A Combined Degree program enables undergraduate students to enroll in graduate courses in their senior year, which can be counted towards the completion of both their Bachelor's and Master's degree requirements. The ability to take these "swing courses" allows students to earn both their Bachelor's and Master's degrees in a shortened period of time, typically within five years of intensive study. Undergraduate students interested in this option can find more information regarding program requirements on the University's Combined Programs website.
The Combined Degree with Dual Certification program is a 5-year program that leads to teacher certification in Elementary School Teacher in Grades K-6, teacher certification in Teacher of Students with Disabilities, a baccalaureate degree and a master’s degree. Interested students must apply to and be admitted to the Teacher Education Program as an undergraduate. Students must successfully complete the undergraduate portion of the program in order to be admitted to the Graduate School and complete the one-year master’s portion of the program.
Please visit the Teacher Education Program website for the required undergraduate professional sequence of courses, overall course outline, and other important Program requirements, guidelines, and procedures. Students also are strongly advised to review the Teacher Education Program Handbook.
120 credits of coursework is required for the baccalaureate degree with a minimum 3.0 overall GPA. Major GPA requirements differ depending on field of study. Consult the Teacher Education Program Handbook for more information.
Program Requirements Overview
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | 15 | |
| World Languages and Cultures Requirements | 3 | |
| Major Requirements | 42 | |
| Teacher Education Program Requirements | 60 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Major Requirements
Requirements for the graduate portion of this combined program can be found here.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| SOCI 201 | Foundations of Sociological Inquiry | 4 |
| SOCI 212 | Sociology of Technology | 3 |
| SOCI 220 | Sociology of Rich and Poor Nations | 3 |
| SOCI 240 | Statistics for Social Research | 4 |
| SOCI 301 | Sociological Research Methods I | 4 |
| SOCI 313 | Sociological Theory: A Critical Analysis | 3 |
| SOCI 400 | Senior Project | 3 |
| Major Electives | 18 | |
| Complete 15-18 credits of Upper Level Electives from the list below. | ||
| Complete 0-3 credits of Lower Level Electives from the list below. | ||
| Total Credits | 42 | |
Upper Level Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SOCI 302 | Sociological Research Methods II | 3 |
| SOCI 303 | Large Scale Organizations | 3 |
| SOCI 304 | Sociology of Work and Professions | 3 |
| SOCI 309 | Sociology of Health and Illness | 3 |
| SOCI 310 | Directed Independent Research | 3-9 |
| SOCI 311 | Urban Sociology | 3 |
| SOCI 312 | Environmental Sociology | 3 |
| SOCI 314 | Environmental Justice | 3 |
| SOCI 315 | Social Inequality | 3 |
| SOCI 316 | Sociology of Education | 3 |
| SOCI 318 | Sociology of Population | 3 |
| SOCI 330 | Political Sociology | 3 |
| SOCI 336 | Sociology and Social Work | 3 |
| SOCI 340 | Social Change in a Global World | 3 |
| SOCI 350 | Special Topics in Social Issues | 3 |
| SOCI 364 | Religion, Culture, and Society | 3 |
| SOCI 401 | Sociology of Emotions | 3 |
| SOCI 405 | Deviance and Social Control | 3 |
| SOCI 407 | Sociology of the Mass Media | 3 |
| SOCI 408 | Social Movements | 3 |
| SOCI 411 | Special Topics in Sociology | 3 |
| SOCI 420 | Sociology of Law | 3 |
| SOCI 426 | Sociology of Sexuality | 3 |
| SOCI 430 | Sociology of Gender | 3 |
Lower Level Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SOCI 100 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| SOCI 102 | Racial and Ethnic Relations | 3 |
| SOCI 104 | Sociology of the Family | 3 |
| SOCI 106 | Individual and Society | 3 |
| SOCI 113 | Social Problems | 3 |
| SOCI/GSWS 208 | Men and Masculinities | 3 |
| SOCI 215 | Sociology of Sports | 3 |
| SOCI 219 | Sociology of Aging | 3 |
| SOCI 220 | Sociology of Rich and Poor Nations | 3 |
| SOCI 230 | Sociology of Conflict and Violence | 3 |
| SOCI 250 | Special Topics in Current Sociology Issues | 3 |
| SOCI 290 | Cooperative Education in Sociology | 3-4 |
Teacher Education Program Requirements for Combined Degree Programs with Grades K-6 and Teacher of Students with Disabilities Certification
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Professional Sequence | ||
| CMST 101 | Fundamentals of Speech: Communication Requirement | 3 |
| PSYC 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| FSHD 214 | Child Development I | 3 |
| ECEL 200 | Perspectives on Early Childhood and Elementary Education in a Democracy | 3 |
| EDFD 221 | Historical Foundations of American Education | 3 |
| EDFD 220 | Philosophical Orientation to Education | 3 |
| MTHM 201 | Mathematics in Elementary Schools I | 3 |
| Professional Sequence | ||
| First Semester Junior Year | ||
| FSHD 314 | Child Development II: Adolescence | 3 |
| MTHM 302 | Mathematics in Elementary Schools II | 3 |
| READ 399 | Early Literacy Development and Instruction | 3 |
| ECEL 279 | Foundation and Philosophy of Inclusive Education | 3 |
| Second Semester Junior Year | ||
| ECEL 375 | Special Topics in Early Childhood and Elementary Education | 3 |
| ECSE 305 | Development and Learning in Children With and Without Disabilities | 3 |
| ECEL 408 | Social Studies and the Arts in Elementary Classrooms | 3 |
| First Semester Senior Year | ||
| ECSE 339 | Pedagogy in the Inclusive Elementary Classroom | 3 |
| READ 408 | Literacy in the Elementary Grades | 3 |
