Nov 23, 2024

2023-2024 Catalog

2023-2024 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Elementary Education, B.A.

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The College of Education offers the undergraduate major in Elementary Education leading to the B.A. in Elementary Education and an Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) in elementary grades (1-6). Elementary Education majors may also pursue dual licensure at the middle grades (5-8) level with an additional 3-credit methods course in the area of the teaching specialization. Required general education courses expand candidates’ knowledge of the subject matter content in elementary school curricula while professional education courses provide preparation for teaching and an understanding of students’ development and learning. Our program, nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), includes a combination of classroom instruction, intensive pre-student teaching field experiences, and a supervised student teaching experience in two distinct program tracks.

Track 1: The baccalaureate degree in Elementary Education is offered in a face-to-face daytime program for traditional candidates. Professional education courses in Track 1 are scheduled predictably, two-three days per week, over a period of four fall/spring semesters and one summer, enabling candidates who wish to be employed part- or full-time until their final semester, 15 weeks of full-time student teaching.

Track 2: An alternative pathway to the B.A. in Elementary Education and licensure is offered through the Para to Teacher Program for candidates employed as teacher assistants, permanent substitute teachers, or paraprofessionals in elementary and middle schools with which we have established Memoranda of Understanding (MOU). These agreements with partner school districts permit candidates to continue their work in the schools during the day while completing online classes over a period of five fall/spring semesters and two summers. Through the MOU, the paraprofessional’s school agrees to provide all required clinical experiences and supervision for their candidate. This slower-paced program permits candidates to maintain the highest quality in their work as paraprofessionals as well as in their course and clinical work toward Elementary licensure. Individuals interested in the Para to Teacher Program in Elementary Education should contact the program advisor.

Candidate Handbook

Additional information is available in the Elementary and Middle Grades Education Program Handbook.

Admission to Teacher Education

After meeting the university admission requirements, students must meet the following requirements to become a candidate in the Elementary Education program:

* be admitted to Governors State University and be in good academic standing; present transcripts showing a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher in all undergraduate work attempted;
* earn a grade of “B-” or better in EMED-3321 Effective Teaching for Diverse Students and Effective Teaching Laboratory (4) and EMED-3333 Educational Linguistics (3) taken at Governors State University;
* submit an application for teacher candidacy; and successfully complete the GSU-approved Criminal Background Check, FERPA, DCFS, and all other required trainings prior to initial field experience in the schools (Note: Some field sites may also require students to provide a report of a brief physical exam, including a TB test, as well as to submit to the school’s own fingerprint background check);
* demonstrate professional dispositions through classroom interactions and/or interviews with faculty/staff; receive a positive recommendation from the Elementary Education faculty to continue in the program.

For more information on the criminal background check, please contact the Director of Educator Preparation in the Division of Education. Consult with the Elementary Education advisor for information concerning related GSU policies and procedures.

Candidate Progress

The Elementary Education faculty monitor and evaluate candidate progress continually. The section entitled “Licensure of Teachers and Other School Professionals” in this catalog provides a general description of the standards used to evaluate candidate progress. A more detailed statement of the standards and processes followed by the Elementary Education faculty is available in the Elementary and Middle Grades Education Program Candidate Handbook;

Conditional Continuation

The Elementary Education faculty may permit a candidate to continue conditionally. In such cases, faculty review the candidate’s records to identify evidence that the candidate is likely to be successful in the program. Candidates are informed in writing of the conditions necessary for them to be transferred to good standing status. The status of a candidate allowed to continue conditionally is reviewed by the faculty each term. When conditions have been met, the candidate is informed in writing of the transfer to good standing status. Consequences for failing to meet established and agreed upon conditions for continuation may include dismissal from the program. Candidates will not be admitted to student teaching unless they are in good standing status.

Teacher Licensure Requirements - Illinois State Board of Education

Our nationally CAEP-accredited program is approved by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) for recommendation of the Professional Educator License endorsed in Elementary Grades (1-6) by entitlement. To be recommended for licensure by Governors State University, candidates must:

* complete 49-51 credits of general education earning the designated GPA; complete 66 credits of professional education course work in Elementary Education with a grade of at least a B- in every course, including EMED-4999 Student Teaching;
* complete 18 credits in an area of teaching specialization, Bilingual Education, ESL Education, English/ Language Arts, General Science, Mathematics, Social Science;
* pass, prior to student teaching, the Illinois Licensure Testing System Elementary (Grades 1-6) Education Content Test (305) and any other state required examinations.

