Foundations of Teaching & Elementary Education (Dual Degree)
How to Earn Your Teaching License with BSC & VCSU or MiSU
Overview
Degrees Offered: B.A.S. degree from BSC & B.S. degree from VCSU
Program Begins: Fall, Spring, Summer
Delivery Method: Online, On Campus
Phone: 701-224-5486
Email: bsc.has@bismarckstate.edu
Description
This Bachelor's of Applied Science degree program is intended to provide a solid foundation for teacher preparedness, confidence, and tenacity. It will lead to the federal Title I Paraprofessional Certificate of Completion, the North Dakota Substitute Teaching License, with an option to co-enroll in a 4-year licensing bachelor's degree at a partner institution for completion of two bachelor's degrees simultaneously; this ultimately will lead to full teaching licensure as well.*
Learn more about earning a teaching license through a partner institution
Preparation
This program is designed to allow a student to be admitted as either a direct enrolled applicant or as a transfer applicant. Refer to the Program Admission tab for additional admission requirements.
This Bachelor’s of Applied Science degree will lead to the federal Title I Paraprofessional Certificate of Completion, the North Dakota Substitute Teaching License, and could lead to full teacher licensure and two bachelor’s degrees when a student co-enrolls with BSC and one of our partnering institutions. This will ultimately lead to the strongest preparation of teachers and paraprofessionals in the state.
State Authorization and Licensure | Student Disclosure Information
Requirements
Students who complete the requirements will earn a Bachelor's of Applied Science in Foundations of Teaching.
Only one BAS in Foundations of Teaching can be earned. Conferral of the BAS requires successful completion of the minimum number of upper level credits (300-400 level courses) in education-related coursework at BSC or another institution.
Program Pathways
Credits from these programs may stack into this Bachelor of Applied Science degree:
- Education Foundations - Early Childhood & Elementary Program Certificate
- Education Foundations - Secondary Program Certificate
- An Associate in Arts degree
- An Associate in Science degree
Career Opportunities
Title I Paraprofessional, Substitute Teacher, students who complete the B.S.Ed. with a cooperating institution can become a licensed educator.
Additional Information
* To earn a full teaching license to become a classroom teacher, students must co-enroll in one of our partner institution’s B.S. Ed. programs. To be eligible for dual-enrollment in a partnering licensing program, students must have:
- A cumulative GPA at or above 2.75 at the time of admission to their Education program.
- Passed the Praxis CORE Exam for Educators (Reading, Writing, Math).2
Students may graduate with BSC's BAS degree with a minimum GPA of 2.0. However, students will not be eligible for dual-enrollment in a licensing program if their cumulative GPA upon the admission to the partnering licensing program is not at or above 2.75.
** Partner institutions reserve the right to modify the competency course requirement at any time. Students are encouraged to speak to the partner institution advisor for the most up-to-date competency course requirement.
College Admission
Review BSC's How to Apply page and complete the college admission requirements.
Program Admission
The Bachelor of Applied Science in Foundations of Teaching is designed for qualified students to be directly admitted. In addition to being admitted to BSC, students must also complete Valley City State University's Elementary Education program requirements.
Students must meet these BSC Foundations of Teaching program requirements based on their status:
First-Year Applicant
A student who has no prior postsecondary experience or who has earned less than 24 semester credits or 36 quarter credits. Students who earned college credits while still in high school are considered first-year applicants.
Students must apply and be accepted at BSC as degree seeking, in addition to the following requirements:
- Minimum high school cumulative grade point average – 2.00+
- Completion of high school core course requirements:
- English: four units
- Mathematics: Algebra I or above – three units
- Laboratory Science: three units
- Social Science: three units
Notes:
- Successful completion of a GED exam meets the qualifications for both #1 and #2 above.
- Applicants 25 years of age or older on the first day of class are exempt from the high school core requirements.
- Students who don’t meet requirements #1 and #2 will begin their college career in Education Foundations - Early Childhood & Elementary Program Certificate, Education Foundations - Secondary Program Certificate, an Associate in Arts degree, or an Associate in Science degree.
- After the completion of one semester of BSC enrollment with a 2.00 cumulative GPA, a student may request a program change into the Foundations of Teaching Bachelor of Applied Science program.
Transfer Applicant
A student who has earned 24 semester credits or 36 quarter credits from an accredited post-secondary institution.
Students must apply and be accepted at BSC as degree seeking, in addition to the following requirements:
- Cumulative grade point average – 2.00+ on all accredited post-secondary institutions attended.
- Student must not be on dismissed or suspension status at their most recently attended institution.
Notes:
- Students who don’t meet requirements #1 and #2 will begin their college career in Education Foundations - Early Childhood & Elementary Program Certificate, Education Foundations - Secondary Program Certificate, an Associate in Arts degree, or an Associate in Science degree.
- After the completion of one semester of BSC enrollment with a 2.00 cumulative GPA, a student may request a program change into the Foundations of Teaching Bachelor of Applied Science program.
Returning Applicant
Returning to BSC following a break in enrollment or graduation.
Students must apply and be accepted at BSC as degree seeking, in addition to the following requirements:
- Cumulative grade point average – 2.00+ on credits from all prior accredited post-secondary institutions attended, including BSC.
- Student must not be on dismissed or suspension status.
Notes:
- Students who don’t meet requirements #1 and #2 will begin their college career in Education Foundations - Early Childhood & Elementary Program Certificate, Education Foundations - Secondary Program Certificate, an Associate in Arts degree, or an Associate in Science degree.
- After the completion of one semester of BSC enrollment with a 2.00 cumulative GPA, a student may request a program change into the Foundations of Teaching Bachelor of Applied Science program.
Current Student
An active student who has successfully completed at least one semester at BSC.
Students must be degree seeking, in addition to the following requirements:
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher based on coursework completed at all previously attended accredited postsecondary institutions, including BSC.
- Be in good academic standing and not on academic suspension.
Note:
- Students who don’t meet requirements #1 and #2 will begin their college career in Education Foundations - Early Childhood & Elementary Program Certificate, Education Foundations - Secondary Program Certificate, an Associate in Arts degree, or an Associate in Science degree.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon graduation, Foundations of Teaching students will be able to demonstrate:
- The essential dispositions of professional educators in class and P-12 classroom experiences consistently.
- Ethical and lawful behaviors essential for educators in today’s classrooms
- The ability to make ethical judgments and problem-solve when challenged with difficult dilemmas in education.
- Competency in Title I Paraprofessional training to assist in reading, writing, and math instruction.
- Appreciation for students of all abilities in the inclusive classroom.
- Mastered competency in the teaching foundations.1
- 1
Teaching tenacity (purpose), learner development & motivation, curriculum & assessment for learning, ethics, and problem-solving/initiative.