2025-26 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Aug 25, 2025  
2025-26 Undergraduate Catalog

Elementary Education Major - Grades K-6


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Program Learning Goals. Goals 1-10 align with InTASC standards

1: The teacher candidate understands how learners grow and develop, recognizing that patterns of learning and development vary individually within and across the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas, and designs and implements developmentally appropriate and challenging learning experiences.

2: The teacher candidate uses understanding of individual differences and diverse cultures and communities to ensure inclusive learning environments that enable each learner to meet high standards.

3: The teacher candidate works with others to create environments that support individual and collaborative learning, and that encourage positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation.

4: The teacher candidate understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline(s) he or she teaches and creates learning experiences that make these aspects of the discipline accessible and meaningful for learners to assure mastery of the content.

5: The teacher candidate understands how to connect concepts and use differing perspectives to engage learners in critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative problem solving related to authentic local and global issues.

6: The teacher candidate understands and uses multiple methods of assessment to engage learners in their own growth, to monitor learner progress, and to guide the teacher’s and learner’s decision making.

7: The teacher candidate plans instruction that supports every student in meeting rigorous learning goals by drawing upon knowledge of content areas, curriculum, cross-disciplinary skills, and pedagogy, as well as knowledge of learners and the community context.

8: The teacher candidate understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage learners to develop deep understanding of content areas and their connections, and to build skills to apply knowledge in meaningful ways.

9: The teacher candidate engages in ongoing professional learning and uses evidence to continually evaluate his/her practice, particularly the effects of his/her choices and actions on others (learners, families, other professionals, and the community), and adapts practice to meet the needs of each learner.

10: The teacher candidate seeks appropriate leadership roles and opportunities to take responsibility for student learning, to collaborate with learners, families, colleagues, other school professionals, and community members to ensure learner growth, and to advance the profession.

11:  Spiritual Integration: Personalizes the departmental “teacher as servant” motto, linking their past educational experiences and future calls as educators to Christ’s embodiment of humble servant.

Requirements for certification:


 

Note:


*If seeking certification in special education, birth through grade three inclusive settings, early childhood or reading, complete 8 credits of student teaching in elementary education and 4-8 credits of student teaching in special education, early childhood or reading. The number of weeks/credits required for student teaching will be determined by the coordinator of student teaching and the chair of the department.

Liberal arts cognate requirements:


Total credits required: 68-80


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