Elementary Education: Alternative Certification, BS

Requirements for Students Matriculating in or before Academic Year 2025-2026. Learn more about University Academic Regulation 3.1.

Minimum Overall Grade Point Average: 2.50
Total Hours: 120

General Education Requirements
English Composition courses
See Academic Regulation 3.5
ENGL 1113Composition I3
or ENGL 1313 Critical Analysis and Writing I
Select one of the following courses:3
Composition II
Critical Analysis and Writing II
Technical Writing
American History & Government
Select one of the following courses:3
Survey of American History
American History to 1865 (H)
American History Since 1865 (DH)
POLS 1113American Government3
Quantitative Thought & Logical Reasoning (Q)
Select 3 hours of the following courses:3
Mathematical Functions and Their Uses (Q)
Applications of Modern Mathematics (Q)
College Algebra (Q)
Trigonometry (Q)
Business Calculus (Q)
Calculus I (Q)
Elementary Statistics (Q)
Understanding Humanities-Human Heritage & Culture (H)
Select one of the following courses:3
American Stories: Diverse Peoples in YA Literature (DH)
Exploring Literature (DH)
Survey of American Literature II (DH)
Select one of the following courses:3
Art History Survey to 1400 (H)
Art History Survey Since 1400 (H)
Introduction to Global Art (H)
Introduction to Music (H)
Reasoning in the Natural Sciences (N)
Must include one Laboratory-Based Inquiry (L) course
Select 10 hours of the following courses with the help of your advisor:10
Introductory Biology (N)
and Introductory Biology Laboratory (LN) (or higher)
Introductory Biology (LN)
Chemistry In Civilization (LN) (or higher)
Descriptive Physics (N) (or higher)
Introduction to Physical Geography (LN)
The Story of Dinosaurs (N)
Exploring Earth: An Introduction to Geology (LN)
Geology and Human Affairs (LN)
Physical Geology (LN)
Principles of Horticultural Science (LN)
Exploring Society & Human Behavior (S)
PSYC 1113Introductory Psychology (S)3
or SOC 1113 Introductory Sociology (S)
Global Cultural Competency (G)
Select one of the following courses:
GEOG 1113Introduction to Cultural Geography (GS)3
or GEOG 1713 Regions & Nations in Global Context (GS)
or GLST 1713 Regions & Nations in Global Context (GS)
Additional General Education
Additional general education credit hours may be required to meet the total 40-hour minimum of general education credit if courses carry more than one general education designation and can be used to meet multiple general education designation hour requirements above.
Courses designated (Q), (H), (N), (S), (D), (G), or (F)
Select one of the following courses:3
Language, Text and Culture (GH)
Introduction to Creative Writing (H)
Introduction to Speech Communication (S)
Hours Subtotal40
College/Departmental Requirements
UNIV 1111First Year Seminar (or other approved first year seminar course)1
EDHS 3111Preparing for Your Future Career1
Select 15 hours of electives (3 hours may need to be foreign language)15
Hours Subtotal17
Major Requirements
Minimum GPA 2.50 with a minimum grade of “C” or “P” in each course
CIED 3133Children's Literature Across the Curriculum3
CIED 3253Teaching Language Arts in the Elementary and Middle School3
CIED 3293Teaching Reading in the Elementary and Middle School3
CIED 4213Introduction to Visual Arts in the Curriculum3
or CIED 4243 Creativity and Critical Thinking in the K12 Classroom
CIED 4233Literacy Assessment and Instruction3
HLTH 2603Total Wellness (S)3
Mathematics
MATH 3403Geometric Structures for Early Childhood and Elementary Teachers3
MATH 3603Mathematical Structures for Early Childhood and Elementary Teachers3
SMED 3153Teaching Mathematics at the Primary Level3
Choose one of the following:3
Seminar in Mathematics Education
Teaching Algebra, Data and Probability Across the Elementary Curriculum
Workshop In Mathematics Education
Sciences
Select 2 hours of the following courses:2
Seminar in Science Education
Nature Journaling: Standards-Based Science in the Outdoors
Workshop in Science Education
CIED 4103Introduction to English Learners for Early Childhood and Elementary Teachers3
CIED 4323Social Studies in the Elementary School Curriculum 13
SMED 4153Teaching Mathematics at the Intermediate Level 13
SMED 4353Science in the Elementary School Curriculum 13
Hours Subtotal44
Professional Core Requirements
Minimum GPA 2.50 with a minimum grade of “C’ or “P” in each course
EDTC 3123Applications of Educational Technologies3
EPSY 3113Psychological Foundations of Childhood3
or SMED 3013 Knowing and Learning in K-12 Education
SPED 3202Educating Exceptional Learners2
Select 11 Hours of CIED, LLCE, SMED, SPSY, SPED, EDUC 11
These hours could also be used towards the Special Education Minor (17), Public School Support Specialist for Children At-Risk (PSSC) Minor (15)
Hours Subtotal19
Total Hours120

Other Requirements

  • 40 hours of upper-division coursework. Required for graduation and recommendation for Standard Certification:
    1. 2.50 Overall GPA;
    2. 2.50 GPA in Major Requirements and specified general education requirements; and
    3. 2.50 GPA in Professional Core Requirements.
  • Students must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language at the novice-high level from among those languages identified by the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability. For clarification see OSU academic advisor.
  • Transfer Admission Requirements: 2.00 GPA for less than 31 hours; 2.25 GPA for 31-45 hours; 2.50 GPA for more than 45 hours.

Additional State/OSU Requirements

  • At least: 60 hours at a four-year institution; 30 hours completed at OSU; 15 of the final 30 or 50% of the upper-division hours in the major field completed at OSU.
  • Limit of: one-half of major course requirements as transfer work; one-fourth of hours earned by correspondence; 8 transfer correspondence hours.
  • Students will be held responsible for degree requirements in effect at the time of matriculation and any changes that are made, so long as these changes do not result in semester credit hours being added or do not delay graduation.
  • Degrees that follow this plan must be completed by the end of Summer 2031.