The purpose of the elementary education program is to prepare students to provide appropriate learning experiences which meet the needs, capabilities, and interests of children in kindergarten through grade six.
Accreditation Information :
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Qualifying Exams :
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Point Park’s Elementary Education program prepares you to teach children ages five to fourteen. Areas of study include:
Educational Technology
The Child from Five to Fourteen
Algebra
United States History
Geography
Elementary Curriculum Planning
Teaching in Elementary School
Multicultural Diversity Issues
Special Education
Student Teaching
Emphasizing the role of the specialist in today’s educational system, the programs leading to certification in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education allow students to integrate particular academic disciplines with a comprehensive knowledge of appropriate teaching/learning strategies. Both of these programs are available to undergraduates as well as to individuals with baccalaureate degrees wishing to teach in the schools.
Students are eligible to apply for Instructional I Certificate issued by the Department of Education of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania if they have successfully:
Completed the program leading to certification
Passed the required PRAXIS exams
And demonstrated competence in student teaching.
Were you the kid who always wanted to play school? You’d pretend to be the teacher while your friends were your students? You’re not alone. You’re one of the reasons why we offer an elementary education major.
In our elementary education program, you’ll observe classrooms. You’ll study learning styles. You’ll learn how to manage a classroom. You’ll explore the needs of exceptional children. And, before you graduate, you’ll student teach. Yes, you’ll be the teacher.
Then, with your degree in elementary education and your teaching certificate, you’ll be ready to be an elementary school teacher. Only this time, it will be for real.
Course Requirements in the Major
AMERICAN POLITICAL PROCESS
INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY
CHILD DEVELOPMENT
COMPUTERS IN EDUCATION
INTRODUCTION TO EDUCATION
READINGS IN CHILDREN’S LITERATURE
ADVANCED READING METHODS
DEVELOPMENT OF EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN
EDUCATING EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN
EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY AND MEASUREMENT
HEALTH AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING
TEACHING SOCIAL STUDIES IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
ELEMENTARY MATHEMATICS METHODS
TEACHING ELEMENTARY SCIENCE
ART AND MUSIC IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION
TEACHING READING AND LANGUAGE ARTS
CAPSTONE: ELEMENTARY EDUCATION
EDUCATION LAB I
EDUCATION LAB II
EDUCATION LAB III
STUDENT TEACHING
PEDC (1 cr)
Art or Music or Theater (ART, MUSIC, or THEA) requirement 3 cr
Biology/Environmental Science requirement 3-4 cr
Physical Science/Environmental Science requirement 3-4 cr
Environmental Science requirement (if not satisfied as part of the Biology or Physical Sciences requirement) 3-4 cr
Math requirement (MATH 0110 suggested ) 3–4 cr
Math requirement (MATH 0139 suggested ) 3–4 cr
U.S. History (HIST) requirement 3 cr
Geography (GEOG) requirement 3 cr
Economics (ECON) requirement 3 cr
Anthropology (ANTH) requirement 3 cr
Sociology (SOC) requirement 3 cr
Total Credits for Major: 123
Career Opportunities
Elementary teachers introduce children to learning through the basics of numbers, language, science, and social studies. They design classroom presentations to meet the needs and abilities of their students. They also work with children independently. They provide instruction, conduct assessments, listen to presentations, and maintain discipline. They inditvidually meet with parents and faculty and serve on faculty and community committees. Elementary teachers also become supervisors, administrators, and mentors to new teachers.
Certification
The Penn State Harrisburg Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education program is designed to provide students with the experiences necessary to become certified teachers of elementary education. Graduates can work in public, private, or parochial school systems. Students may complete the Elementary Education program to be certified elementary teachers for grades K through 6 or can complete a dual certification in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education for additional certification to teach grades P - 3. Following graduation, students must be certified to teach by meeting any test and clearance requirements of a particular state.
Field Experience
The Elementary Education program offers extensive field experiences during the junior year prior to student teaching. An objective of the program is the development of reflective practice and independence. During the junior year, students will be expected to complete all other courses required for certification, including a twelve-week, part-time field placement in a local school district. This is followed by a ten-week, part-time field experience in the first semester of the senior year and a twelve- week, full-time student teaching experience in the final semester.
Clubs and Organizations
Kappa Delta Pi, Sigma Alpha Chapter
The Sigma Alpha Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi was installed on May 1, 1990, as an official student organization at Penn State Harrisburg. A student who has been formally admitted into a teacher education program at Penn State Harrisburg may become a member by fulfilling the requirements, completing an application, and paying the membership fee of $35. The requirements for membership are a 3.25 grade-point average at Penn State Harrisburg, attendance at two meetings, participation in a fundraising event, and two hours of community service. Kappa Delta Pi is an internationally recognized educational honor society. In addition to the recognition members receive for being part of the honor society, they receive the following publications: The Educational Forum, The Kappa Delta Pi Record, The Scroll & Stylus, and The Classroom Practice Series.
