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:

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

    • ADED 300U Knowledge Management: Seminar Across the Disciplines (online only)

    or

    • ADED 301U Knowledge Management: Seminar Across the Disciplines I
    • ADED 302U 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
    • MATH 103U Finite Mathematics (or higher)
    • The Arts

    Language and Cultural Studies

    6 semester hours

    • IDST 306U Understanding Culture and Language (online only)

    or

    • IDST 304U Understanding Culture and Language I
    • IDST 305U 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 IDST 304U and IDST 305U. Credits from a study abroad experience may also count toward the six-hour requirement.

    Students majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies (online only) must take IDST 306U 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 IDST 306U with a grade of 'C' or better may earn waivers for IDST 304U and IDST 305U.

    Students who pass IDST 304U, IDST 305U or IDST 306U 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 MATH 103U 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.

    • ENGL 101U Strategic Reading and Writing
    • ENGL 201U Critical Writing and Research I
    • ENGL 202U Critical Writing and Research II
    • MATH 103U 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 (ADED 301U and ADED 302U).

  • 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

    • EDUC 307U Instruction and Assessment in Elementary Science
    • EDUC 308U Instruction and Assessment in Elementary Social Studies
    • EDUC 310U Concepts and Methods in Elementary Math
    • EDUC 311U Assessment and Differentiation in Elementary Math
    • EDUC 317U Foundations of Education
    • EDUC 318U Diverse Learners and Human Growth and Development
    • EDUC 324U Reading Foundations for Early Literacy Instruction
    • EDUC 326U Assessment, Intervention and Literacy Strategies for Elementary Readers
    • EDUC 358U Classroom and Behavior Management

    Field Experience

    14 semester hours

    • EDUC 475U Teaching Internship (12 sem. hrs.)
    • EDUC 484U Pre-Internship Workshop Series (0.25 sem. hrs.)
    • EDUC 485U Capstone Seminar (1.75 sem. hrs.)