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2026-2027 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog [In Progress]

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Educational Studies Major - Elementary Teacher Certification: PK-3 and 3-6 Emphases (General Education)

Requirements for Educational Studies Major - Elementary Teacher Certification: PK-3 and 3-6 Emphases (General Education)

Students in the Educational Studies major at Grand Valley State University must follow all degree requirements for the Pedagogical Content Knowledge for Elementary Teaching (PCKET) major as well as general education requirements as defined in the Grand Valley State University Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog. Students will choose one (1) of the three (3) options: Lower Elementary Emphasis (PK-3), Upper Elementary Emphasis (3-6), or a combined Lower and Upper Elementary Emphasis (PK-6).

Educational Studies Major Requirements for Lower Elementary (PK-3) Emphasis (55 credits)

A Michigan Lower Elementary (PK-3) standard teaching certification allows the holder to teach all subjects prekindergarten through third grade. Required coursework for the PK-3 emphasis includes all of the following:

Clinical Teacher Apprenticeship Semester

All Educational Studies PK-3 Teacher Candidates must take-

*Must be taken concurrently with the Clinical Teacher Apprenticeship course.

**Teacher Candidates will be placed in academically, culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse settings.

Clinical Internship Semester

All Educational Studies PK-3 Teacher Candidates must take-

*Must be taken concurrently with the Clinical Teacher Internship course.

**Teacher Candidates will be placed in academically, culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse settings.

Educational Studies Major Requirements for Upper Elementary (3-6) Emphasis (49 credits)

A Michigan Upper Elementary (3-6) standard teaching certification allows the holder to teach all subjects third through sixth grade. Required coursework for the 3-6 emphasis includes all of the following:

Clinical Teacher Apprenticeship Semester

All Educational Studies 3-6 Teacher Candidates must take-

*Must be taken concurrently with the Clinical Teacher Apprenticeship course.

**Teacher Candidates will be placed in academically, culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse settings.

Clinical Teacher Internship Semester

All Educational Studies 3-6 Teacher Candidates must take-

*Must be taken concurrently with the Clinical Teacher Internship course.

**Teacher Candidates will be placed in academically, culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse settings.

Educational Studies Major Requirements for Combined Lower Elementary (PK-3) and Upper Elementary (3-6) Certification (55 credits)

Michigan Lower Elementary (PK-3) certification and a Michigan Upper Elementary (3-6) certification allows the holder to teach all subjects prekindergarten through sixth grade. Required coursework for the combined PK-3 and 3-6 (PK-6) emphases includes all of the following:

Required coursework for the PK-6 emphasis includes all of the following:

Clinical Teacher Apprenticeship Semester

All Educational Studies PK-6 Teacher Candidates must take-

*Must be taken concurrently with the Clinical Teacher Apprenticeship course.

**Teacher Candidates will be placed in academically, culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse settings.

Clinical Teacher Internship Semester

All Educational Studies PK-6 Teacher Candidates must take-

*Must be taken concurrently with the Clinical Teacher Internship course.

**Teacher Candidates will be placed in academically, culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse settings.


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