Admission to Student Teaching

All general education, professional education, and teaching specialization course work as well as the Illinois Licensure Testing System Elementary Content Test must be completed before the candidate’s student teaching semester begins. For those students who intend to student teach in a content area at the middle-grades level, all middle grades endorsement requirements must also be completed before the student teaching semester. Note that students who elect a teaching specialization in Bilingual Education or ESL Education must have completed additional requirements (see below).

To be admitted to student teaching, candidates must:

* complete all professional education courses with a grade of B- or better; complete the 49-51 credits of general education requirements with a GPA of 2.75 or higher;
* document 100 clock hours of pre-student teaching field experiences in conjunction with required professional education courses (Note: For candidates electing a teaching specialization in ESL Education, an additional 100 clock hours of field experience must also be documented (200 total hours of required field experience). For candidates electing a teaching specialization in Bilingual Education, an additional practicum is required, and an additional 100 hours of field experience must also be documented (300 total hours of required field experience));
* complete the required 15 credits in the teaching specialization content with a GPA of 2.75 or higher and the related methods course with a grade of B- or better; receive a positive recommendation from the Elementary Education faculty;
* and verify successful completion of the Elementary Grades (1-6) Content Test (305) of the Illinois Licensure Testing System, and if appropriate, the Middle Grades (5-8) Content Test in English Language Arts (201); Middle Grades (5-8) Test in Mathematics (202); Middle Grades (5-8) Test in Science (203); or Middle Grades (5-8) Test in Social Science (204). There is no required content test for the ESL Education teaching specialization; however, there is a language content test for candidates with a teaching specialization in Bilingual Education (Foreign/World Language Content Area Test, test code number varies by language); submit a Student Teaching Application to studentteachingapplications@govst.edu by February 1 for spring student teaching placement and October 1 for fall student teaching placement in accordance with the Schedule of Important Dates.

Candidates must verify for the Director of Educator Preparation that each of these requirements has been met by June 1 of the semester preceding fall student teaching and by November 1 of the semester preceding spring student teaching. Candidates must work with the program advisor in preparing the application for student teaching one year prior to the student teaching experience.

Note: Student teaching is not offered during the summer session.

Degree Requirements

Candidates must meet all university requirements for a bachelor’s degree, except candidates must complete the 49-51 hour General Education Requirement for the Professional Educators License with an Elementary Endorsement (Grades 1-6) instead of the University General Education Requirement.

Candidates must also:

* earn a grade of B- or higher in all professional education courses (66 hours required).
* maintain a G.P.A. of 2.75 or higher in all general education courses (49-51 hours required).
* maintain a G.P.A. of 2.75 in the required 15 credits of the teaching specialization courses and earn a grade of B- or better in the related methods course.
* complete at least one three-hour course in non-Western or Third World cultures.
* complete all course work at GSU within five calendar years or demonstrate that older coursework addressed currently taught theories and research.
* maintain satisfactory candidate progress as defined in the Elementary and Middle Grades Education Program Candidate Handbook.
* receive a positive recommendation from the Elementary Education faculty.

General Education Requirement for the Professional Educators License with an Elementary Endorsement (Grades 1-6): 49-51 Hours

Course work acceptable for meeting these requirements must be college level work and may not include remedial courses even if college credit has been granted. Generally, this course work must be at the 1000-level or higher and applicable toward a degree at the institution providing the instruction. Courses with grades below “C” will not be accepted toward the degree. Students will complete:

Written Communication (6 Hours)
Oral Communication (3 Hours)
Biological Science, Physical Science, Earth Science, and at least one 1 hour laboratory associated to at least one science lecture course (10-12 Hours)
Mathematics (9 Hours)
Social and Behavioral Sciences (9 Hours)
Humanities (9 Hours)
Fine Arts (3 Hours)

Please see the General Education Course Section for a list of courses that meet these requirements.

Teaching Specialization: 18 Hours

In consultation with a program advisor, candidates will select 18 hours of course work, in an area of specialization which includes: English, General Science, Mathematics, or Social Sciences. At least 9 specialization hours are to be upper-division courses; no more than 9 hours are to be courses also used to satisfy general education (GE) requirements; and only one 3-hour professional education (PE) methods course is to be included in this 18 hour total. Please meet with the program advisor for assistance with courses for the Teaching Specializations listed below.

Professional Education Courses for Elementary Education: 68 Hours

The following required courses may be taken at the lower-division level: (12 Hours)

The following required courses must be taken at the upper-division level: (56 Hours)

NOTE:

Additional credits in Professional Education and in the area of Teaching Specialization will be required for students also seeking middle-grades licensure. (See Middle Grades (5-8) Endorsement for Elementary Candidates” below and consult your advisor.)

