Elementary Education
Become a leader in elementary education
The Elementary Education (EE) degree program integrates courses and field experiences that will prepare you to teach first through sixth grade in a variety of urban and suburban educational settings, including public and private schools.
You will learn educational theories and effective teaching practices, participate in field experiences, which require you to observe and participate in teaching activities at multiple schools, and student teach.
Along with elementary education courses, students pursuing an elementary education degree are required to complete a DePaul minor.
Classes
Coursework
- Art and Music Teaching Methods
- Children's Literature
- Classroom Management
- Human Growth and Development
- Math Instruction
- Reading and Language Arts Instruction
- Social and Historical Issues in Education
Resources
Career Options
Common Career Areas
- Teaching
- Administration
- Education policy
85%
of Elementary Education graduates were employed, continuing their education or not seeking employment after graduation.
Major Requirements
The requirements below are those approved by the Illinois State Board of Education December 2015.
Course Requirements
Introductory Courses: 16 quarter hours required, grade of C or better required
Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
---|---|---|
SCU 207 | SOCIAL AND HISTORICAL ISSUES IN EDUCATION | 4 |
EE 281 | INTRODUCTION TO EDUCATIONAL PRACTICE | 4 |
EE 347 | CHILDREN'S LITERATURE | 4 |
PE 206 | PERSONAL AND COMMUNITY HEALTH | 4 |
or PE 273 | HEALTH AND NUTRITION |
Mathematics for Elementary Teachers: 8 quarter hours required, grade of C or better required
Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
---|---|---|
MAT 110 | FOUNDATIONS OF MATHEMATICS FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS I | 4 |
MAT 111 | FOUNDATIONS OF MATHEMATICS FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS II | 4 |
ISBE Science Requirement: 12 quarter hours required, grade of C or better required
Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
---|---|---|
Biological Science: Choose a Scientific Inquiry course in Biology | 4 | |
Physical Science: Choose a Scientific Inquiry course in Chemistry or Physics | 4 | |
Earth/Space Science: Choose a Scientific Inquiry course in Environmental Science or Geography | 4 |
Science requirement fulfills the mandate by the Illinois State Board of Education that all individuals pursuing a license in Early Childhood Education have coursework in 3 science areas that cover biological science, physical science, and earth/space science. These courses simultaneously meet DePaul requirements for Liberal Studies.
DePaul Minor: 5-8 courses (20-32 credit hours), grade of C or better required
Along with elementary education courses, students in the elementary education major are required to complete a DePaul minor. This may be a minor leading to an additional endorsement on the Professional Educator License (e.g., special education, English as a Second Language, bilingual education) or an additional area to explore or focus your studies. However, all DePaul minors will meet this requirement.
A minor of seven courses (28 credit hours) will lead to the required 192 credit hours. If a student chooses a minor with fewer than 28 credit hours, the additional credit hours will be replaced by electives. If students choose a minor with more than 28 credit hours, they will graduate with more than 192 credit hours.
Students are encouraged to discuss their choice of a minor with their academic advisor in order to determine the impact their choice will have on their overall program plan, graduation date, and tuition.
Advanced Courses: 48 quarter hours required, grade of C or better required
Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
---|---|---|
SCU 337 | HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT | 4 |
EE 317 | PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 4 |
EE 324 | READING/LANGUAGE ARTS IN THE EARLY YEARS | 4 |
EE 326 | READING/LANGUAGE ARTS IN THE INTERMEDIATE GRADES | 4 |
EE 330 | URBAN EDUCATION RESIDENCY | 4 |
EE 333 | TEACHING AND LEARNING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MATHEMATICS | 4 |
EE 334 | ELEMENTARY SCIENCE INQUIRY TEACHING STRATEGIES | 4 |
EE 344 | ART AND MUSIC IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 4 |
EE 355 | METHODS: CONTEMPORARY TEACHING OF SOCIAL STUDIES | 4 |
EE 356 | ASSESSMENT IN THE ELEMENTARY CLASSROOMS | 4 |
BBE 300 | TEACHING ELEMENTARY ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS: THEORY, POLICY AND PRACTICE | 4 |
SER 346 | STRATEGIES FOR MAINSTREAMING AND INCLUSION | 4 |
Open Electives: 4 quarter hours required
Open elective credit also is required to meet the minimum graduation requirement of 192 hours. The following cannot be used to fulfill an open elective: WRD 98, MAT 94, and MAT 95.?
Student Teaching: 10 quarter hours required, grade of B- or better required
Registration in student teaching requires completion of all requirements and procedures indicated in the college core section. EDU 95 indicates to the Illinois State Board of Education that all field experience hours are complete. All students also take EE 387 with student teaching (listed in the Liberal Studies section).
Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
---|---|---|
EE 385 | ELEMENTARY STUDENT TEACHING | 10 |
EDU 95 | CLINICAL EXPERIENCE WITH CHILDREN AND YOUTH (non-tuition, PA grade required) | 0 |
Licensure Tests
All individuals licensed by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) are required to complete licensure tests specific to their teaching license. Elementary majors must complete the following tests:
- Elementary Content Area Test (test #197-200) – assesses knowledge of the content of what is taught at the elementary level including language arts and literacy, mathematics, science, social science, the arts, health, and physical education. Test is required before Student Teaching (deadlines apply).
- EdTPA - assessment conducted during the student teaching experience including video clips of instruction, lesson plans, student work samples, analysis of student learning and reflective commentaries. Students will submit an electronic portfolio to an outside agency for independent evaluation and a fee will be imposed by that agency as part of the assessment.
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