FSC's Elementary Education program puts you in real classrooms from your very first semester, preparing you to become a Florida-certified K-6 teacher.
No other profession shapes the next generation more than teachers. At Florida Southern College, the Elementary Education program prepares you to become a confident and compassionate K-6 educator through hands-on learning, expert faculty guidance, and a curriculum rooted in best practices.
You will begin working in real classrooms during your first semester, quickly connecting what you learn in the classroom to what you do with real students. Graduates earn eligibility for Florida teacher certification in Elementary Education (grades K-6) with built-in endorsements in Reading and English for Speakers of Other Languages, giving you a competitive edge from the moment you step into your own classroom.
At Florida Southern College, your journey to becoming an exceptional teacher begins in your very first semester. Through meaningful coursework and hands-on clinical experiences, you'll build your knowledge, skills, and confidence each year, preparing you to make a positive impact in the classroom from the day you graduate. Here's what that preparation looks like in practice.
From your first semester through your senior internship, you will accumulate more than 1,000 hours of supervised classroom experience across multiple grade levels and school settings.
FSC is one of the only colleges in Florida where preservice teachers practice in two schools located directly on campus, including Florida's only transitional school for students with dyslexia.
Graduates are eligible for professional teacher certification in Elementary Education (grades K-6), approved by the Florida Department of Education — ready to teach on day one.
ESOL and Reading endorsements are included in the degree — no extra coursework, no additional cost, and a competitive edge that many graduates from other programs have to earn separately.
Here's how Florida Southern's Elementary Education program prepares you for the classroom.
From the Early Childhood Learning Lab to Roberts Academy to Polk County classrooms, FSC Elementary Education students spend more time in front of real students than almost any program in Florida. You will graduate having practiced the methods, built the relationships, and earned the credentials that today's schools are looking for.
Ready to build your future in education? FSC's streamlined application process puts you one step closer to your goals.
All freshman applicants to Florida Southern Colleges full-time degree programs must submit the following information:
Applying to Florida Southern as a transfer student is easy. Submit:
If transferring fewer than 24 credits, also include your official high school transcript and SAT/ACT scores.
Learn More about transfer admissionsFSC's Elementary Education curriculum is approved by the Florida Department of Education, qualifying graduates for professional teacher certification in Elementary Education (grades K-6). The program is built around a simple principle: teaching is a skill you develop by doing it.
Coursework spans all elementary subjects, blending educational theory with direct classroom application at every stage. You will develop expertise in literacy instruction, mathematics, science, social studies, and the developmental needs of young learners, while building the lesson planning, classroom management, and instructional technology skills that today's schools expect.
The curriculum includes built-in endorsements in Reading and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), preparing you to work effectively with every learner in your classroom from day one. Specialization options allow you to deepen your expertise further in STEM education, social-emotional learning, or the Orton-Gillingham approach to structured literacy.
| A. WRIGHT Foundations Requirements | 34 hours | |
|---|---|---|
| B. Major Requirements | 68 hours | |
| EDU 1000 | Professional Preparation for Education Majors I | |
| EDU 1001 | Professional Preparation for Education Majors II | |
| EDU 1107 | Foundations of Education I | |
| EDU 2200 | Clinical Experience I | |
| EDU 2203 | Foundations of Education II | |
| EDU 2210 | Foundations in Special Education | |
| EDU 2235 | Methods of Assessment | |
| EDU 2240 | Foundations of Reading Instruction | |
| EDU 2241 | Clinical Experience in Literacy Instruction | |
| EDU 3279 | Foundations of ESOL I | |
| EDU 3323 | Clinical Experience II | |
| EDU 3333 | Foundations of Education III | |
| EDU 3339 | Instructional Methods in Elementary Mathematics | |
| EDU 3343 | Literacy and Literature in the Classroom | |
| EDU 3347 | Diagnostic Assessment and Instruction in Literacy | |
| EDU 3370 | Differentiated Instruction of Reading | |
| EDU 4400 | Clinical Experience III | |
| EDU 4407 | Instructional Methods in Social Studies in the Elementary School | |
| EDU 4409 | Instructional Methods in Science in the Elementary School | |
| EDU 4478 | Applied Linguistics–ESOL II | |
| EDU 4887 | Reading Endorsement Practicum | |
| EDU 4889 | Student Teacher Intern Seminar | |
| EDU 4990 | Senior Internship | |
| C. Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements | 20 hours | |
| OR | ||
| D. Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements | 12 hours | |
| E. Electives | 2–10 hours | |
| F. Total | 124 hours | |
Elementary Education students at FSC are part of a warm, mission-driven community of future teachers. Get involved with:
FSC is one of the only colleges in Florida where preservice teachers practice in two schools located directly on campus.
The Early Childhood Learning Lab has served as a premier early learning program for more than 50 years, giving you direct access to students ages three through five. The Roberts Academy is Florida's only transitional lab school for students in grades 1 through 8 with dyslexia. Both schools give you something most programs cannot: the chance to teach real students, reflect on what happened, and walk back into your college classroom the same day.
