Bachelor of Science in Education

Curriculum

The anticipated time to complete the Online Bachelor's Degree in Education with PK-4** Elementary Education Certification is ten terms (2.5 years) which is the approximate length of time to complete the Education course sequence. Program completion time may be longer than ten terms, depending upon the number of transfer credits upon entry and the number of courses that a student takes each quarter. Our advisors work with students to evaluate transfer credits and help them get started on a tentative sequence of courses. This program consists of a minimum of 180.5 quarter credits including: content courses (65.5 quarter credits), pedagogy (education) courses (89.5 quarter credits) and free electives (26 quarter credits).

Students have flexibility in scheduling their content and elective course requirements from the selection of online classroom courses offered throughout the year at Drexel University.  It is strongly recommended, however, that students blend their program, taking both pedagogy and content/elective courses each term.

Program of Study

You will take your Education courses in a sequence, but because each of you will join the program with different transfer credits you will not take all your content and elective courses together. The content /elective courses you take, and when you take them, will be determined in consultation with your advisor.

Content Course Requirements

Selected Pedagogy Course Requirements

Please note that this list is not comprehensive in light of program changes. Please check back often for updates, or contact Beth Carroll, Program Manager for the Bachelors in Education Online Degree Completion Program (215.571.3559; beth-carroll@drexel.edu), for more information.

Field Experiences

Field Experiences are defined as a range of formal, required school and community activities participated in by students who are enrolled in teacher preparation programs. The experiences take place in collaborative, educational settings to give candidates an understanding of the values, cultures and working styles of learning communities (The Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2008).

The Pennsylvania Department of Education requires 190 hours of pre-service experiences prior to Student Teaching, the full-time, twelve week, capstone experience, which each candidate must complete prior to certification.  Furthermore, from the initial course in their academic career at Drexel, through their culminating student teaching experience, each candidate will develop a professional portfolio containing artifacts collected from their field experiences, that demonstrate evidence of their growth and understanding in the teaching profession, as well as examples of what they believe to be evidence of their high caliber of work.

For more information about field experiences, please visit http://www.drexel.edu/soe/undergrad/field.

Please contact Beth Carroll, Program Manager for the Bachelors in Education Online Degree Completion Program (215.571.3559; beth-carroll@drexel.edu), for any questions regarding the program requirements.

Course Descriptions

 EDUC 101 - Foundations l

In this course students are introduced to pedagogical and philosophical concepts, theories, methods and procedures in the historical context of education in America. Students develop an understanding of how schools work and of the teaching/learning dynamic through required mentoring activities. 

Back to course list

EDUC 105A - Freshman Seminar

Education majors only. Addresses observation skills focusing on classroom dynamics, i.e., what is teaching/learning, changing roles of teachers, learning styles, study skills, mentoring, journal writing/analysis, and the use of portfolios. 

Back to course list

EDUC 114 - Science Teaching Methods

This course bridges theory and practice, providing hands-on experience in the application of constructivist learning theory to designing and delivering effective classroom experiences in the area of science. 

Back to course list

EDUC 120 - Child Development l

This course addresses the multifaceted complexities of child development, through discussion of classic and emerging theories. Students will recognize and apply developmental domains of theory and research in the field of child development. 

Back to course list

EDUC 121 - Child Development ll

Students will apply knowledge of typical growth and development in childhood to those children whose development is atypical. Key topics include newborn screening, patterns in development and cognitive testing. This course requires additional field experience hours.

Back to course list

EDUC 142 - Special Education Foundations

This course is an introduction to special education with specific emphasis placed on; the history of special education, legal and ethical means of assessment, translating data into the MDE and IEP processes and critical legal issues related to special education. 

Back to course list

EDUC 205 - Sophomore Seminar

Education majors only. Builds on the freshman seminar and incorporates service learning as an instructional strategy.

Back to course list

EDUC 210 - Early Language Development

Provides preservice teachers an overview of language development in the early years of a child¿s life from birth to age five, in the home and school settings. Topics include; phonological awareness, acquisition of phonetic knowledge, semantic understanding and syntactic use. This course requires additional field experience hours. 

Back to course list

EDUC 216 - Diversity and Today's Teacher 

This course explores major issues related to the increasing diversity of students in elementary and secondary classrooms in the United States. The multifaceted challenges of teaching heterogeneous student populations.

Back to course list

EDUC 217 - Math for Preschool Years

Students will know and effectively deliver standards-based academic math content, based on age appropriate understanding, and individual and groups needs including a respect for the unique needs of all types of learners. This course requires additional field experience hours. 

Back to course list

EDUC 218 - Math Teaching Methods

Course emphasizes diagnostic instruction in mathematics by allowing students to complete problems that their students will be expected to work, noting the error and correction process, as well as gaining an awareness of student difficulties in mathematics. 

