Bachelor’s in Elementary Education - Adult Education Program

FSC's Adult Elementary Education curriculum equips students with the latest pedagogical innovations and best practices for classroom success. 

Clinical experiences are embedded throughout the coursework. You will work directly with students under the mentorship of expert, experienced teachers. FSC faculty will work with you from early in the program all the way to your full-time internship in your final semester.

ESOL Endorsement
ESOL techniques are directly infused into the curriculum, preparing you for the culturally and linguistically diverse school environments of Florida and beyond. Graduates are eligible for the Florida Department of Education ESOL Endorsement upon earning their degree.

Reading Endorsement
Elementary Education graduates are eligible for the Florida Department of Education Reading Endorsement upon earning their degree. You will complete reading courses that satisfy all Florida state requirements for teaching reading — putting FSC graduates ahead of the field.

FSC's Adult Elementary Education program is designed around the realities of adult life. Classes are offered online, in the evening, and in 7-week accelerated terms, with entry points throughout the year.

While students may begin during any term, it is recommended that you begin during Term 1A in the fall to ensure continuous enrollment leading to your internship. The internship, a 12-week full-time placement completed in Term 1C or 2C, takes place after all undergraduate coursework is completed with a grade of C or better, a cumulative GPA of 2.5, passing scores on all parts of the Florida Teaching Certification Exam (FTCE), and permission from the Dean of the School of Education.

Elementary Education (K-6) major requirements follow FSC's standard Elementary Education curriculum. See the academic catalog for the complete course list.

Elementary Education Major Requirements 

1. WRIGHT Foundations Requirements.....................................................34 hours
2. Major Requirements.......................................................................66-68 hours 

EDU 1000	Professional Preparation for Education Majors
EDU 1107	Foundations of Education I
EDU 2200	Field Study Level I
EDU 2203	Foundations of Education II
EDU 2210	Foundations in Special Education
EDU 2235	Methods of Assessment
EDU 2240	Foundations of Reading Instruction
EDU 2241	Clinical Experience in Literacy Instruction
EDU 3279	Foundations of ESOL I
EDU 3323	Field Study Level II
EDU 3333	Foundations of Education III
EDU 3339	Instructional Methods in Elementary Mathematics
EDU 3343	Literacy and Literature in the Classroom
EDU 3347	Diagnostic Assessment and Instruction in Literacy
EDU 3370	Differentiated Instruction of Reading
EDU 4400	Field Study Level III
EDU 4407	Instructional Methods in Social Studies in the Elementary School
EDU 4409	Instructional Methods in Science in the Elementary School
EDU 4478	Applied Linguistics–ESOL II
EDU 4887	Reading Endorsement Practicum
EDU 4889	Student Teacher Intern Seminar
EDU 4990	Senior Internship

3. Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements...........................................12 hours 
4. Electives .........................................................................................10-12 hours
5. Total ....................................................................................................124 hours

Florida Southern participates in all major federal financial aid programs, including military funding, along with State of Florida programs such as the Effective Access to Student Education Grant (EASE). PCPS employees may be eligible for the Greenhouse Project. Contact the district for more information.

2026-2027
Tuition per credit hour: $390
Technology fee per semester: based on credit hours enrolled

You'll need a bachelor's degree, and the most direct route is a state-approved teacher education program paired with passing scores on the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE). FSC's Adult BS in Elementary Education is a Florida Department of Education-approved program that covers both, and graduates are eligible for a Florida Professional Teacher Certificate in Elementary Education (K-6) with endorsements in ESOL (K-12) and Reading (K-12).

Yes. Both endorsements are built directly into the degree. ESOL techniques are infused throughout the curriculum, and graduates complete reading courses that satisfy all Florida state requirements for the Reading Endorsement - no additional coursework required after graduation.

Yes. FSC's Adult Elementary Education program is designed for working adults. Classes are offered online, in the evening, and in 7-week accelerated terms with six entry points throughout the year, giving you flexibility to balance your education with your career and family commitments.

Most likely, yes. Send us official transcripts from every institution you have attended and we will evaluate them course by course. Credits from regionally accredited colleges and universities transfer readily, and military service-connected educational experience may also be awarded credit. Many adult students arrive further along than they expect.

If you have earned 25 or more transferable credit hours, that is all we need from your academic history. Fewer than 25, and we will also ask for your high school transcript or GED scores.

Not necessarily. If you have earned 25 or more transferable credit hours, we do not ask for test scores at all. If you have fewer than 25, you can submit SAT or ACT scores, or apply test-optional and send an updated resume instead.

Your timeline depends on the credit you bring with you. The program totals 124 credit hours and runs in accelerated 7-week terms, with six start dates a year and up to 12 courses (48 credit hours) per year. Most adult students arrive with transfer credit, and an A.A. from a Florida institution can cover roughly half the degree. Your advisor maps your exact path from your transcript before you enroll, and because the sequence builds toward a full-time internship in your final semester, starting in the fall Term 1A keeps you on the most efficient track.

No. Our adult undergraduate students are people with jobs, families, and years of professional experience. You will not be the only one who has been away from a classroom for a decade or more. Your advisor works with you from acceptance through graduation, and our faculty teach adults for a living. What you have done since your last semester is an asset in a classroom, not a liability.

The full-time internship is completed during Term 1C or 2C (12 weeks) after all undergraduate coursework is completed with a grade of C or better, a cumulative GPA of 2.5, passing scores on all parts of the FTCE, and permission of the Dean of the School of Education.

Yes, a few. Beyond standard tuition, education students should budget for some program-specific items: a Polk County Public Schools background clearance and ID badge ($80), and the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE), which include the General Knowledge Test ($130), the Professional Educator Test ($150), and the Subject Area Exam ($150). Your advisor can walk you through the full list and the timing of each.

The degree is the same. Both the adult and traditional programs lead to a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Florida Southern College, both are approved by the Florida Department of Education, and both prepare you for the same K-6 certification with ESOL and Reading Endorsements built in. Your degree and your credentials are identical.

What differs is how you earn them. The adult program is built around a working life: classes are offered online and in the evening, in accelerated 7-week terms with six start dates a year, so you can keep your job and your routine while you study. The traditional program is a daytime, on-campus experience designed for full-time undergraduate students. You will complete the same clinical training and a full-time internship either way.

Florida Southern does not have dedicated housing for adult undergraduate students. There may be limited rooms available. For information on this option, please contact the Office of Residential Life.

The Lakeland Chamber of Commerce has a list of members offering housing in the area. The College does not endorse any specific housing option, and we advise you to research these facilities (or other opportunities) on your own.