Elementary Education Second Bachelor’s Degree B.A. or B.S.

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Second Bachelor Degree Program

The Department of Elementary Education's Second Bachelor's Degree Program leads to a B.S. in early childhood education, or a B.A. in elementary education, or a B.S. in elementary education, with a concentration in special education. The program is individualized, depending on the candidate’s background, and generally runs between 45-80 credits. It is completed within a minimum of four semesters.

If you hold a first bachelor's degree in a subject other than English, French, general science, mathematics, social studies, Spanish, geography, history, political science or theatre; or if you do not have sufficient credits in general education/liberal arts, you will be required to take a content major or a teaching concentration in special education together with your program in elementary education. You will meet with an advisor to set up a Plan of Study for this program.

Admission Requirements

Admittance to the Second Bachelor's Degree Program requires a double admission process: you apply to Rhode Island College through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and later you apply to the Feinstein School of Education and Human Development (FSEHD).

Requirements for admission to the FSEHD are as follows:

  1. You must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75.
  2. You must pass FNED 101, if this course is listed on your Plan of Study.
  3. You must earn a grade of B- or better in FNED 246, if this course is listed on your Plan of Study.
  4. You must complete three Anchored Disposition Assessments – Faculty, Supervisor and Self assessments. These are completed in Chalk and Wire while enrolled in FNED 246. Your course instructor will provide details.
  5. You must undergo a Rhode Island background check (BCI).

Retention Requirements

  1. A minimum overall grade point average of 2.50 each semester.
  2. A minimum grade of B- in ELED 300, or ELED/SPED 302, or ECED 301, and recommendation to continue from the instructor.
  3. A minimum grade of B- in all other professional courses, and a recommendation to continue from the instructors. Courses in the department may be repeated once with a recommendation to retake from the previous instructor.
  4. A minimum GPA in all content courses offered in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

Students accepted into the Department of Special Education and the Department of Elementary Education must maintain concurrent retention in both departments.