The Early Childhood Generalist Endorsement (Grade 4–5), offered in the summer term only, allows teachers who hold a current valid Ohio Early Childhood Education (PreK–Grade 3) license to teach all core academic content areas in grades four and five. The program is made up of 5 courses that are available entirely online plus field experience. The addition of this endorsement to your license provides school districts with greater staffing flexibility, Early Childhood teachers with additional teaching options, and facilitates the mobility of teachers into Ohio from other states.
Currently licensed Early Childhood educators are eligible for this program per Ohio Department of Education regulations, but Endorsement cohorts are not eligible for GA/GRS tuition waivers. You must have at least a 2.75 Undergraduate GPA to be accepted into the graduate-level program and submit official transcripts from all universities attended when you apply unless you are an Ohio University graduate.
| Term | 4th-5th Grade Generalist Courses | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | EDEL 5250 Teaching Reading and Language Arts to Fourth and Fifth Graders | 2 |
| Summer | EDEL 5560 Teaching Social Studies to Fourth and Fifth Graders | 2 |
| Summer | EDEL 5370 Teaching Mathematics to Fourth and Fifth Graders | 2 |
| Summer | EDEL 5480 Teaching Science to Fourth and Fifth Graders | 2 |
| Summer | EDPL 5910 Field Experience in Grades 4 & 5 | 1 |
Tuition and fees for this program at the graduate level are available on the Bursar's website. Only two courses require materials and you may purchase them wherever you like to get the best deal. For tuition and fees at the undergraduate level please visit https://www.ohio.edu/bursar/undergraduate-tuition.
Financial Aid is available but limited to undergraduate Direct Loans that require a minimum of six credit hours. Please complete the FAFSA at https://fafsa.gov (Ohio University school code: 003100) for financial aid consideration for Summer Semester. Contact the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships if you have any questions: financial.aid.elearn@ohio.edu.
Our next graduate cohort is scheduled to begin during our Summer Term: May 15-August 19, 2023. Graduate Applications will again be accepted beginning in January 2023 for this program. The deadline for a complete application (including transcripts) is April 15, 2023. Applications will be reviewed beginning in April.
Yes. This may be the last summer we offer this program so you should plan to take all coursework during the summer. You have 18 months after taking the coursework to finish the field experience and apply for licensure. Courses run for 7 weeks and are entirely online.
No. You can begin your field experience once you have been admitted to the program. Possible field experiences may include, but are not limited to: Summer camps, After school programs, Summer School, Tutoring and Substitute teaching for students in grades 4 and 5.
You will need to contact the Program Coordinator to receive approval for your field experience before beginning.
No. All courses in this endorsement program are required and we do not allow course substitutions from other programs or universities.
In order to be recommended for an Endorsement, you must complete all courses with a 2.75 cumulative Grade Point Average, pass the Ohio Assessment for Educators (OAE) Elementary Education Exams (018/019) with a score of 220 on each section and finish a 50 hour field experience. You can register for the OAE Exams on their website.
When you are ready to apply for your endorsement, please:
Sign up for a SAFE account. If you have questions, please call 614-466-3593. The SAFE sign-up procedure is automated and authenticates users by leveraging real-time Ohio driver license and Ohio identification data. Please use this link to initiate the identity authentication and sign-up process. You can pay all fees online and view your status, check the BCI/FBI tab to see if ODE has current reports, and much more. You can also download a copy of their license once ODE issues it and print it out. ODE no longer mails out paper copies of licenses.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact Zac Schabel, Ohio University Licensing Coordinator at 740-593-4415. Processing time is usually one day. Once ODE/Educator Licensure receives your submission from OHIO, they have a turnaround time of about 2 weeks.
Please note: Candidates seeking licensure within eighteen (18) months of successfully completing an educator preparation program at Ohio University will be recommended for licensure if they apply within that timeframe to the Ohio Department of Education. If application for licensure is made after eighteen (18) months to the Ohio Department of Education, candidates will be required to meet with their program coordinator for consultation regarding any additional state and/or program requirements they need to complete. Following this consultation and the satisfaction of any additionally identified requirements, recommendation by Ohio University will be granted on a case-by-case basis. This applies to all candidates including past graduates who have not earned the license for which they were prepared.
Dr. Pam C. Beam
Teacher Education
Early Childhood Generalist Endorsement Program Coordinator
beamp@ohio.edu
4-5endorsement@ohio.edu