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**Review** Undergraduate Catalog 2025-2026

Elementary Education B.A. – NonLicensure Educational Studies Concentration

Program Overview

College of Education and Behavioral Sciences

Contact: School of Teacher Education

Location: McKee 216

Telephone: 970-351-2908

Fax: 970-351-1877

Website: www.unco.edu/cebs/teacher-education/undergraduate-programs/elementary-education/

Contact: Center for Urban Education

Location: 1059 Alton Way #758, Denver, CO 80230

Telephone: 303.637.4334

Website: www.unco.edu/cebs/urban-education/

Advising Information:

Students must consult with a major advisor each semester prior to registering.

To find your advisor, log into ursa.unco.edu; go to 'Student' tab and click 'View Student Information' link. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.

The program consists of three parts:

  1. Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Credits
  2. Required Major Credits
  3. University-Wide Credits

Program Description:

The curriculum for this non-licensure program consists of courses related to education theory, practice, and pedagogy and recommended Liberal Arts Curriculum. The course of study will provide students with a breadth of knowledge related to elementary education and schooling. 

Program Admission Requirements:

Academic Good Standing

Degree Requirements — 120 Credits

1. Liberal Arts Curriculum — 31 credits

To complete the degree in 120 credits as outlined, the program recommends the below LAC courses that may also count toward the required major credits.

Any additional coursework completed outside of the recommended list below may extend the length of the program of study.

Written Communication — 6 credits

Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.

These courses are recommended but not required by the major.

ENG 122 and ENG 123 are recommended to fulfill the Written Communication requirement and to better prepare students for Elementary teaching but is not required by the major. 

See Written Communication courses

Mathematics — 3 credits

MATH 181 and MATH 182 are recommended to fulfill the Mathematics requirement and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements. 

See Mathematics courses

Arts & Humanities, History, Social & Behavioral Sciences, U.S. Multicultural Studies [MS], and International Studies [IS] — 15 credits

To complete the LAC in the minimum number of credits, be sure to choose at least one course with an IS designation and one course with an MS designation.

ECLD 260 is recommended to fulfill Social & Behavioral Sciences and U.S. Multicultural Studies requirements and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.

ELIT 290 is recommended to fulfill Arts & Humanities and U.S. Multicultural Studies requirements and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.

PVA 220 is recommended to fulfill Arts & Humanities but is not required by the major.

See Arts & Humanities, History, and Social & Behavioral Sciences courses

Natural and Physical Sciences — 7 credits

SCI 265  and SCI 266 Earth and Life Science are recommended to fulfill the Natural & Physical Sciences requirement and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.

See Natural & Physical Sciences courses

See Liberal Arts Curriculum

2. Required Major — 59 credits

Take all the following courses:

ECLD 260Language Acquisition in Multilingual SocietiesLAB3LAMS

3

EDEC 250Diverse Early Language and Literacy

3

EDEL 101Elementary Teaching as a Profession

2

EDEL 220Teaching with Writing

3

EDEL 310Reading Assessment Informs Teaching

3

EDEL 360Teaching Foundational Reading Skills

3

EDF 290Foundations of Education

3

EDSE 201Culture of Special Education

3

EDSE 325Behavioral Dimensions of Students with Exceptionalities I

3

ELIT 290Survey of Culturally Diverse Literature for ChildrenLAA2LAMS

3

ET 240Integration of Technology into Content and Pedagogy

3

HIST 224History of Colorado

3

or

HIST 230Class and Culture in America

3

or

HIST 290American Immigration

3

or

GEOG 200Human GeographyLAB2

3

or

GEOG 224Exploring Colorado

3

or

GEOG 250The Making of the American LandscapeLAB2

3

MATH 181Fundamentals of Mathematics I: Number and OperationsLAX1

3

and

MATH 182Fundamental Mathematics II: Algebra, Probability and Data AnalysisLAX1

3

MATH 283Fundamental Mathematics III: Geometry and Measurement

3

PSY 330Child and Adolescent Psychology

3

SCI 265Physical Science ConceptsLAS1LASL

3

SCI 266Earth and Life ScienceLAS1LASL

4

SES 403Physical & Health Education for Elementary Teachers

1

300 level or above Education Course

3

EDEL 101: Take 3 credits

3. University-Wide Credits — 30 credits

Complete additional credits to achieve the minimum credits needed for any degree at UNC; for this program, that will typically be 30 credits.

*Note: Students who apply the recommended courses to both the liberal arts curriculum and the major requirements will have an increased number of university wide electives to apply to this degree. See your advisor for details.

Four Year Plan

This four year plan is a recommended schedule to complete this bachelor's degree in 4 years. Courses are subject to availability. Students must consult with their major advisor to receive information on any additional graduation requirements and course sequence guidance. 

Year 1 – 30 credits

Fall Semester

EDEL 101Elementary Teaching as a Profession

2

ENG 122College CompositionLAW1

3

MATH 181Fundamentals of Mathematics I: Number and OperationsLAX1

3

LAC Arts and Humanities, History, or Social and Behavioral SciencesLAA1LAA2LAA3LAA4LAB1LAB2LAB3LAH1

3

LAC Arts and Humanities, History, or Social and Behavioral SciencesLAA1LAA2LAA3LAA4LAB1LAB2LAB3LAH1

3

Total Credit Hours:15

EDEL 101: Take 3 credits

Spring Semester

EDEC 250Diverse Early Language and Literacy

3

MATH 182Fundamental Mathematics II: Algebra, Probability and Data AnalysisLAX1

3

SCI 225Writing on Scientific PracticesLAW2

3

or

ENG 123Writing and Research MethodsLAW2

3

or

ENG 225Research Writing for Contemporary CultureLAW2

3

SCI 265Physical Science ConceptsLAS1LASL

3

HIST/GEOG Required Elective Course

3

Total Credit Hours:15
 

Year 2 – 31 credits

Fall Semester

EDEL 220Teaching with Writing

3

EDEL 310Reading Assessment Informs Teaching

3

ET 240Integration of Technology into Content and Pedagogy

3

SCI 266Earth and Life ScienceLAS1LASL

4

LAC Arts and Humanities, History, or Social and Behavioral SciencesLAA1LAA2LAA3LAA4LAB1LAB2LAB3LAH1

3

Total Credit Hours:16
 

Spring Semester

ECLD 260Language Acquisition in Multilingual SocietiesLAB3LAMS

3

EDEL 360Teaching Foundational Reading Skills

3

EDF 290Foundations of Education

3

ELIT 290Survey of Culturally Diverse Literature for ChildrenLAA2LAMS

3

MATH 283Fundamental Mathematics III: Geometry and Measurement

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Year 3 – 31 credits

Fall Semester

EDSE 325Behavioral Dimensions of Students with Exceptionalities I

3

PSY 330Child and Adolescent Psychology

3

SES 403Physical & Health Education for Elementary Teachers

1

LAC Arts and Humanities, History, or Social and Behavioral SciencesLAA1LAA2LAA3LAA4LAB1LAB2LAB3LAH1

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:16

Spring Semester

EDSE 201Culture of Special Education

3

300 level or above Education Course

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Year 4 – 28 credits

Fall Semester

University-Wide Elective

2

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:14

Spring Semester

University-Wide Elective

2

Upper Division Major Elective

3

Upper Division Major Elective

3

Upper Division Major Elective

3

Upper Division Major Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:14

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