Student Chapter of the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
A student chapter of the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) was registered as an official student organization at Penn State Harrisburg on March 10, 2005. Any individuals interested in education may become a member by fulfilling the requirements and joining ASCD at a student rate of $25. The requirements for membership are a 2.8 grade-point average and attendance at two meetings per academic year OR one meeting and one ASCD or PASCD (southern region or state) conference per academic year. ASCD is an international, nonprofit, nonpartisan education association. Member benefits include discounted rates to conferences, subscription to the Educational Leadership journal, Education Update newsletter, Curriculum Update newsletter, online resources, and other ongoing professional development opportunities.
Admission Requirements for Education Specialist Program for Teachers in Elementary Education
In addition to the Admission requirements for the Troy University Graduate School and Education Specialist Program requirements, please see the following admission requirements prior to acceptance into the Education Specialist in Elementary Education program. Certification endorsement students shall not complete more than two pre-admission courses until all requirements for Program admission have been met:
Evidence of a minimum of three years elementary-level teaching experience prior to acceptance into the program;
Present a minimum entrance exam score of 372 on the verbal portion of the GRE and a 4.5 on the analytical writing score on the GRE.
Individuals who have met all other requirements other than the 4.5 on the analytical portion of the GRE, but who have scored between a 4.0 and a 4.4 on the analytical writing portion may petition for an oral review for admission into the program.
(Students must successfully complete all program admission requirements not later than the completion of the semester prior to admittance to the program.) Procedures for Petitioning for an oral proficiency review are as follows:
The education department, on those campuses which offer the degree program, will schedule and announce examination sessions each semester to assess candidates’ oral communication skills.
Oral communication proficiency interviews will be scheduled for individuals who have met all other requirements, other than the 4.5 on the analytical portion of the GRE, but who have scored between a 4.0 and a 4.4 on the analytical writing portion of the GRE. Oral communication interviews will be scored by a panel of full-time Elementary faculty members. If the prospective student’s oral communication review score does not meet the required score of “proficient”, the prospective student will be contacted by phone and allowed one additional retake of the oral communication review within the same semester, or one additional retake of the oral communication review during a subsequent semester. Prospective students, who do not meet the required “proficient” score on the second interview must wait one full 16-week semester (or two full 8-week terms) before rescheduling the oral communication review.
Candidates will receive formal notification concerning admittance to the Elementary Education Specialist program by mail within two to three weeks of the oral communication interview date.
Students denied admission to the degree program, based on unsuccessful completion of the above admission requirements, will not be permitted to register for degree specific coursework beyond the two pre-admission courses until all requirements have been successfully met.
Elementary Education
36 Semester Hours
Location: Dothan, Phenix CityRequired Professional Core:
PSY 6693 3 Psychological and Educational Statistics
ELE 7790 3 Qualitative Research Methodology
ELE 7793 3 Problem Analysis in Elementary Education
EDU 7709 3 Seminar in Decision-Making for Teachers and Educational Administrators
EDU 7730 3 The Teacher Leader
EDU 7795 3-6 Thesis
*EDU 6611 Educational Technology in the Curriculum is required if not previously taken.
*In addition to the required core, a survey course in special education is required unless previously completed.
Teaching Field Courses:
Select 12 semester hours of adviser-approved ELE courses.
At least nine semester hours of teaching field courses must be at the 7000 level.
Select 3-6 additional hours of adviser-approved ELE courses or other adviser-approved courses related to the profession (e.g., EDU, ECE, SPE, RED).
A candidate may not enroll in a 6000-level course if it duplicates the same course listed on a graduate transcript.
All Sixth-year certification programs are approved by the Alabama State Department of Education.
The Elementary Education program is designed to provide you with an understanding of the teaching methods, practices and challenges found in elementary classrooms. You will build skills in teaching while you develop an understanding of development theories, best practices and the newest research in the field. Courses are offered in a sequence that you will follow through a series of stages. You must follow this sequence as you prepare your plan of study and as you advance through the Teacher Education Program. All teacher education program courses are developmental, meaning that much of what you learn in one sequence of courses will be used in the next sequence of courses. You will gain knowledge and then be expected to perform based on that knowledge. Although you can take the education courses one by one, you cannot take a course in the next semester’s sequence until you have satisfactorily completed courses in the preceding semester. No exceptions will be considered. This is important to keep in mind as you schedule your courses, especially if you must maintain fulltime student status– 12 credit hours — to quality for financial aid and other programs.
