The Professional Experience Pathway (PEP) at Delta State is designed to honor and validate the experience of individuals who have served as teacher assistants or classroom educators. This pathway provides a structured route into the B.S.E. in Elementary Education program, allowing participants to convert relevant, hands-on classroom experience into academic course credit. Courses are offered through flexible online synchronous (Hyflex) formats, making it easier for working professionals to continue their education. By aligning real-world instructional support, classroom management, and student engagement with program standards, PEP helps qualified individuals accelerate their progress toward earning their degree and Mississippi teaching license.
- Enroll in the Fall or Spring semester.
- Receive up to 12 credit hours for your experience as a teacher assistant.
- Attend classes through flexible online or online synchronous formats.
- Complete your degree in 3 semesters + 1 summer.
Why Choose this Pathway into the B.S.E. in Elementary Education?
The Professional Experience Pathway (PEP) provides a means for degree completion that:
- Recognizes and builds upon the professional experience of teacher assistants and other education professionals.
- Provides a structured, supported pathway to complete teacher education requirements.
- Leads to Mississippi teacher licensure upon meeting all requirements.
- Supports partnering school districts by expanding the pipeline of qualified teachers from within their own communities.
- Students can earn 6 hours of graduate school credit.
Program Goals
The goal of the Professional Experience Pathway (PEP) is to provide a sustainable solution to Mississippi’s ongoing teacher shortage by transforming experienced teacher assistants into fully licensed educators. This program promotes healthy enrollment in DSU’s teacher preparation program, strengthens partnering school districts, supports educators’ career advancement, and enhances workforce development across the state.
Pathway Requirements
To begin the PEP pathway, candidates must:
- Have completed their first two years of general education coursework toward the degree.
- Have experience as a teacher assistant or educational professional that positions the candidate to meet the 3 years of experience required by Admission to Internship.
Candidates must meet the following program requirements while in the PEP program to receive 12 credit hours toward degree completion:
- Attend Art/PE workshops during the Introduction to Education block of the PEP program.
- Complete three full years as a teacher assistant by Admission to Internship.
- Meet all course and program requirements including GPA, test scores, and program assessments.
- Submit scores for all licensure exams required for the program prior to Admission to Internship.
- Praxis II: Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT-5622)
- Praxis II: Subject Assessment/Specialty Area (CIA-5017);
- Foundations of Reading (190)
- Submit pre-intern checklist prior to Admission to Internship
Candidates who meet the program requirements are eligible for up to 12 hours of course credit to be counted toward the Bachelor of Science in Education – Elementary Education degree.
Course Credit
PEP Course Credit
Upon Admission to Internship and demonstrating programmatic proficiencies aligned with course outcomes, candidates admitted to the PEP pathway who have met all PEP Program Expectations will receive credit for the following four courses (12 credit hours):
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| PER 381 | PE for Elementary Teachers | 3 |
| ART 361 | Art and Techniques for Elementary Teachers | 3 |
| CEL 301 | Introduction to Education | 3 |
| CEL 496 | Directed Teaching Internship (Pre-internship) | 3 |
| TOTAL | 12 | |
*Graduate Credit
Candidates may earn graduate credit by enrolling in the following graduate courses:
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| CEL 510 | Instructional Planning in Elementary Schools (for CEL 310: Instructional Planning in Elementary Schools) |
3 |
| CEL 611 | Classroom Management (for CEL 393: Classroom Management) |
3 |
| TOTAL | 6 | |
*To receive graduate credit, students must hold a minimum 3.0.
Program of Study
Entering Spring Semester
Spring Semester 1
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| CEL 310/510 | Instructional Planning in the Elementary School | 3 |
| CEL 314 | Early Literary Instruction I | 3 |
| BIO 334 (1st half) | Investigating the Natural World | 3 |
| MAT 331 | Mathematics Through Problem Solving | 3 |
| CEL 315 | Early Literary Instruction II | 3 |
| STM 401 (2nd half | Elementary Integrated STEM Teaching Methods | 3 |
| TOTAL | 18 | |
Summer
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| CSP 340 | Survey of Special Education and inclusive Teaching | 3 |
| CEL 312 | Integrating Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum | 3 |
| CEL 336 | Survey of Social Studies | 3 |
| EPY 341 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| TOTAL | 12 | |
Fall Semester
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| CRD 325 | Literacy in the Intermediate Grades | 3 |
| CRD 326 | Diagnosis and Remediation of Reading Difficulties | 3 |
| CEL 317 | Principles and Techniques of Teaching in Early Childhood | 3 |
| CEL 318 | Principles and Techniques of Teaching in the Middles Grades | 3 |
| CEL 497 | Diagnosis and Evaluation of Student Achievement in the Elementary School | 3 |
| TOTAL | 15 | |
Spring Semester 2
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| CEL 496 | Directed Teaching Internship | 9 |
| CEL 393/611 | Classroom Management | 3 |
| TOTAL | 12 | |
Entering Fall Semester
Fall Semester 1
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| CEL 310/510 | Instructional Planning in the Elementary School | 3 |
| CEL 314 | Early Literary Instruction I | 3 |
| BIO 334 (1st half) | Investigating the Natural World | 3 |
| MAT 331 | Mathematics Through Problem Solving | 3 |
| CEL 315 | Early Literary Instruction II | 3 |
| STM 401 (2nd half | Elementary Integrated STEM Teaching Methods | 3 |
| TOTAL | 18 | |
Spring Semester
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| CRD 325 | Literacy in the Intermediate Grades | 3 |
| CRD 326 | Diagnosis and Remediation of Reading Difficulties | 3 |
| CEL 317 | Principles and Techniques of Teaching in Early Childhood | 3 |
| CEL 318 | Principles and Techniques of Teaching in the Middles Grades | 3 |
| CEL 497 | Diagnosis and Evaluation of Student Achievement in the Elementary School | 3 |
| TOTAL | 15 | |
Summer
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| CSP 340 | Survey of Special Education and inclusive Teaching | 3 |
| CEL 312 | Integrating Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum | 3 |
| CEL 336 | Survey of Social Studies | 3 |
| EPY 341 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| TOTAL | 12 | |
Fall Semester
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| CEL 496 | Directed Teaching Internship | 9 |
| CEL 393/611 | Classroom Management | 3 |
| TOTAL | 12 | |
