Undergraduate Major
Education students at the USF St. Petersburg campus consistently perform at the top of their field in the state. The K-6 Elementary and K-12 Exceptional Education program trains students to excel as effective, compassionate K–12 educators. This 68-credit hour hybrid program allows graduates to earn dual certification in K–5 Elementary Education and K–12 Exceptional Student Education, along with Reading and ESOL endorsements.
DEGREE OPTIONS
The College of Education offers a B.S. in K-6 Elementary and K-12 Exceptional Education program on the St. Petersburg campus as well as an Education minor.
View more information about education options on the USF Tampa campus.
K-6 Elementary and K-12 Exceptional Education at USF St. Petersburg
Students can graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education, with a certificate in K-6 Elementary Education, as well as certification in K-12 Exceptional Student Education. It also comes with endorsements in reading and English for Speakers of Other Languages, or ESOL. An endorsement denotes particular expertise in an instructional level or methodology on a Florida teaching certificate. The elementary education degree provides students with two endorsements and two certifications when they graduate.
The St. Petersburg campus is also home to the STEM INQ lab, allowing aspiring educators and current faculty to infuse the latest in science, technology, education and math into teaching methods. The lab is rich with multidisciplinary tools, including 3D printers, AutoCAD and virtual and augmented reality to enhance experiential and inquiry-based models of learning.
We are also proud to host the Call Me MiSTER program, which recruits men and women of color from diverse backgrounds to complete a teacher preparation program at USF and earn their initial teacher certification. Conducted in partnership with Pinellas County Schools, the program's goal is to increase the number of male teachers of color who go on to teach in urban school settings.
Overall, an education degree from the College of Education has proven to be extremely marketable. Ninety-eight percent of the graduates secure jobs in their field within six months after graduating. Most have job offers before they graduate.
Preparing teachers for classrooms of the future
The Emerging Technology Lab is outfitted with robotics, coding, augmented reality, virtual reality, artificial intelligence and more. We are preparing our students for what the classroom will look like five years from now. As technology changes and adapts, so does our lab.
potential careers
- Elementary school teacher
- Exceptional student education (ESE) teacher
- Reading interventionist
- Curriculum or instructional support specialist
- Educational consultant
Degree requirements
Always refer to the Undergraduate Catalog for degree requirements. Students will typically begin progress toward the major by taking at least one course from the major core, as these often serve as prerequisites for the electives. Students are urged to consult with the education advisor to create the most beneficial set of courses.
QUESTIONS?
For questions about this program, contact an Academic Advisor.