passion for education into a rewarding career with a bachelor's degree in teaching with an elementary education option. You'll gain the skills necessary for a successful career in elementary education. Our teaching program focuses on instructional methods, cutting-edge strategies, child development, emerging technologies, and the multicultural classroom. With a practicum and student teaching field placement, you’ll enter the classroom and practice what you've learned.
You'll select one of three emphasis areas that are in high demand: English as a Second Language; Special Education; or Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). You'll complete one course in each of the three emphasis areas as a foundational part of your core coursework and take an additional two courses in one area. The program requirement will result in 9 credits that can support future endorsement completion and/or job placement.
Find Early Childhood Career Development program deadlines and application here
It’s a wonderful coincidence. The teacher who inspired a seven-year old Josie Thomas to want to be a teacher is now training future teachers at OSU-Cascades, including Josie. A member of the Wasco tribe, Josie wants to one day teach kindergarten in Warm Springs, where her family lives, and give her students the same care and confidence that Rachael Schuetz, now an education leader at OSU-Cascades, gave her. “Mrs. Schuetz showed genuine interest in each student and created a classroom community.” It won’t be long before Josie inspires some of her own students to become teachers, too.
Students who earn a bachelor's degree in teaching with an option in elementary education receive preliminary licensure from the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission.
The program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education-Legacy (NCATE). As the State of Oregon adopted the standards of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) to replace NCATE standards, our next accreditation site visit will be conducted by CAEP in the spring of 2021, one year earlier than our next NCATE site visit would have been.
Around the country and here in Oregon, employers in the child care and early learning fields skilled graduates to help them give children a solid start in life. Add an ECDE minor to your teaching degree and you can expand your career opportunities and build stronger communities and families.
Admitted students begin the program as a pre-teaching major. Pre-teaching includes Baccalaureate Core and pre-teaching course requirements. professional program pre-requisites, major support courses and courses. Students then apply to the Professional Teaching Program and begin courses in fall term of the third year (Year 3). The program completes with student teaching (Year 4) and emphasis area coursework.
Professional Teaching Program
We're here to help! Future students can connect with an OSU-Cascades admissions advisor for admission and program questions.