Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Elementary Education

In this program, you will learn how to promote student development,  teach for social justice, and reflect on practice to improve instruction. You will be prepared to work with students of a variety of backgrounds and to create classroom environments that engage all students. 

Curriculum

Our Elementary Education program features coursework in child development, learning theories, and instructional strategies. You’ll leave prepared to teach children in grades one through six, with and without mild disabilities.

You will learn how to:

  • Provide high-quality and coherent instruction
  • Design and administer authentic and meaningful student assessments and use them to improve instruction
  • Provide students with constructive feedback on an ongoing basis
  • Continuously refine learning objectives
  • Utilize instructional practices that establish high expectations
  • Create a safe and effective classroom environment
  • Be ethical, culturally proficient, and collaborative
  • Collect and report data on pupil outcomes
  • Identify policies and practices that contribute to systemic inequities in education
  • Recognize a professional responsibility to promote and practice principles of social justice teaching

 


 

 

Overview of the Program

There are three components to the Elementary Education major:

1. Take the required core courses (33 credits).


2. Engage in two pre-practicum experiences (4 credits).


3. Complete one full practicum experience (15 credits).

Course Curriculum (Class of 2027 and beyond)

Core Courses

12 courses (33 credits)


 

12

Core Courses

CourseCourse TitleCreditsNotes
EDUC1030Child Development3 

EDUC1031

OR

FORM1051

Family, School, and Society

OR

Reimagining Schools and Society

3 
EDUC1044
Education and Development for Students with Disabilities3 
MATH1190Fundamentals of Math I3Fall semester only. Course is a co-requisite to the major and satisfies the university Math Core. Students with AP Math credit should inquire in Campion 104.
MATH1191Fundamentals of Math II
3Spring semester only. Students with AP Math credit should inquire in Campion 104.
EDUC2101Teaching Language Arts3Take with EDUC2104 and Pre-prac #1
EDUC2104Teaching Reading3Take with EDUC2101 and Pre-prac #1
EDUC2039Learning and Curriculum in the Elementary School3 
EDUC2108Teaching Mathematics and Technology3Take with Pre-prac #2
EDUC2105Teaching Social Sciences and the Arts3Take with EDUC2109
EDUC2109Teaching about the Natural World3Take with EDUC2105
EDUC6346Teaching Bilingual Students3Jr. or Sr. standing

Course Curriculum (Class of 2026)

The Elementary Education Major requires 54 credits in Education courses; 36 credits of required coursework, 4 credits of pre-practica experience and 12 credits of full practicum. The major requires a 2nd major; Applied Psychology and Human Development, Transformative Educational Studies, LSEHD interdisciplinary major or an MCAS major. Please note that students in the Class of 2026 may elect to take a third pre-practicum experience. Please consult with the Office of Undergraduate Programs for additional information

Core Courses

12 courses (36 credits)


 

12

Core Courses

CourseCourse TitleCreditsNotes
EDUC1030Child Development3 

EDUC1031

OR

FORM1051

Family, School, and Society

OR

Reimagining Schools and Society

3 
EDUC1044
Education and Development for Students with Disabilities3 
MATH1190Fundamentals of Math I3Fall semester only. Course is a co-requisite to the major and satisfies the university Math Core. Students with AP Math credit should inquire in Campion 104
MATH1191Fundamentals of Math II
3Spring semester only. Students with AP Math credit should inquire in Campion 104
EDUC2101Teaching Language Arts3Take with EDUC2104 and Pre-prac #1
EDUC2104Teaching Reading3Take with EDUC2101 and Pre-prac #1
EDUC2039Learning and Curriculum in the Elementary School3 
EDUC2108Teaching Mathematics and Technology3Take with Pre-prac #2
EDUC2105Teaching Social Sciences and the Arts3Take with EDUC2109. Optional: Pre-prac #3
EDUC2109Teaching about the Natural World3Take with EDUC2109. Optional: Pre-prac #3
EDUC6346Teaching Bilingual Students3Jr. or Sr. standing

Course Curriculum (Class of 2024 and 2025)

The Elementary Education Major requires 54 credits in Education courses; 36 credits of required coursework, 4 credits of pre-practica experience and 12 credits of full practicum. The major requires a second major; Applied Psychology and Human Development, Transformative Educational Studies, LSEHD interdisciplinary major or an MCAS major. Please note that students in the Class of 2024 and 2025 may elect to take a third pre-practicum experience. Please consult with the Office of Undergraduate Programs for additional information. 

Core Courses

12 courses (36 credits)


 

12

Core Courses

CourseCourse TitleCreditsNotes
EDUC1030Child Development3 

EDUC1031

OR

FORM1051

Family, School, and Society

OR

Reimagining Schools and Society

3 
EDUC1044
Education and Development for Students with Disabilities3 
MATH1190Fundamentals of Math I3Fall semester only. Course is a co-requisite to the major and satisfies the university Math Core. Students with AP Math credit should inquire in Campion 104
MATH1191Fundamentals of Math II
3Spring semester only. Students with AP Math credit should inquire in Campion 104
EDUC2039Learning and Curriculum in the Elementary School3Take with EDUC2104 and Pre-prac #1
EDUC2104Teaching Reading3Take with EDUC2039 and Pre-prac #1
EDUC2101Teaching Language Arts3Take with EDUC2108 and Pre-prac #2 or #3
EDUC2108Teaching Mathematics and Technology3Take with EDUC2101 and Pre-prac #2 or #3
EDUC2105Teaching Social Sciences and the Arts3Take with EDUC2109 and Pre-prac #2 or #3
EDUC2109Teaching about the Natural World3Take with EDUC2105 and Pre-prac #2 or #3
EDUC6346Teaching Bilingual Students3Jr. or Sr. standing

  

Student Teaching

Professional experiences are composed of early field experiences, referred to as pre-practicum placements, and an immersive, semester-long full practicum experience.

Pre-practicum

Undergraduates complete two pre-practicum experiences (and an optional third), each in a different setting and consisting of one school day per week for 10 weeks. 

Full Practicum

Full-practicum experience is five days each week in the classroom for the entire semester. 

Support


You are guided by a qualified school-based mentor and a University-based mentor.

Licensure


Designed to meet the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's (DESE) requirements for endorsement from Boston College, leading to licensure.

Variety of Settings


Experience a range of urban and suburban public, private, parochial, and charter schools in Greater Boston.

Accreditation

We are an approved teacher preparation program by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Upon successful completion of the Lynch School of Education and Human Development's educator preparation program, students earn endorsement from Boston College for licensure in Massachusetts. For more information about educator licensure, including if you are seeking licensure in another state, please visit the Licensure Disclosure Page.

Careers

  • Classroom Teacher, Bronx Charter School for Better Learning
  • Associate Teacher, Success Academy Charter Schools
  • Kindergarten Intern, International School of Brussels
  • First Grade Teacher, Sacred Heart Parish School
  • Corps Member, Archdiocese of Los Angeles
  • Development Assistant, Shining Hope for Communities
  • Third Grade Teacher, Park Ridge Public School District
  • First Grade Teacher, Prodeo Academy
  • Integrated Preschool Teacher, Hopewell Valley Regional School District
  • Fourth Grade Teacher, Framingham Public Schools

Career paths chosen by previous graduates of the TCS Department.

The Lynch School has a long history of collaborative partnerships with Boston, Newton, and Brookline Public Schools, as well as with Catholic, private and charter schools in the greater Boston area. 

 

Student Teaching