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Primary Education

The University of Mount Union’s Bachelor of Arts degree in primary education program and license prepares students to work with children from Pre-K-5 grade. In addition to focused coursework, primary education majors begin field experiences in the spring of freshman year with placements in a variety of schools and agency settings.

Mount Union’s CAEP accredited education degree allows students to be exposed to numerous courses specific to primary education and to learn from dedicated and experienced faculty members.

Primary Education Major Quick Facts

The primary education major requires 32 credit hours of coursework specific to the major, with an additional 12 hour reading requirement through the Ohio Department of Education. Students will also complete 32 credit hours for the University’s general education program, the Integrative Core, which allows students to explore areas of study outside their field of interest while developing essential leadership and communication skills that employers value. 

Education majors have several opportunities to gain hands-on experience outside of the classroom, including: 

  • Multiple field experiences and a semester of student teaching
  • Internships in the field with various schools and organizations including the Spectrum Education Center
  • Opportunities to attend on campus and regional conferences and professional development workshops 


Curriculum

As an primary education major, you will study the foundations and management of the early childhood classroom, gain a general understanding of teaching professions, and learn about the role of intervention specialists. As part of our CAEP accredited program you will take in-depth courses on practices and curriculum for a variety of subjects, including mathematics, science, social studies, and language arts. You will also be exposed to language structures, assessment, and literacy practices. Each primary education major is required to participate in a preclinical practice, where you will gain hands-on, valuable experience in the field as a student teacher. The primary education degree, with additional coursework, will lead to a license to teach prekindergarten through grade three.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At Mount Union, primary education majors demonstrate core values such as:

  • Appreciating childhood as a unique and valuable state of the human life cycle and valuing the quality of children's lives in the present, not just as preparation for the future;
  • Basing our work with children on knowledge of child development and learning;
  • Appreciating and supporting the close ties between the child and family;
  • Recognizing that children are best understood in the context of family, culture, and society;
  • Respecting the dignity, worth, and uniqueness of each individual (child, family member, and colleague); and
  • Helping children and adults achieve their full potential in the context of relationships based on trust, respect, and positive regard.

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