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Liberal Studies Major

Inspire and teach elementary school students

The Liberal Studies major is for students who are interested in becoming elementary teachers in grades Pre-Kindergarten through six. Bridgewater College offers a quality program accredited by the state of Virginia. The Liberal Studies major is currently transitioning to an Elementary Education major. 

You should major in Liberal Studies to pursue licensure to teach grades PreK-6.

Consult early with the education department faculty regarding your choice of major. If you are a transfer candidate, you should meet with a member of the education department as soon as you arrive at Bridgewater to plan your education course sequence.

For more information about courses and licensure, consult the Liberal Studies Major in the Bridgewater College Academic Catalog.

Required courses

  • ENG 345W – Literature for Children (3 Credits)
  • PWR 315 – Teaching Writing (3 Credits)
  • MATH 105 – Mathematical Theory & Computation I (3 Credits)
  • MATH 115 – Mathematical Theory & Computation II (3 Credits)
  • MATH 140 – Introduction to Statistics (3 Credits)
  • HIST 112 – Introduction to World History (3 Credits)
  • HIST 201 – History of the United States to 1877 (3 Credits)
  • HIST 202 – History of the United States Since 1877 (3 Credits)
  • GEOG 195 – World Regional Geography (3 Credits)
  • BIOL 100 – The Nature of the Biological World (4 Credits)

Choose one course from each of the following categories:

Economics

  • ECON 200 – Principles of Macroeconomics (3 Credits)
  • OR ECON 210 – Principle of Microeconomics (3 Credits)

English and Writing

  • PWR 275 – Grammar, Style & Editing (3 Credits)
  • OR ENG 300 – Linguistics (3 Credits)

Physics

  • PHYS 110 – Introductory Astronomy (4 Credits)
  • OR PHYS 119 – Physics and the Modern World (4 Credits)
  • OR PHYS 125 – Concepts of Physics (4 Credits)

Family Consumer Sciences

  • FCS 345 – Child Development (4 Credits)
  • OR FCS 408X – Parent and Child Relations (3 Credits)

In addition to the core requirements, complete the following professional education courses for Elementary Education (PreK-6) Licensure:

  • EDUC 140 – Introduction to Teaching (3 Credits)
  • EDUC 200 – Educational Psychology (3 Credits)
  • EDUC 215 – Diversity in the Classroom (4 Credits)
  • EDUC 316 – Strategies for Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary Classroom (3 Credits)
  • EDUC 330 – Early Literacy (4 Credits)
  • EDUC 332 – Intermediate Literacy (2 Credits)
  • EDUC 371E – Classroom Management, Elementary (4 Credits)
  • EDUC 380X – Practicum in Current Teaching Techniques (3 Credits)
  • EDUC 406 – Curriculum and Instruction for Elementary Classrooms (4 Credits)
  • EDUC 451 – Seminar in Educational Practices, Elementary (1 Credit)
  • EDUC 470 – Professional Student Teaching (13 Credits)