B.S. in Elementary Education

The Elementary Education Program prepares candidates to teach in grades 1 through 6. Completion of the program leads to a Bachelor of Science degree and prepares candidates to obtain an Illinois Professional Educators License with an endorsement in Elementary Education and a Reading Teacher Endorsement. The Elementary Education Program consists of general education and professional education courses that address requirements for graduation and the State of Illinois requirements for licensure.

Coursework and Learning Experience

Elementary Education candidates will be concurrently enrolled in professional education coursework and field/practicum experiences designed to reinforce concepts and skills learned in the university classroom. The field/practicum experience blocks are designed to provide opportunities for candidates to apply course concepts in authentic environments. Required activities and assignments provide candidates with the opportunity to connect theory and practice, and prepare candidates for daily classroom responsibilities. Elementary Education teacher candidates will observe and participate in a wide range of in- classroom teaching experiences in order to develop the skills and confidence necessary to be an effective teacher. The Elementary Education practicum and student teaching/clinical practice experiences have been designed as a serious apprenticeship that requires teacher candidates to spend a one academic year inside schools working alongside veteran Elementary School teachers.

Disposition Support

Fairness - the commitment demonstrated in striving to meet the educational needs of all persons in a caring, non-discriminatory and equitable manner
Belief that all students can learn - demonstrating behaviors that are inclusive of all children: using data to make instructional decisions, differentiating instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners and demonstrating cultural responsiveness
Collaboration - the process where two or more people work together in an intersection of common goals by jointly developing and agreeing to a set of common goals and directions; sharing responsibility for obtaining those goals; and working together to achieve those goals, using the expertise of each collaborator
Professionalism - the commitment to maintain standards of professional conduct and demonstrate appropriate behavior
Commitment to learning - the investment of effort in learning along with a commitment to scholarship and professional development