Cameron University and Rogers State University will team up to offer a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education at the RSU campus in Claremore, CU President Dr. Cindy Ross and RSU President Dr. Joe Wiley announced today. The new bachelor’s degree will be available beginning this fall.
“The CU-RSU partnership will serve students in northeastern Oklahoma aspiring to be elementary school teachers,” Ross said. “This collaboration, which constitutes sharing physical, financial, and personnel resources to more efficiently educate students, will be a model for other institutions across Oklahoma.”
Governed by the same board of regents, Cameron and RSU will utilize innovative scheduling approaches to offer a seamless “two plus two” degree program, allowing students to obtain a four-year degree with no interruption or need to transfer to other institutions.
Currently, RSU offers an associate in arts degree in early childhood/elementary education, designed to prepare students for a career teaching kindergarten and all elementary school grade levels by providing the first two years of general education requirements.
Under the CU-RSU collaborative degree program, students who graduate with an associate’s degree from RSU can transition seamlessly into Cameron’s portion of the program, allowing them to complete all requirements for a bachelor’s degree in two years on the RSU campus.
“Public school officials have told us there is a shortage in early childhood and elementary school teachers in northeast Oklahoma,” said RSU President Dr. Joe Wiley. “And studies have shown that well-trained teachers can make a significant impact on the success and achievement of pre-K and elementary school students. Collaborating with Cameron University will allow us to combine RSU’s long-established two-year program with Cameron’s highly regarded bachelor’s degree in elementary education.”
Cameron’s elementary education program, known for its strong enrollment and solid graduation numbers, has traditionally been offered at the university’s Lawton campus in the 16-week format. At RSU, Cameron will offer its classes through intensive three-week courses.
By expanding access to this elementary education program, Ross and Wiley said there will be an increase in the number of college graduates in northeastern Oklahoma. With teacher shortages currently prevalent in the state, there will be a high demand for graduates of this program.
For more information on the CU-RSU elementary education program, contact Marcy Blackburn, PhD., CU Education Department Chair at (580) 581-2243, or Peggy Dugan, RSU assistant professor, at (918) 343-7688.