| Undergraduate elective (Advisor approval required). | 3 | |
| Second Semester Senior Year | ||
| ECSE 523 | Communication, Collaboration and Consultation in Inclusive Early Childhood and Elementary Contexts 1 | 3 |
| ECSE 536 | Observation and Assessment of Elementary Age Children with Disabilities 1 | 3 |
| READ 515 | Literacy Strategies for the Inclusive Elementary Classroom 1 | 3 |
| Total Credits | 60 | |
| 1 | Course will also count toward the MAT portion of this program. |
General Education Requirements
Click here for a list of courses that fulfill General Education categories.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| A. New Student Seminar | ||
| Complete a 1 credit New Student Seminar course. | 1 | |
| C. Communication | ||
| 1. Writing | 3 | |
| 2. Literature | ||
| Foundations of Sociological Inquiry (Fulfilled in the major.) | ||
| 3. Communication | ||
| Fundamentals of Speech: Communication Requirement (Fulfilled in the Teacher Education sequence.) | ||
| F. Humanities | ||
| 1. Great Works and Their Influences | 3 | |
| 2. Philosophical and Religious Perspectives | ||
| Philosophical Orientation to Education (Fulfilled in the Teacher Education sequence.) | ||
| G. Computer Science | ||
| Sociology of Technology (Fulfilled in the major.) | ||
| H. Mathematics | ||
| Mathematics in Elementary Schools I (Fulfilled in the Teacher Education sequence.) | ||
| I. Natural Science Laboratory | ||
| Complete a 4 credit Natural Science Laboratory course that also fulfills the Teacher Education Health/Hygiene requirement. | 4 | |
| J. Physical Education | ||
| Complete a 1 credit Physical Education course. | 1 | |
| K. Social Science | ||
| 1. American and European History | ||
| Historical Foundations of American Education (Fulfilled in the Teacher Education sequence.) | ||
| 2. Global Cultural Perspectives | ||
| Sociology of Rich and Poor Nations (Fulfilled in the major.) | ||
| 3. Social Science Perspectives | ||
| Introduction to Psychology (Fulfilled in the Teacher Education sequence.) | ||
| L. Interdisciplinary Studies | ||
| Perspectives on Early Childhood and Elementary Education in a Democracy (Fulfilled in the Teacher Education sequence.) | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
World Languages and Cultures Requirements
Click here for a list of courses that fulfill World Languages and Cultures categories.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| World Languages | ||
| Based on placement exam complete one World Language course. | 3 | |
| World Cultures | ||
| Sociology of Rich and Poor Nations (Fulfilled in the major.) | ||
| Total Credits | 3 | |
Recommended Roadmap to Degree(s)
This recommended five-year plan is provided as an outline for students to follow in order to complete their degree requirements within five years. This plan is a recommendation and students should only use it in consultation with their academic advisor.
Fifth year courses are taken at the graduate level, after matriculation into the graduate portion of this combined degree program.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (A) New Student Seminar | 1 | |
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (C1) Writing | 3 | |
| Credits | 4 | |
| Spring | ||
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (C2) Literature | 3 | |
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (C3) Communication | 3 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Spring | ||
| EDFD 220 | Philosophical Orientation to Education | 3 |
| MTHM 201 | Mathematics in Elementary Schools I | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ECEL 279 | Foundation and Philosophy of Inclusive Education | 3 |
| FSHD 314 | Child Development II: Adolescence | 3 |
| MTHM 302 | Mathematics in Elementary Schools II | 3 |
| READ 399 | Early Literacy Development and Instruction | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| ECEL 375 | Special Topics in Early Childhood and Elementary Education | 3 |
| ECSE 305 | Development and Learning in Children With and Without Disabilities | 3 |
| ECEL 408 | Social Studies and the Arts in Elementary Classrooms | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ECSE 339 | Pedagogy in the Inclusive Elementary Classroom | 3 |
| READ 408 | Literacy in the Elementary Grades | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| ECSE 523 | Communication, Collaboration and Consultation in Inclusive Early Childhood and Elementary Contexts | 3 |
| ECSE 536 | Observation and Assessment of Elementary Age Children with Disabilities | 3 |
| READ 515 | Literacy Strategies for the Inclusive Elementary Classroom | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 52 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summer | Credits | |
| ECSE 508 | Strengthening Partnerships with Families of Children with Disabilities | 3 |
| ECSE 580 | Conceptual Foundations of Autism Spectrum Disorders: Bio-Psych-Social Perspectives | 3 |
| ECEL 691 | Issues, Policies and Trends in Inclusive Education | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Fifth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ECEL 502 | Seminar I: Inclusive Early Childhood and Elementary Classrooms | 1 |
| ECEL 510 | Clinical Practice I: Inclusive Early Childhood and Elementary | 2 |
| ECEL 517 | Integrating Science and Technology in Early Childhood and Elementary Classrooms | 3 |
| ECSE 542 | Inclusive Pedagogies for Students with Complex Learning and Behavioral Needs | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| ECEL 504 | Seminar II: Inclusive Early Childhood and Elementary Classrooms | 3 |
| ECEL 511 | Clinical Practice II: Inclusive Early Childhood and Elementary Classrooms | 6 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 27 | |