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

• Major Requirements
• Schedule of Classes
• Department Website

• Combined bachelor's + master's degree offered

Career Options

Common Career Areas

• Teaching
• Administration
• Education policy

More career info

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.

Content displayed from this DePaul University catalog page.