Motivate and shape young minds

Learn how to create a productive class climate and provide differentiated instructional activities for a diverse group of students. In the Elementary Education master’s program, you’ll challenge students at varied levels of development and play a critical role in their lives by bringing subjects to life.

You have the option to pursue an initial Illinois Teaching License (PEL) with an Elementary Education (grades 1–6) endorsement, or if you are already a licensed teacher, you can add an Elementary Education (grades 1–6) endorsement to your PEL.

Classes take place primarily in person on the Lincoln Park campus, although some courses are offered using hybrid or online modalities during certain quarters. The program can be completed in two years.

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Chicago is your classroom

DePaul’s connection to Chicago offers unparalleled access to a wide range of classrooms. Complete your field experiences in the Chicago Public Schools and Archdiocese of Chicago systems and student teach in a Chicago or suburban school of your choice.

Application Deadlines

Applications are reviewed on a continuous basis. Priority deadlines for scholarships are as follows:

• Fall: August 15
• Winter: December 1
• Spring: March 1
• Summer: May 1

Admission Requirements

Submit an online application, official transcripts, letters of recommendation, résumé and a personal statement.

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Required Courses

You’ll take 16 classes, content area coursework, field experiences, student teaching and state licensure exams. To earn the MA, you’ll also complete a thesis.

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88%

of Elementary Education graduates were employed, continuing their education or pursuing other goals within six months of graduation.

Faculty with original initiatives

Spend your time learning from faculty like Akihiko Takahashi who launched a lesson study course which is a practice-based, research-oriented, student-focused, collaborative mode of professional development. Takahashi also teaches courses including teaching and learning elementary mathematics and mathematics for elementary teachers.

“DePaul's program helped me understand and appreciate urban education. The program does a great job of getting us into classrooms and experiencing what urban education looks like. We were able to see many different teaching styles and philosophies as we began to develop our own personal style.”

Josh (MEd ’05)

Math teacher, Walter L. Newberry Math and Science Academy

Alumni Network

DePaul’s alumni network is a robust and distinguished network of more than 195,500. Graduates of the Elementary Education program have gone on to work in public, private and parochial schools. Alumni hold a wide range of elementary positions such as middle school math teacher, language teacher or history teacher.

Scholarships

Many scholarships are available to graduate students in the College of Education, based on academic standing and financial need. Students serving as elementary or secondary school teachers can apply for The John and Frances Beck Endowed Scholarship. Preference is given to those currently teaching or planning to teach at a Catholic elementary or secondary school. Learn more about scholarship opportunities available to you.

Elementary Education Program Admission Requirements

Admission Eligibility

To be eligible to enroll in the Elementary Education master's degree program, students must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

Application Requirements

A complete application to the Elementary Education program will include the following materials:

• Graduate admission application
• Official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended
• Résumé
• Two letters of recommendation (from work supervisors or academic references)
• Personal statement that briefly states your reasons for wanting to enter the Elementary Education program at DePaul University and speaks to your potential for becoming a teacher (minimum 750 words)
• $40 application fee

Applicants who have earned a degree outside of the U.S. or who will be considered international students must submit additional materials. Visit our International Students page for more information.

Applicants can upload supplemental application materials, send requests for letters of recommendation, and pay the application fee through our online application system.

Application Deadlines

The Elementary Education program admits new students every quarter: fall, winter, spring and summer. It offers rolling admissions, but the regular deadlines are set to assure students full consideration for admission and financial aid. The program will continue to accept and process applications after the regular deadline if space is available.

Term	Regular Deadline
Fall	August 15
Winter	December 1
Spring	March 1
Summer	May 1

Applicants typically receive an admission decision 3-4 weeks after submitting a complete application.

Information Sessions

Learn more about the Elementary Education graduate program and meet with program faculty at an upcoming information session.

Degree Requirements

The requirements below are those approved by the Illinois State Board of Education December 2015.

Content Area Prerequisites

Elementary education teachers need to have an understanding of the subjects taught in elementary school classrooms. Following the requirements set forth by the Illinois State Board of Education, DePaul’s program requires that students in the elementary program have courses in each of the following areas:

• mathematics1
• physical science
• life science
• earth and space science
• history
• geography
• political science/civics
• economics

These courses may be taken at the undergraduate level and may have been included in the student’s bachelor’s degree program. Elementary education students' transcripts will be evaluated by an academic advisor after admission to determine if additional coursework is needed. Completion of content area requirements is not a prerequisite for admission; however coursework must be completed before student teaching. It is strongly encouraged that applicants meet with an advisor after admission and prior to taking content courses.

1

DePaul alumni that have taken MAT 120 or IS 120 can receive credit towards the math requirement.

Course Requirements

Introductory Courses: 17 quarter hours required, grade of C or better required.

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
T&L 404	INTRODUCTION TO ELEMENTARY EDUCATION	4
SCG 403	HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING: ELEMENTARY	4
T&L 583	FIELD EXPERIENCE LAB (public school setting required)	1
T&L 418	LEARNING THROUGH THE ARTS	4
Select one of the following:		4
SCG 408	EDUCATION AND SOCIETY
SCG 409	SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION
SCG 411	PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

Advanced Courses: 35 quarter hours required, grade of C or better required.

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
T&L 412	EMERGING READING AND LANGUAGE ARTS	4
T&L 416	TEACHING AND LEARNING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MATHEMATICS	4
T&L 583	FIELD EXPERIENCE LAB	1
SER 446	PSYCHOLOGY AND EDUCATION OF THE EXCEPTIONAL CHILD	4
T&L 413	READING/LANGUAGE ARTS IN THE INTERMEDIATE GRADES	4
T&L 583	FIELD EXPERIENCE LAB (public school setting required)	1
T&L 415	TEACHING AND LEARNING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SCIENCE	4
T&L 419	CURRICULUM AND STRATEGIES: SOCIAL STUDIES	4
T&L 584	PRE-STUDENT TEACHING FIELD EXPERIENCE	1
T&L 422	CLASSROOM ASSESSMENT	4
BBE 400	TEACHING ELEMENTARY ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS: THEORY, POLICY AND PRACTICE	4

Student Teaching: 8 quarter hours required

Registration in student teaching requires completion of all requirements and procedures listed in the college core section. EDU 95 indicates to the Illinois State Board of Education that all field experience hours are complete.

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
T&L 585	ELEMENTARY STUDENT TEACHING (grade of B- or better required)	6
T&L 586	ELEMENTARY STUDENT TEACHING SEMINAR (grade of C or better required)	2
EDU 95	CLINICAL EXPERIENCE WITH CHILDREN AND YOUTH (non-tuition, PA grade required)	0

Master of Arts (MA) Option Degree Requirements: 4 quarter hours required

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
T&L 589	THESIS RESEARCH IN TEACHING AND LEARNING	4

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 Education Content Test (test #197-200) – assesses knowledge of language arts and literacy, mathematics, science, social sciences, 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.

Field Experiences?

Each student seeking licensure from the College of Education/Professional Education Unit must complete supervised field experiences in appropriate lab settings in conjunction with education courses. Students are required to register for one lab for designated paired course. For example, during the first quarter of the program students must register for T&L 404 and SCG 403 plus one field experience lab. During the quarter when students take SER 446, a public school that services students with special needs is required. The field experiences must include a variety of grade levels, multicultural experiences, and a minimum of 15 hours in special education settings. All field experiences must be completed prior to final approval for student teaching. Field experience hours should be entered by the student into the FEDS system when completing courses with field experience requirements. For details on requirements, expectations, documentation, & courses in your program that require hours, visit the College of Education website.?

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