Teaching young children is perhaps the most important and challenging profession in society today. Done well, it provides a foundation for lifelong learning, creativity, and knowledge for millions of children that will become successful, intellectually motivated adults. It can create a spark that will burn brightly for a lifetime.
Department of Teacher Preparation offers a degree in Elementary Education that is the formal result of your program of study. With an Elementary Teaching degree you will be able able to take the qualifying exam and receive a license to teach in Indiana or other cooperating states.
Coursework
The School of Education offers a program of coursework designed to provide you with research-based pedagogical knowledge and practical ability.
Advising
Please contact your advisor Charlotte Rakich directly or call the Teacher Preparation Advising Office at 219-989-2360 to schedule an appointm
The Teacher Education Program at Mayville State University
is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of
Teacher Education (NCATE). The program includes a
student cohort system with three field experiences that
integrate all program elements. Students are taught to use a
variety of research-based instructional strategies as well as
multiple performance-based assessment practices.
HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE
The Elementary Education program offers you several
opportunities to work with local grade school students and
teachers in hands-on experiences.
FULL-TIME FACULTY ADVISORS
Unlike students in other, larger, education programs, Mayville
State Elementary Education students are advised and mentored
by full-time Education faculty.
TRADITION OF TRAINING TEACHERS
For more than a century, Mayville State University has been
training teachers. Teacher education has been critical to our
mission since we opened our doors in 1889.
The School of Education offers a program leading to the B.S. degree in Elementary Education. The Elementary Education major leads to Indiana’s teaching license for Elementary Generalist: Primary and Intermediate. Licensing in Kentucky is also available. The Elementary Education Program also offers a program for students interested in adding licensing in middle school/early adolescence with teaching areas in language arts, math, science, and/or social studies.
For more information regarding the Elementary Education Program, please view this website or contact:
Persons who already have a bachelor’s degree may wish to consider our Transition to Teaching certification program–a fast-track, certification-only program. See details at www.ius.edu/Education/Transition/.
Combined Early Childhood/Elementary Licensure: Indiana University Southeast has developed an articulation agreement with IVY Tech Community College in Sellersburg, IN. Candidates who have received an Associate’s degree (A.S.) in Early Childhood from IVY Tech will have the opportunity to apply for the Elementary Education Program at IU Southeast. Upon successful completion of this program, candidates will be eligible for licensure to teach both Early Childhood and Elementary Education (birth through fifth grade) in the state of Indiana. Interested persons are invited to contact Dr Lea Schoen (Hillside Hall #108D, 812/941.2137, lschoen@ius.edu) to discuss specific program requirements and admission procedures.
For information regarding the Middle School/Early Adolescence program (an endorsement added to Elementary Education) contact:
ED 230 Children’s Literature
Description: This course is designed to prepare teachers to identify high-quality, appropriate children’s books for their classroom instruction. Students analyze classical and contemporary children’s books, creating a traditional or electronic catalog with a synopsis of each book for future reference. Creative ways of presenting themes in children’s literature will be discussed. Students learn to effectively share literature and read it aloud to children. A primary goal is to stimulate an appreciation for the spectrum of children’s literature used to enhance instruction across the curriculum.
Prerequisites:
Credit Hours: 3 CR. HR.
ED 232 Teaching Writing in the Schools
Description: As part of the integrated program in elementary education, participants will practice and model practices that can be used effectively in the classroom and that draw upon research and literature on the writing process of children. They will have instruction in the writing process approach, conduct conferences that address writers’ needs and interests, and present focused lessons that address a range of topics from crafting to editing. Participants will explore curriculum development and assessment and learn to teach elements of genre through the examination of exemplars in children’s literature. Among the outcomes of the course participants are a literature review, two pieces in different genres including argument, and an expository piece, in the form of a nonfiction book.
Prerequisites: EH111, EH112, ED230
Credit Hours: 3 CR. HR.
ED 308 Methods in Language Arts
Description: This course, integrated with the other literacy courses in the elementary education program, introduces students to the instructional practices of the interrelated language arts components of listening, talking, reading, writing, viewing, and representing appropriate for K-8 classrooms. Students will survey methods of informal assessments, apply methods and approaches to teaching other content areas, practice the writers’ workshop, integrate the Maine Learning Results and instructional approaches, and relate their learning and practice to the professional standards for teaching certification. Among the outcomes are a portfolio of instructional practices, an integrated thematic unit of instruction, and products of the writers’ workshop.
