Majors & Minors

Elon’s Teacher Education Program prepares candidates for initial licensure and teaching careers in special education, elementary, middle, and high school grades. Secondary education licensure programs are available in high school subjects: English, history, and math. K-12 licensure programs are available in music education and Spanish. The program emphasizes practical hands-on experience in classrooms as well as educational theory and pedagogy. Frequent field experiences in public school classrooms begin in the introductory course and culminate with a full semester of teaching in the teacher candidate’s licensure area.

When degree requirements are successfully completed and all licensure requirements are met, the following majors lead to North Carolina licensure. Expand the links below to learn more about each major.

Elementary Education (K-6)

Learn to give children the foundation for a lifelong love of learning. Rigorous coursework and carefully sequenced internships create optimal learning experiences as you prepare to teach elementary school students.

Program Coordinator:

Middle Grades Education (6-9)

Study the development of students at this pivotal stage in life. You’ll learn early the value of collaboration with colleagues, students’ families and external agencies as you work to provide a stimulating educational environment for all students.

Program Coordinator:

Science Education (9-12)

Elon’s Science Education program prepares teachers for careers in high school teaching across the different science disciplines. The program emphasizes practical hands-on experience in classrooms, educational theory and pedagogy as well as a breadth and depth of science content knowledge. The program culminates with a full semester of teaching in a high school setting.

Program Coordinator:

Elementary Education (K-6) and Special Education (K-12)

This unique program is one degree with two majors, Elementary Education and Special Education. Students in this program will collaborate with Elon faculty and teachers from local schools to learn the best ways to meet the needs of students with learning differences. Veteran instructors offer guidance as you discover the special legal and developmental challenges that students and their families face.

Program Coordinator:

Middle Grades Education (6-9) and Special Education (K-12)

This unique program is one degree with two majors, Middle Grades Education and Special Education. Students in this program will collaborate with Elon faculty and teachers from local schools to learn the best ways to meet the needs of students with learning differences. Veteran instructors offer guidance as you discover the special legal and developmental challenges that students and their families face.

Program Coordinator:

Secondary Education

Elon’s Teacher Education program offers secondary education licensure programs in high school subjects English, history, and math. K-12 licensure programs are available in music education and Spanish. Secondary education programs leading to North Carolina licensure require completion of a major through the appropriate academic department, in addition to successful completion of professional studies courses and other requirements for teacher licensure.

• English (9-12)
• History (9-12)
• Mathematics (9-12)
  • A.B. Mathematics with Teacher Licensure
  • B.S. Mathematics with Teacher Licensure

  Non-Licensure Program

  The Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Outdoor Leadership and Education with concentrations in Environmental Focus, Inter/Intra Personal Focus, Learning and Leadership Focus, and an Experiential Training and Consulting Focus. Expand the link below to learn more about this major.

  Outdoor Leadership and Education

  The Outdoor Leadership and Education (OLE) major is designed to provide the knowledge and skills for individuals to design, facilitate, analyze, and assess a variety of outdoor experiential education programming. OLE students develop transferable skills that apply to formal and informal settings including national parks, natural science centers or museums, corporate training and consulting, environmental policy organizations, and outdoor education outfitters.

  Students can select from four different concentrations in the major:

  • Outdoor Leadership and Education: Environmental Focus
  • Outdoor Leadership and Education: Experiential Training and Consulting Focus
  • Outdoor Leadership and Education: Inter/Intra Personal Focus
  • Outdoor Leadership and Education: Learning and Leadership Focus

  The Outdoor Leadership and Education major utilizes principles, practices, and pedagogies of experiential education to design and facilitate group and individual development. Outdoor experiential education is based on active learning pedagogy and aims at supporting the growth, development, well-being, and agency of individuals, groups, and communities.

  This major prepares graduates with the skills and knowledge necessary to develop and operate socially just, equitable, and inclusive programming. Students have the opportunity to graduate with a multitude of relevant work experience, certifications, and skills on their resumes. Outdoor Leadership and Education is interdisciplinary in nature with options including courses in both the liberal arts and professional schools to make student more competitive after graduation.

  The major supports a variety of professional disciplines. Each concentration offers an interdisciplinary curriculum, hands-on experience, and other opportunities designed to prepare students for a variety of positions post-graduation. Positions could include many different fields, including: formal or informal education (K-12, college and universities, academic or outdoor recreation, youth and/or adult programs): Adventure travel and tourism industry (working as adventure field guide or program director for eco-tours, travel companies, resorts or hotels and/or community centers): Nature interpreters/naturalists (state or national parks; Parks & Recreation directors; environmental educators, or in non-profits or private settings):Wilderness therapy field instructor (for therapeutic programs, or for at-risk youth): Experiential educators (group facilitator; corporate training; team building specialist for camps, corporations, park services, religious organization, local recreation and parks).

  Program Coordinator:

  Add-on Licensure Tracks

  Undergraduate students majoring in a teacher licensure program can add-on a license in one of these three areas. Coursework meets requirements for add-on licensure in North Carolina. Other licensure components (testing) are required for licensure referral. Expand the links below to learn more about these optional add-on licensure tracks.

