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Elementary Education Degree
Our Interdisciplinary Generalist program is dedicated to preparing future EC-6 classroom teachers who understand how to provide positive and productive learning environments as well as engaging and developmentally appropriate instruction that is respectful for diverse learners in public, private, or charter school classrooms.
Because of our faculty members’ past teaching, administrative, or regional consultant experiences, the mosaic of the Interdisciplinary Generalist program is highlighted with reality while learning how to apply researched-based theories. Through the various hands-on learning experiences with HSU faculty members, local certified educators, and administrators, our HSU Education majors develop a personal and professional philosophy of teaching that targets the whole child – socially, emotionally, cognitively, and physically.
The Hardin-Simmons University Interdisciplinary Generalist program is accredited by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), which reviews our Educator Preparation Program yearly with a review of test scores and other accountability requirements.
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Dr. Renee Collins
Professor of Education, Associate Dean of the Irvin School of EducationRequest Information
Majors
- Interdisciplinary Generalist (BSHS)
Minors
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Become a Teacher at HSU

Real-World Connections
Our Interdisciplinary Generalist majors participate in several unique field experiences – Early Childhood Practicum, Small Group Instruction in Schools, two-week Science Summer Literacy Camp, and two-week Summer Gifted Camp – that require designing and implementing instructional activities to engage EC-6 students in one-on-one, small group, and large group instruction.

State Certifications
Through the EC-6 Interdisciplinary Generalist program students successfully complete the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES) Program content tests: Core Subjects EC-6 (291) exams, the EC-12 Pedagogy, and Professional Roles exam (160), as well as English as a Second Language (ESL) exam (154).

Reflection
“Irvin School of Education has become my home over the few years I have attended Hardin-Simmons University. I have been challenged to grow academically, spiritually and socially. My professors have taught me how to have ownership over my education and be faithful in my studies. I am excited to apply the knowledge I have learned into my future classroom.” -Molli Howard

Dr. Renee Collins' Story
"It became evident that everything the faculty members were doing had a purpose and relevance to the field of teaching."
Read full storyProgram Details
All courses and course descriptions for each degree type can be found in the Undergraduate Catalog:
Interdisciplinary Generalist, B.S.H.S. Early Childhood-Grade 6
Candidates for our Teacher Preparation Programs must meet certain requirements outlined in our Admission Requirements document.
Certified graduates of the Interdisciplinary Generalist Bachelor of Science in Human Sciences (BSHS) program are eligible to apply for positions ranging from early childhood classrooms through the 6th grade within the state of Texas.
The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) and Texas Education Agency (TEA) Office of Accountability has awarded Hardin-Simmons University Teacher Education Program a rating of “Accredited” under the Accountability System for Educator Preparation authorized by Texas Education Code 21.045 every year since the rating of teacher preparation entities has been awarded. Educator preparation programs are held accountable for the performance of their graduates on the state credentialing examinations required for certification. Programs must achieve a minimum pass rate on the tests by disaggregated subgroups (All, Male, Female, White, Hispanic, African American, Other) to receive a rating of “Accredited.”
Hardin-Simmons University Educator Preparation Program (EPP) begins teacher certification coursework with a freshman level educational technology course that introduces future teachers to the standards developed by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). These standards require students to apply the roles as a Learner, Leader, Citizen, Collaborator, Designer, Facilitator, and Analyst. Within the technology class, EPP faculty members utilize the SAMR (substitution, augmentation, modification, or redefinition of a task or product) and RAT (replacement, amplification, or transformation) models of instruction within the course applications while introducing real-world connections with the Google’s G-Suite for Education (i.e., Docs, Classroom, Sheets, Forms, etc.). Throughout the remaining EPP pedagogical classes for all certification programs, faculty members require future teachers to apply, analyze, evaluate, and create technological integrations within instruction and assessments for course requirements. Ultimately, all HSU education majors are given an opportunity to gain Level 1 Google Certification prior to graduation.
Hardin-Simmons University EPP prepares teachers to use technology effectively to improve teaching and learning for the purpose of increasing student academic achievement in various junior and senior level content and pedagogical classes. Future teachers focus on analyzing data from informal reading and writing assessments to determine differentiated instruction for diverse learners as well as analyzing sub-populations, frequency distribution, scaffolding TEKS in order to close the achievement gaps (i.e., Eduphoria, Lead4ward, IXL, MobyMax, iStation, Success Maker, Education Galaxy, Starfall, Pebble Go, and Formative Loop) during a senior level capstone course.