Prerequisites: ED331
Credit Hours: 3 CR. HR.
ED 315 Methods in Reading
Description: This course integrates different perspectives on reading instruction in K-8 classrooms as participants survey instructional approaches and informal reading assessments to support instruction in a balanced literacy program appropriate for the K-8 classroom. Participants examine and apply methods of developmental literacy, practice research-based methods that address different aspects of reading and different content areas. In their practice they create and practice lessons that support reading skills and strategies, design instruction tailored to different readers, and integrate understanding of children’s literature and other reading resources in the classroom. Methods are applied in the practicum. Students integrate the Maine Learning Results into their practice and address the professional standards of certification. Outcomes for the course include a portfolio of methods, approaches, and lessons in reading.
Prerequisites:
Credit Hours: 3 CR. HR.
ED 316 Methods in Science
Description: Science education is presented with a constructivist approach. Students become familiar with curricular content, methodology, and instructional planning that stimulates scientific interest and concept formation. Resources for science education will be collected for future. With a constructivist approach in mind, techniques for assessing student inquiry processes are explored. Students also learn ways to use instructional and design technology to enhance lessons.
Prerequisites: ED331
Credit Hours: 3 CR. HR.
ED 321 Educating Exceptional Students
Description: Prepares classroom teachers to successfully educate students with disabilities within the regular classroom setting. While the primary focus is to manage the instructional requirements of students with disabilities, the course incorporates the legal and ethical standards for mainstreaming and the roles of parent advocacy and support groups. Additionally, students become familiar with instructional issues represented by students from culturally, ethnically, and socio-economically diverse populations. Course content also explores the importance of enhancing educational opportunities of diverse learners via procedural due process, diagnostic practices, and development of professional and parent collaboration.
Prerequisites:
Credit Hours: 3 CR. HR.
ED 409 Methods in Mathematics
Description: Introduces mathematic concepts and problem solving strategies along with real-world applications. Methods emphasize an active learning process in which children engage in guided discovery and problem solving opportunities. Teachers learn to coach youngsters to reflect on their process to clarify ideas for themselves and to share their thoughts with others. Models of engaged learning scenarios will be developed and discussed.
Prerequisites: ED331
Credit Hours: 3 CR. HR.
ED 415 Methods in Social Studies
Description: Designed to familiarize students with the application of various instructional techniques and assessment strategies. Students will understand and use state and national guidelines while planning lessons and units. An array of resources will accumulate for use in the classroom. Students practice presenting lessons in front of their peers and create a complete social studies unit for adaptation in the elementary classroom.
Prerequisites: ED310, ED320, ED331
Credit Hours: 3 CR. HR.
ED 450 Student Teaching/Seminar in Teaching
Description: This practical experience is divided into two parts, student teaching and seminar in teaching. Student teaching provides all education students with the opportunity to practice the art and science of teaching in a structured setting with guidance and supervision. Also provides students with appropriate feedback in curriculum organization, lesson plan development, assessment, and classroom management strategies. The Student Handbook’s policies and procedures must be followed and honored during this time by students, preceptors, and college supervisors. The second part is the capstone experience. This experience affords students the opportunity for self-reflection and self-assessment of personal knowledge, skills and attitude in preparation for a teaching career. While completing student teaching assignments in schools, students accumulate a wealth of experience shared with peers in a supportive setting. Students are videotaped once during their student teaching placement. The course instructor and peers then provide appropriate feedback regarding curriculum organization, lesson planning, assessment, communication skills, and management strategies. The comprehensive portfolios are also carefully assessed and discussed. This section of the course embraces the thirteen guiding principles stated in the Student Handbook, the Maine Learning Results, and the ten Maine Standards for Results-based Initial Teacher Certification from the State Board of Education.
Prerequisites: ED431, ED413, ED412, ED411, ED351
Entry to the elementary education program takes place by application, in your junior year. We have high entry standards because it is important to us (and to you) that area schools know that Mount Mercy graduates have what it takes. Yes, we have high standards, but we also provide all the tools you will need to monitor your progress. For more information on particular standards, please consult a current catalog.
Mount Mercy College awards a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education, where 54 credits are required within the major to graduate. To discover more about the classes you might take, check out one of our suggested four-year courses of study for Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Instructional Strategist I, Instructional Strategist II and Unified Early Childhood Endorsement and Pre-K Endorsement.
You can also view course offerings and descriptions in the current college catalog (pdf), along with specific endorsements offered, and the requirements for each. Please keep in mind that these are only representative of current offerings for the academic year. Classes can be added or changed as needed.
** If you plan to teach in a state other than Iowa, you are responsible for planning a program to meet the requirements in that other state.