  Preschool Add-on Licensure Track

  The Preschool Add-on Licensure Track meets the coursework requirements for Preschool Add-on licensure in North Carolina, for undergraduates who are already majoring in a teacher licensure preparation program, such as Elementary Education. Other licensure components (testing) are required for licensure referral.

  Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Add-on Licensure Track (TESOL)

  The TESOL is a cross-disciplinary program designed to provide introductory preparation for teaching English to speakers of other languages in U.S. based K-12 programs, adult education, as well as educators in a global context. The mission of the TESOL is to foster the development of critically-engaged, effective English as a Second Language educators who are prepared to teach in the United States or abroad. The five-course sequence has three foundational courses in English and Education, along with a required teaching internship. Additionally, students will have options for two additional courses in language and education from a variety of departments.

  Special Education Add-on Licensure Track

  The Special Education Add-on Licensure Track meets the coursework requirements for Special Education (SPED) Add-on licensure in North Carolina, for undergraduates who are already majoring in a secondary teacher licensure preparation program. Other licensure components (testing) are required for licensure referral.

  Minors

  A Watts Williams School of Education minor prepares you for work in diverse programs including Teach for America, Peace Corps, City Year, outdoor education settings, corporate training divisions and more. You’ll also have the opportunity to intern in a global setting; some minors offer the opportunity to study in Malawi and India. Expand the links below to learn more about each minor.

  Adventure-Based Learning

  The Adventure-Based Learning minor provides students with an introduction to the field of outdoor experiential education. Courses will focus on designing, facilitating, and assessing outdoor education programming and the many ways in which outdoor education can be used in formal and informal settings. Outdoor experiential education is based on active learning pedagogy and aims at supporting the growth, development, well-being, and agency of individuals, groups, and communities.

  Coaching

  The Coaching minor curriculum, offered by the Department of Education and Wellness, is based on the national coaching standards developed by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE). Competencies are addressed from each of the NASPE domains: Philosophy and Ethics; Safety and Injury Prevention; Physical Conditioning; Growth and Development; Teaching and Communication; Sports Skills and Tactics; Organization and Administration; and Evaluation. The minor prepares future coaches interested in youth sports, community recreation leagues, scholastic sport (elementary through high school) and intercollegiate athletics.

  Early Childhood

  The Early Childhood Minor educates students in the science and theory of early human development to promote a holistic view of children within the socio-cultural context of their families and communities and appreciate the need for advocacy on behalf of young children and their families. The Early Childhood Minor prepares students to: learn about child development science and theory; better understand the needs of young children within their sociocultural environments; develop an advocacy agenda around young children and their families; build the skills to partner with families.

  The Early Childhood minor is designed, in part, for students who are interested in studying the early childhood period, but who are not necessarily interested in a career as a teacher. The minor complements many majors and minors in the College of Arts & Sciences, the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education, and other professional schools at Elon.

  Environmental Education

  The mission of the Environmental Education minor is to prepare environmentally literate educators, active community members, and global citizens who are able to increase public awareness of environmental issues, make informed and responsible choices, and help others take similar actions.

  Health and Wellness Coaching

  A health and wellness coach works with clients striving to enhance their health and well-being through self-directed lifestyle changes. Coaches provide a safe, attentive, respectful, non-judgmental environment that allows clients the opportunity for unhampered self-exploration and discovery. Health and wellness coaches apply evidence-based methods and techniques to cultivate a client’s intrinsic motivation, self-efficacy, and skills for adopting and maintaining healthy behaviors. Coaches facilitate a client-centered approach as clients identify their needs, envision their desires, construct goals, and discover individualized strategies that work best for them. The culminating goal is to empower individuals to become their own behavior change expert that can nurture their motivation, develop and enact plans, and embrace and sustain health-enhancing behaviors.

  Health and wellness coaches work in a variety of settings, such as clinical health care, corporations, health insurance companies, community organizations, weight loss companies, health clubs, higher education wellness programs, and private practice.

  Teaching and Learning

  The Teaching and Learning minor is designed, in part, for students who are interested in studying education as an academic field — the processes and structures of traditional school settings as well as other educational arenas — but who are not necessarily interested in teaching as a career. This minor prepares students to make informed decisions about education issues as to work with diverse populations.

  A student pursuing a minor in teaching and learning should contact the chair of the Department of Education & Wellness, Mark Enfield, at menfield@elon.edu.

  Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

  The TESOL minor is a cross-disciplinary program designed to provide introductory preparation for teaching English to speakers of other languages in U.S. based K-12 programs, adult education, as well as educators in a global context. The mission of the TESOL minor is to foster the development of critically-engaged, effective English as a Second Language educators who are prepared to teach in the United States or abroad. The five-course sequence has three foundational courses in English and Education, along with a required teaching internship. Additionally, students will have options for two additional courses in language and education from a variety of departments.

  Questions? Contact Mark Enfield, chair of the Department of Education & Wellness, at menfield@elon.edu