
Undergraduate Licensure
For those interested in earning elementary teacher licensure while completing a bachelor’s degree, we offer the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts (BALA) with a major in Liberal Arts and a concentration in Elementary Education (EE).
This program is designed for community college transfer students who have started a teacher education program and plan to earn a part-time bachelor’s degree while completing coursework toward elementary teacher licensure.
The curriculum is ideal for students who need to continue working while completing an undergraduate degree along with education coursework toward licensure. Until the semester of the teaching internship (student teaching), students enroll in later afternoon and evening classes so they can continuing to work while studying.
Enrolling in a teacher preparation program includes additional requirements that you’ll complete as you complete your degree. You’ll be assigned an undergradute advisor and an education advisor to help you navigate the requirements.
Required electives in the Liberal Arts major may be selected from among required Education coursework; advisors will provide specific recommendations for completing the degree with as few courses as possible.
Application Process
The first step to enter the program is admission to the BALA program. Review the bachelor’s degree, liberal arts major and elementary education concentration requirements below. All admission requirements for the BALA apply to the BALA-EE program.
To apply, prospective students should complete the Bachelor’s Degree application, selecting the BALA in Liberal Arts option. When asked if you’d like to complete the BALA Education Concentration, check the box to indicate your interest. Doing so helps us advise applicants in transfer and elective coursework to ensure no unnecessary classes are taken.
The second step to enter the program is declaring the Elementary Education concentration. To be eligible for the EE concentration, students must meet the following requirements:
- Minimum GPA of 2.7
- Passing score on the Virginia Communication & Literacy (VCLA) exam
To declare the concentration, contact your advisor to start the process.
Program Details
-
Bachelor’s Degree
BALA Program of Study
Total: 120 semester hours
General Education
30 semester hours. Includes Common Seminar, Areas of Study and Language and Cultural Studies.
Common Seminar
6 semester hours
- Knowledge Management: Seminar Across the Disciplines (online only)
or
- Knowledge Management: Seminar Across the Disciplines I
- Knowledge Management: Seminar Across the Disciplines II
Areas of Study
18 semester hours. At least one 3-hour course from each of the following areas:
- History
- Literature
- Natural Sciences
- Social Sciences and Cultural Studies
- Finite Mathematics (or higher)
- The Arts
Language and Cultural Studies
6 semester hours
- Understanding Culture and Language (online only)
or
- Understanding Culture and Language I
- Understanding Culture and Language II
Language and Cultural Studies Exemptions
Students majoring in Liberal Arts who have completed six (6) semester hours (or equivalent) in language coursework with a grade of “C” or better may earn waivers for
and . Credits from a study abroad experience may also count toward the six-hour requirement.Students majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies (online only) must take
as part of the course of study.Students who wish to switch from the major in Interdisciplinary Studies to the major in Liberal Arts and who have passed
with a grade of 'C' or better may earn waivers for and .Students who pass
, or may not take the courses again for repeated credit in the BALA program (to include both Liberal Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies majors).General Distribution
60 semester hours. Coursework selected from across the curriculum. Undergraduate minors (combined with the major in Liberal Arts only) may be drawn from this area. Foundation Coursework, if required, counts toward General Distribution.
Online Interdisciplinary Studies Exceptions
Online Interdisciplinary Studies students combine General Education and General Distribution requirements. 60 semester hours total required, 45 hours prior to transfer to University of Richmond. Foundation Coursework requirements except
are built in the 60-hour Interdisciplinary Studies major for online students.Foundation Coursework
The student’s placement test score, along with advising recommendations, will determine the pathway of foundation courses before other required coursework.
- Strategic Reading and Writing
- Critical Writing and Research I
- Critical Writing and Research II
- Finite Mathematics
Major
30 semester hours (Liberal Arts) or 60 semester hours (Interdisciplinary Studies).
- Select from Liberal Arts or Online Interdisciplinary Studies.
-
Liberal Arts Major
LA Major Program of Study
The undergraduate major in liberal arts is available for the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts (BALA).
Total: 30 semester hours
Required Core
12 semester hours. Select four 300-level courses that meet the following requirements:
- One 3-hour course from each of the following groupings (12 semester hours)
- Selected topics (numbered 398U) are eligible
- Independent studies (numbered 399U) may be eligible (requires chair approval)
Social Sciences
- Anthropology (ANTH)
- Economics (ECON)
- Education (EDUC)
- Geography (GEOG)
- History (HIST)
- International Studies (ISTY)
- Journalism (JOUR)
- Philosophy (PHIL)
- Political Science (PLSC)
- Psychology (PSYC)
- Sociology (SOC)
Sciences
- Biology (BIOL)
- Geology (GEOL)
- General Science (GSCI)
- Mathematics (MATH)
Humanities
- Art (ART)
- Studio Art (ARTS)
- English (ENGL)
- Foreign Languages
- Humanities (HUM)
- Music (MUS)
- Religious Studies (RELG)
- Theatre (THTR)
Professional Studies
- Human Resource Management (HRM)
- Communications (SPCH)
- Nonprofit Studies (NPS)
- Paralegal Studies (LA/LAW)
- Information Systems (ISYS)
- Education (EDUC)
Liberal Arts Electives
18 semester hours from across the humanities, sciences and social sciences. 12 semester hours must be taken at or above the 300U level. 100U- and 200U-level courses may be taken prior to or concurrent with the Knowledge Management sequence (
and ). -
Education Concentration
Elementary Education Program of Study
Undergraduate students may opt for an additional concentration in education toward elementary teacher licensure preparation while working toward a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts (BALA) degree.
Total: 41 semester hours
Professional Studies
27 semester hours
- Instruction and Assessment in Elementary Science
- Instruction and Assessment in Elementary Social Studies
- Concepts and Methods in Elementary Math
- Assessment and Differentiation in Elementary Math
- Foundations of Education
- Diverse Learners and Human Growth and Development
- Reading Foundations for Early Literacy Instruction
- Assessment, Intervention and Literacy Strategies for Elementary Readers
- Classroom and Behavior Management
Field Experience
14 semester hours
- Teaching Internship (12 sem. hrs.)
- Pre-Internship Workshop Series (0.25 sem. hrs.)
- Capstone Seminar (1.75 sem. hrs.)