Back to course list

EDUC 236 - Early Literacy l

This course examines research-validated literacy instruction and literacy interventions. Topics will include phonics, fluency, comprehension, vocabulary, and the reading-writing connection. Emphasis is placed on the scio-cultural aspects of reading. Focus is also placed on literacy instruction across the curriculum. 

Back to course list

EDUC 244 - Inclusionary Practices for Exceptional Students

This course will introduce how to manage instruction for students with diverse learning and behavioral profiles in the inclusive classroom. I t will address curricular, instructional, environmental adaptations/modifications and the use of technology to address students' needs. Other topics explored include; collaboration, co-teaching and practical/philosophical approaches to inclusion. 

Back to course list

EDUC 246 - Literacy Development

This course offers a developmental approach for early identification of at-risk individuals and proceeds through literacy stages. Also, research, theory and practical research-supported instructional strategies will be provided for working with students. Literacy skills related to content areas will also be explored. 

Back to course list

EDUC 265 - Instruction of English Language Learners

This course explores principles and theory of second language and literacy acquisition, billingualism, academic language competence and linguistics, and instructional approaches based on these principles. This course requires additional field experience hours. 

Back to course list

EDUC 305 - Junior Pedagogy Seminar

Education majors only. Continues further exploration of relationships among service learning, content knowledge, pedagogy knowledge, learner characteristics utilizing generic influences, special needs students, and motivation techniques. 

Back to course list

EDUC 306 - Assessment l

Students will gain an understanding of the role of the assessment process in early education. Students will explore evaluation procedures and classroom-based data collection strategies for young children in inclusive education settings. Course covers 3 major functions of assessment: program planning, program monitoring and program evaluation. 

Back to course list

EDUC 307 - Assessment ll

This course will provide candidates with an in-depth view of formal and informal evaluation procedures for young children and their families. Such procedures will be explored in the context of the function of assessment; screening, diagnosis/eligibility, program planning, and program evaluation. This is a writing intensive course. 

Back to course list

EDUC 324 - Current Research in Curriculum and Instruction 

Examines the theories and assumptions underlying various approaches to instruction for elementary and high school teaching. Included are areas such as a) knowledge acquisition and critical reasoning in mathematics and science, b) teaching general and specific skills as related to content material, c) study skills and abilities to learn, and d) the roles of memory and metacognition in learning. Explores these processes of human cognition and learning with particular attention to how conditions that foster them might be built into materials, pedagogy, and learning environments.

Back to course list

EDUC 325 - Multi-Media in Instructional Design 

Imparts skills in selecting, using, and evaluating a range of instructional media, including interactive multimedia formats, in relation to educational goals and learner characteristics. Emphasizes presentation skills when using a variety of media to deliver instruction. Students design and write a software prototype as a group design project.

Back to course list

EDUC 326 - Language Arts Processes

Studies the nature of language, including phonetic, semantic, and syntactic aspects of language development, and theories of language development. Applies contemporary research to processes and problems in teaching oral and written communication. Assumes that listening, speaking, writing, and reading in the content area are integrated processes and should be taught as such. This is a writing intensive course. 

Back to course list

EDUC 335 - Engaging the Learner

This course provides multiple approaches to the critical linked processes of assessment, curriculum development, and inclusive instruction of all young children. Topics of study include: planning and preparation, using appropriate materials, scope and sequence and strategies for student-centered assessments. 

Back to course list

EDUC 336 - Early Literacy ll

This course focuses on teaching strategies that are effective in developing students¿ writing abilities within a literacy rich environment. The interrelationship between reading and writing will be emphasized. Additional field experience hours are required for this course. This is a writing intensive course. 

Back to course list

EDUC 338 - Expressive Arts for PK-4

The focus of this course is to teach educators to develop and incorporate relevant curriculum for the expressive arts (dance, music, theatre and visual arts) into the PK-4 classroom(s). Students will explore instructional strategies, modern technologies, stages of artistic development and multicultural art forms.

Back to course list

EDUC 355 - Social Studies Teaching Methods

This course focuses on the effective, responsbile and ethical teaching of social studies in the elementary classroom. Topics include; perspectives of social studies, curriculum standards, unit development, assessment design, integrated curriculum and technology, and teacher decision-making. 

Back to course list

EDUC 405 - Senior Pedagogy Seminar

Education majors only. Focuses on the teacher as a researcher. Presents descriptions of collaborations between university faculty and faculty from K-12 schools and discusses student involvement in learning and pedagogy issues. 

Back to course list

EDUC 410 - Student Teaching 

A 12-week field experience that approximates full time classroom teaching and related activities; it is designed to allow the candidate to demonstrate competencies necessary for certification.

Back to course list

EDUC 411 - Family and Community Partnerships

This course focuses on the process of family assessment and intervention, issues of family and professional collaboration and diversity, and methods of promoting adult communication and management strategies. It applies knowledge of socio-cultural and political contexts as they relate to the family, culture and society. 