Beyond our on-campus lab schools, FSC's partnership with Polk County Public Schools places you in local elementary classrooms throughout your degree. Clinical placements are intentionally varied each semester, spanning different grade levels and school environments so you graduate having experienced the full range of what elementary teaching looks like in practice.
By the time you complete your full-time student teaching internship, you will have been building real classroom experience for four years, not four months.
Every Elementary Education graduate earns a Florida Professional Teacher Certificate in Elementary Education (K-6), plus endorsements in both ESOL (K-12) and Reading (K-12), built right into your coursework.
You leave qualified to teach multilingual learners and to lead reading instruction at any grade level, credentials many new teachers have to earn separately after they graduate.
Florida Southern Elementary Education graduates step into classrooms ready to teach, and schools notice. Graduates find positions at traditional public, charter, magnet, and private schools locally, nationally, and abroad, armed with the latest pedagogical methods and state-recognized credentials.
The direct career path from this program. FSC graduates are certified by the Florida Department of Education and ready to teach all elementary subjects from day one. Their built-in ESOL and Reading endorsements make them more competitive in the hiring process than graduates from programs that require additional coursework to earn these credentials.
The Reading endorsement built into FSC's Elementary Education curriculum is the foundation for careers as a reading specialist, literacy interventionist, or instructional coach. These roles are among the most in-demand in Florida's public school system.
With ESOL endorsement built into graduation requirements, FSC Elementary Education graduates are uniquely positioned for careers supporting English language learners across Florida's diverse school communities — a qualification many programs require additional coursework to obtain.
FSC's 4+1 Master of Education in Transformational Curriculum and Instruction offers an accelerated pathway to a graduate degree and advanced certification in just one additional year. Many FSC Elementary Education graduates also pursue leadership roles in curriculum development, school administration, and educational policy.
"The Elementary Education program has given me countless opportunities to jumpstart my career. With the guidance and support of incredible professors, I feel confident that anything is possible, and that my future in education is bright."
"I love Florida Southern's Elementary Education Program because it offers hands-on experience from the very first semester. The dedicated professors and small class sizes create a warm, supportive environment that feels like home. This intimate setting inspires the engaging teaching style I hope to bring to my own classroom."
"I love the Elementary Education program at FSC because the professors truly care about us — not just as future teachers, but as people. They give us hands-on experiences from the very beginning and make learning fun, engaging, and meaningful. I feel supported and inspired every step of the way!"
"I like the Elementary Education program at Florida Southern College because of its hands-on learning and small class sizes. I feel seen and supported in everything I accomplish, and know that if I need anything, I have the faculty standing right behind me to lend a hand!"
From your first-semester classroom placement to your full-time student teaching internship, FSC Elementary Education students are always learning. Every clinical experience, every lesson plan, and every interaction with a real student builds the skills, the confidence, and the credentials that make FSC graduates some of the most sought-after teachers in Florida.
FSC's Education faculty bring decades of classroom and administrative experience into every course, guiding you the way only practitioners who have lived the work can.
Assistant Professor of Education
Literacy Coordinator, Assistant Professor of Education
FSC's Elementary Education program is a four-year degree. Graduates who want to continue into a master's degree can complete FSC's 4+1 MEd in Transformational Curriculum and Instruction in one additional year.
Yes, a few. Beyond standard tuition, education students should budget for some program-specific items: a School of Education clinical experience polo shirt ($30), Education Technology fee ($75), a Polk County Public Schools background clearance and ID badge ($80), and the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE), which include the General Knowledge Test ($130), the Professional Educator Test ($150), and the Subject Area Exam ($150). Your advisor can walk you through the full list and the timing of each.
The ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) endorsement qualifies teachers to work with students whose first language is not English. Florida requires all teachers to have ESOL training, and FSC builds this endorsement directly into the degree — so graduates are already qualified on day one without additional coursework.
At FSC, you are not a student ID number. Small class sizes mean faculty know your goals, your strengths, and where you need support. You will begin teaching real students in your first semester, not your senior year, and you will do so in settings including Florida's only on-campus school dedicated to students with dyslexia and other learning difficulties.
FSC's program meets Florida DOE requirements. Many states have reciprocity agreements with Florida that allow Florida-certified teachers to transfer their credentials. We recommend checking the specific requirements for any state where you plan to teach.
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Read the latest from FSC's School of Education, from student clinical placements and research presentations to alumni spotlights and program recognitions.
At FSC, you are the focus. Our team loves connecting with prospective students to answer questions about the BA and BS in Elementary Education and explore how the program can be a fit for your goals.
Dean of Education, Nina B. Hollis Endowed Chair of Education, Associate Professor of Education
The most important classroom in the world is the one where a child learns to read for the first time. Take your next step toward a BA or BS in Elementary Education at Florida Southern College.
