Education Studies BA/BS
Providing the space and opportunities for future educators to become the encouraging light for today’s students.
Education Studies (with or without initial teaching license) – BA/BS
Education Studies, BA/BS
Offered as a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science Major
Elementary Licensure Pathway and Education Degree Pathway
Students in the Education Studies program at SOU are able to earn both their bachelor’s degree and their Oregon Preliminary teaching license. Entering freshmen at SOU have an opportunity to explore their interests and prepare for the education studies program during their freshman and sophomore years while fulfilling the University Studies (general education) requirements. General education and elective course selection in the first 90 credit hours will vary by students’ needs and backgrounds. Certain upper division courses in the field are restricted to majors. Students are encouraged to meet with an advisor in the School of Education early in their freshman year.
Students should declare an Education Studies major at the end of their sophomore or beginning of their junior year. Students seeking the BA/BS degree along with a teaching license must apply and be formally admitted to the licensure track. Applications for licensure coursework are usually submitted during the winter term in the junior year. Admission to this track is competitive. The School of Education notifies students of its decision after reviewing applications. Information about the application process and criteria for admittance is available from individual advisors, from the School of Education website, and from the office coordinator.
The undergraduate Education Studies program has strong partnerships and articulation agreements with RCC and other state and regional community colleges. Community college transfer students who wish to earn a bachelor’s degree in elementary education may apply for their previous credits upon acceptance at SOU. Transfer students should seek early advisement in SOU’s School of Education to learn more regarding application and admittance procedures to the education degree and licensure program.
Majors in Education Studies take upper-division coursework in their junior and senior years that includes teacher preparation requirements, including content knowledge, pedagogy, and field experiences. The coursework focuses on understanding children in unique stages of development and learning, children and families from diverse backgrounds, multidisciplinary content knowledge and pedagogy, and field experiences in multiple, diverse settings.
Satellite Programs
SOU has developed partnerships with two community colleges, Klamath Community College and Southwestern Oregon Community College, to form satellite programs. Students in the Klamath Falls area or along the central and southern Oregon coast are able to earn their degrees and teaching licenses while taking courses in their local communities, online, and through a hybrid format including once-a-month Saturdays on the SOU campus.
Guided Pathways
for Education Studies, Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science
Program Contact
Amanda Casto
Phone: 541.552.7051
Email: castoa@sou.edu
Career Opportunities
Career Outlook
Associate Degree Paths
Rogue Community College:
Elementary Education, Associate of Applied Science
Umpqua Community College:
Education, Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer
Southwestern Community College:
Elementary Education, Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer
Klamath Community College:
Paraeducator Emphasis, Associate of Applied Science
Similar Majors
Similar Minors & Certificates
Degree Fit
Program Preparation
Students who are dedicated to the field of education and have a desire to develop their abilities for teaching are encouraged to enter the SOU Education Studies program.
Degree Roadmap
Education Studies majors working toward a BA/BS will receive a broad array of content-based courses. Students will take a core curriculum covering historical and psychological foundations of education as well as many content-specific methods courses to prepare them for a future in teaching.
Capstone
The Capstone Research project for Education Studies degree students is designed by each individual student with the collaboration of SOU faculty. Students can choose any topic they desire related to education, and this usually links to their internship, which is completed in the winter and spring terms. Education Studies students accepted into the licensure program will complete a research paper following a line of inquiry, written in the fall term. The student teaching experiences during the winter and spring terms serve as their field work/internship.
Career Path
Become a Professional
Career opportunities for an Education Studies degree:
- Elementary classroom teacher
- Private school teacher
- Staff development trainer for educators
- Libraries – working with children’s book collections
- Pre-school teaching, pre-kindergarten programs, Head Start, etc.
- Education Assistant
- Tutoring, substitute teaching (in some states)
- Tour group leader in science museums
- Educational activity directors
- Environmental education programs
- Teaching English abroad
- Residential Outdoor Program counselor or director
- Social and human service agent
- Non-profit agency employee training
Salary Range
$40,000-$59,000
*Based on National Average
Future Success
SOU Education Alumni
Kim DeYoung - 2012
BS in Elementary Education
5th grade teacher, Allendale Elementary, Grants Pass, OR
Eric Pyka - 2014
BA in Elementary Education
5th Grade Teacher, Kennedy Elementary, Medford, OR
Kelly Martin - 2010
BS in Elementary Education
3rd grade teacher, Helman Elementary, Ashland, OR
Contact the School of Education
SOU Education Program
1250 Siskiyou Blvd.
Ashland, OR 97520
541.552.6936
– Questions About The SOU Education Program? –