Bachelor of Science - Elementary (High School Pathway) | Meridian

What is GYO?

MSU Grow Your Own Residency for High School Students

Grow Your Own (GYO) is a strategy designed to ease local teacher shortages in which MSU partners with local school districts to create an express pathway for high school students resulting in employment as an assistant teacher or other school paraprofessional (e.g., tutors, etc.) as they complete the requirements to become a licensed elementary teacher. It is highly recommended but not required that the student, called a resident in this model, complete the teacher academy through the district’s career and technical program. However, key to this model is for the school district to create opportunities for residents to complete approximately five college core courses through dual-credit and/or advanced placement credit (less courses can be taken, but results in taking longer time to complete the degree program).

Academics

The following table is an example of courses that might be completed at a community college** while the student is still enrolled as a high school student:

HIGH SCHOOL—SENIOR YEAR (16 hours)

Course	Hours	Course	Hours
*ENG 1113 - English Composition I	3	*ENG 1123 - English Composition II	3
*MAT 1313 - College Algebra	3	ART 1113 - Art Appreciation or MUS 1113 - Music Appreciation or *SPT 2233 - Theater Appreciation	3
*BIO science with lab	4

*The courses listed here are for illustrative purposes only and the student could complete the courses at any approved community college or university. Any combination of courses listed in the academic core of the program potentially could be taken. For potential course opportunities reference the Procedures Manual for the State of Mississippi Dual Enrollment and Accelerated Programs: http://www.mississippi.edu/cjc/downloads/dual_credit_course_listing.pdf

For required advanced placement examination scores to gain credit by examination at MSU: http://www.catalog.msstate.edu/undergraduate/academicpolicies/creditsgradesandstanding/creditbyexamination/

With approximately 16 hours of academic credit completed upon graduation from high school, students enrolled in the GYO residency move on to complete their freshman year of college in just one semester and all the remaining requirements at the community college level in just two terms (spring and summer). The following is illustrative of completing the lower-level requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with Early Childhood Concentration at Meridian Community College (these requirements could potentially be completed at most Mississippi community colleges):

FRESHMAN YEAR – FALL SEMESTER (16 hours)

Course	Hours	Course	Hours
CDT 1214 - Infant and Toddler Development	3	PSC 1113 - American National Government or SOC 2113 - Introduction to Sociology or SOC 2143 - Marriage & Family	3
MAT 1723 - Real Number System	3	CDT 2413 - Development of the Exceptional Child	3
PHY or CH science w/lab	4

SOPHOMORE YEAR – SPRING SEMESTER (16 hours)

Course	Hours	Course	Hours
English Literature Core: ENG (See advisor for complete list of approved courses.)	3	History Core: HIS (See advisor for complete list of approved courses.)	3
MAT 1733 - Geometry and Measurement	3	CDT 1313 - Creative Arts for Young Children	3
BIO, CHE, or PHY science w/lab	4

SOPHOMORE YEAR – SUMMER SEMESTER (12 hours)

Course	Hours	Course	Hours
ENG 2153 - Traditional Grammar or any ENG above ENG 1123	3	History Core: HIS (See advisor for complete list of approved courses.)	3
MAT 1743 - Problem Solving	3	GR 1123 - Intro to World Geography	3

REQUIREMENTS THAT MUST BE MET PRIOR TO APPLYING FOR ADMISSION TO MSU’S TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAM (PHASE II):

GPA of at least 2.75 on 44-hours of coursework (including the MSU General Education Requirements) and overall GPA of at least 2.5
Grades of at least C in all coursework
Two recommendation forms
Verification of 40 hours work experience with children/youth
Criminal background check from approved source
Purchase a 7-year subscription to Watermark
ACT Composite of 21 or higher OR SAT composite of 990 or higher OR Praxis Core scores of at least Reading=156, Writing=162, and Math=130

Just one year after receiving a high school diploma, the student is ready for employment as a teacher assistant or paraprofessional and is ready to begin the teacher education program at MSU. The school district’s role in the partnership at this point in the process is to provide this employment opportunity. Additionally, the district is asked to identify an accomplished teacher to serve as a mentor for the resident. The mentor may serve as the lead teacher in the classroom in which the resident is employed, but this is not required.

Once admitted to the teacher education program at MSU, the students will complete courses as follows:

JUNIOR YEAR EARLY BLOCK– FALL SEMESTER (16 hours)

Course	Hours	Course	Hours
HDFS 2813 - Child Development	3	**EDE 3123 - Early Childhood Education	3
EDE 2521 - Intro to Elem Ed	1	**RDG 3113 - Early Literacy I	3
**EDE 3443 - Creative Arts	3	**RDG 3123 - Early Literacy II	3

JUNIOR YEAR MIDDLE BLOCK– SPRING SEMESTER (15 hours)

Course	Hours	Course	Hours
EPY 4103 - Behavior Analysis for Behavior Tech	3	**EDE 3523 - Foundations of Elementary Math	3
**RDG 3413 - Middle Level Literacy I	3	EDX 4113 - Early Childhood Students w/ disabilities	3
**RDG 3423 - Middle Level Literacy II	3

JUNIOR YEAR – SUMMER SEMESTER (6-12 hours)

Course	Hours	Course	Hours
EDX 4413 - Working with Families	3	Free Elective (Optional: 3 additional courses to extend license to 6^th grade. See advisor for details)	3-9

REQUIREMENTS THAT MUST BE MET PRIOR TO MAKING APPLICATION FOR THE TEACHING INTERNSHIP (PHASE III):

Overall GPA of at least 2.5 and content area GPA of at least 2.5
Grades of C in all concentration area coursework and all professional/pedagogical coursework
Proof of having registered for the Praxis Elementary Education: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment and the Principles of Learning and Teaching Grades K-6, Foundations of Reading examinations

SENIOR YEAR RESIDENCY BLOCK I – FALL SEMESTER (12 hours)

Course	Hours	Course	Hours
**EDE 4113 - Teaching Elem/ML Science	3	**EDE 4143 - Teaching Elem/ML Social Studies	3
**EDE 4123 - Teaching Elem/ML Mathematics	3	**RDG 4133 - Integrating Language Arts in Content	3
TECH 4763 - Digital Tools for 21st Century Teaching	3

SENIOR YEAR RESIDENCY BLOCK II – SPRING SEMESTER (18 hours)

Courses	Hours	Courses	Hours
**EDE 4886 - Teaching Internship	6	**EDE 4896 - Teaching Internship	6
**EDE 4883 - Managing the Elem./Middle Level Classroom	3

REQUIREMENTS THAT MUST BE MET PRIOR TO MAKING APPLICATION FOR GRADUATION (PHASE IV):

Last 62 hours must be completed at the senior college level
Residency met (i.e., complete ¼ of the junior and senior hours in residence at MSU)
Completion of all courses with grades of at least C

**NOTE: Students must be admitted to the MSU Teacher Education program prior to enrolling in these restricted education courses.

***NOTE: Questions about approved course substitutions should be directed to the MSU education advisor.

Just three years post high school graduation, the resident who has successfully completed all requirements will be eligible to apply for a PreK-3^rd grade Mississippi teacher’s license. By taking one additional course during the summer term and two additional content area courses, this license can be extended through 6^th grade. It is at this point that the district’s role in the partnership transitions to employment of the resident in a certified position. The university’s goal in the partnership is to produce a day-one ready certified teacher but will continue to provide support through the resident’s first year.

Division of Education

Bachelor of Science - Elementary (High School Pathway)