Back to course list

CHEM 111 - General Chemistry l

Introduces the principles of general chemistry. Covers SI units, unit factor calculations, states of matter, elements and compounds, energy, atoms, electronic configurations, ionic and covalent bonds, Lewis dot structures, shapes of molecules, chemical equations, stoichiometry, molarity, gas laws, nuclear chemistry, equilibrium between different states of matter, and some colligative properties of solutions.

Back to course list

ENGL 101 - Expository Writing and Reading 

Develops students' abilities to read and write expository academic discourse. Teaches students how to read with understanding; how to access print and technological sources; how to research, plan, draft, revise, and edit academic essays and reports. Requires students to write expository essay and to keep a journal to express their responses to material read and study in the course.

Back to course list

ENGL 102 - Persuasive Writing and Reading 

Develops students' abilities to read and write persuasive academic discourse. Teaches students to think and read critically, to evaluate and use print and technological sources effectively, and to present a written argument effectively. Requires students to write persuasive essays and research papers and to keep a journal to express their responses to material read and studied in the course.

Back to course list

ENGL 103 - Analytical Writing and Reading 

Develops students' skills in critical and analytical reading and writing through a study of literature. Teaches students techniques to help them understand and appreciate literature. Requires students to read, analyze, and write essays and research papers about selected works of poetry, drama, and fiction and to keep a journal to express their responses to the literature studied.

Back to course list

ECON 201 - Economics I 

Business and design arts students. Examines allocation of resources within an economy. Major topics include interaction of supply and demand in markets, consumer choice, cost structure of firms, and profit maximization for competitive firms as well as firms with market power.

Back to course list

HIST 298 - Special Studies in History 

Provides supervised individual study of subjects in history.

Back to course list

MATH 181 - Mathematical Analysis I 

Covers set theory, coordinate systems and graphs, functions, linear programming (geometric approach), matrices and linear systems, and linear programming (algebraic approach). Required for architecture, business administration, and construction management students. Non-credit for engineering and science students.

Back to course list

MATH 182 - Mathematical Analysis II 

Covers counting techniques, probability, statistics, and probability applications. Non-credit for engineering and science students.

Back to course list

MATH 183 - Mathematical Analysis III 

Covers limits, rates of change, derivatives, applications of differentiation, exponential and logarithmic functions, integrals, techniques of integration, applications of integration. Non-credit for engineering and science students.

Back to course list

MUSC 130 - Introduction to Music

Provides an introduction to music in the European classical tradition, including elements of melody, harmony, rhythm, texture, structure, history, and principal composers. Emphasizes listening with understanding.

Back to course list

NFS 101 - Introduction Nutrition & Food 

Provides basic understanding of required nutrients and how they are used in the body. Students complete a computerized nutrient analysis and apply the science of nutrition and food to food choices to improve their personal health.

Back to course list

PSY 101 - General Psychology I 

Reviews the fundamental principles, concepts, and methods of psychology, with emphasis on the concepts of motivation, learning, and perception, and their psychological foundations.

Back to course list

PSY 320 - Educational Psychology 

Covers role and relevance of psychology in the teacher-learner relationship, with independent application of research techniques in an individual field study. This is a writing intensive course.

Back to course list

PSY 330 - Cognitive Psychology 

Covers human thought processes, including perception and pattern recognition, learning and memory, language, problem-solving and decision-making.

Back to course list

PHYS 131 - Survey of the Universe 

Provides an overview of modern astronomy, including the scientific method; telescopes; stars and star clusters; stellar evolution; galaxies and the large-scale structure of the universe; and the Big Bang. May also include periodic visits to the university observatory. This is a writing intensive course.

Back to course list

PHYS 151 - Applied Physics 

Non-calculus-based introductory physics for business majors. Covers basic mechanics and simple harmonic motion, followed by an introduction to more advanced topics such as relativity, electromagnetism and quantum phenomena.

Back to course list

BIO 161 - General Biology I 

Covers structure and function of the cell and the organ-system plan of organization of the human body.

Back to course list

BIO 162 - General Biology II 

Continues BIO 161. Covers the mechanics of heredity, including growth, differentiation, and development.

Back to course list

ENVR 260 - Environment Science and Society I 

This course is a multidisciplinary introduction to the range of disciplines that make up the environmental sciences. The aim of this course is to provide an understanding of basic physical, ecological and social sciences that focus on the study of the natural environment and its interaction with human society.

Back to course list

COM 111 - Principles of Communication 

Explores the importance of communication in organizational settings. Includes assessment of appropriate modes of communication, including written, spoken, and electronic.

Back to course list

SOC 335 - Sociology of Education 

Provides a general introduction to the sociology of education through the study of social, political, and cultural forces operating on public education in the United States and Britain. Examines theories, methods, and case studies to explore issues of identity formation, inequality, and class reproduction in an attempt to understand the role of schooling in contemporary life.

Back to course list