University of La Verne

What you'll study

Students take a sequence of foundation and professional courses that build from theory to practice. Typical topic areas include:

• Child and adolescent development: cognitive, social and emotional development and implications for instruction.
• Foundations of education: history, philosophy and ethics of schooling, diversity and equity in education.
• Curriculum and methods: content-specific instructional strategies for literacy, mathematics, science and social studies at the elementary level.
• Assessment and differentiation: formative and summative assessment, data-driven instruction and strategies to reach diverse learners, including students with special needs and English learners.
• Classroom management and pedagogy: creating positive learning environments, behavior supports and family/community engagement.
• Practicum and student teaching: progressively supervised field placements leading to a full-term student teaching experience.

Entry requirements

Admission typically requires a completed high school diploma or equivalent and official academic transcripts. Candidates may need to meet university-wide admission standards and declare the teacher-preparation major; some programmes use a phased admission into the professional sequence tied to minimum coursework, GPA thresholds and faculty recommendation. Because the programme leads to K–6 classroom practice, applicants should expect background checks, health clearances or immunization documentation and compliance with any state-mandated pre-service screenings before field placements.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared to pursue elementary classroom teaching positions, often working toward or meeting requirements for state teaching credentials. Career paths include classroom teacher in public and private elementary schools, instructional coach, curriculum specialist, literacy specialist, or roles in after-school and community education settings. Some graduates continue to credential programmes, pursue master’s degrees in education or move into administration, special education, or curriculum development.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

Prospective students should explore institutional scholarships, departmental awards for education majors, state or federal teacher incentive programmes, and grants that support teacher preparation. Additional funding opportunities may exist for candidates willing to teach high-need subjects or work in underserved districts; employer tuition-reimbursement and loan forgiveness for public service are other common options to offset the cost of study and credentialing.