Total: 123-135 Hours

Teaching Specializations

In consultation with a program advisor, candidates will select 18 hours of course work in the area of specialization, English, General Science, Mathematics, or Social Sciences. At least 9 specialization hours are to be upper-division courses; no more than 9 hours are to be courses also used to satisfy general education (GE) requirements; and only one 3-hour professional education (PE) methods course is to be included in this 18 hour total.

Bilingual/ESL Education

Required Courses (18 Hours)

Total 18 Hours

English

Required Courses (15 Hours)*

Multicultural Selective (3 Hours)

Select one from the following*:

Genre Selective (3 Hours)

Select one from the following*:

ENGL - 3115 Studies in Mythology (3)
ENGL - 4100 Advanced Composition (3)
ENGL - 4141 American Poets (3)
ENGL - 4210 Writing Poetry (3)
ENGL - 4475 The Short Story: Crossing Cultures (3)
ENGL - 4500 Play Analysis (3)
ENGL - 4550 Shakespeare’s Plays (3)
*NOTE: If recommended courses in either Selective category above are unavailable, substitutions may be made with advisor’s or coordinator’s approval.

Total - 18 Hours

No more than 9 hours may be from courses also used to satisfy general education (GE) requirements, and only one 3-hour professional education (PE) methods course is included in this total. Thus, of the total 18 hours required for this specialization, 9 hours come from a combination of GE and PE course work.

Elementary Education majors also seeking licensure at the middle grades level must take additional coursework in their area of teaching specialization to total 24 hours in the area of the teaching specialization. Only the Professional Education (PE) methods course at the middle grades level (EMED - 4453 Teaching English Language Arts in the Middle Grades (3) , EMED - 4455 Teaching Science in the Middle Grades (3) , EMED - 4457 Teaching Mathematics in the Middle Grades (3) , EMED - 4459 Teaching Social Studies in the Middle Grades (3) ) may be included in the teaching specialization courses. Secondary Education majors are not required to add any courses to those totaling 24 credit hours in their area of teaching specialization.

Selective (6 Hours)

Select 6 additional hours of English courses.

General Science

Required Course (3 Hours)

EMED - 4404 Teaching Science in the Elementary Grades (3) (PE)

Biology (4 Hours)

Select from the following*:

Chemistry (4 Hours)

Required*:

Physics (4 Hours)

Select from the following*:

Earth and Space Science (3 Hours)

Select one of the following*:

PHYS - 1200 Earth and Space Science (3)
PHYS - 3435 Meteorology Online (3) (GE)
*NOTE: If recommended courses in any category above are unavailable, substitutions may be made with advisor’s or coordinator’s approval.

Total - 18 Hours

No more than 9 hours are to be courses also used to satisfy general education (GE) requirements, and only one 3-hour professional education (PE) methods course is to be included in this total. Thus, of the total 18 hours required for this specialization, 12 hours come from a combination of GE and PE course work.

Mathematics

Required Courses (12 Hours)*

Selectives (6 Hours)

Select two from the following*:

MATH - 2100 Elementary Statistics (3)
MATH - 2150 Discrete Mathematics (3)
MATH - 2281 Applied Calculus (4)
MATH - 3155 Number Theory for Teachers (3)
MATH - 3331 Geometry (3)
LAS - 4127 Investigations in Mathematical Thought (3)
CPSC - 2100 Introduction to Computing (3)
Additional selectives may be considered upon request.

*NOTE: If recommended courses above are unavailable, substitutions may be made with advisor’s or coordinator’s approval.

Total - 18 Hours

No more than 9 hours are to be from courses used to satisfy general education (GE) requirements, and only one 3-hour professional education (PE) methods course is to be included in this total. Thus, of the total 18 hours required for this specialization, 12 hours come from a combination of GE and PE course work.

Social Science

Required Course (3 Hours)

EMED - 4406 Teaching Social Studies in the Elementary Grades (3) (PE)

Anthropology (3 Hours)

Select one from the following*:

Economics (3 Hours)

ECON - 2302 Principles of Macroeconomics (3)

History (3 Hours)

Select one from the following*:

Political Science (3 Hours)

Select one from the following*:

Sociology (3 Hours)

Select one from the following*:

SOC - 3150 Self and Society (3)
SOC - 3200 Class Inequalities (3)
SOC - 3300 Principles of Urban Studies (3)
SOC - 3400 Work and Family Life (3)
*NOTE: If recommended courses in any category above are unavailable, substitutions may be made with advisor’s or coordinator’s approval.

Total - 18 Hours

Middle Grades (Grades 5-8) Licensure

Middle Grades Licensure is approved by the Illinois State Board of Education for recommendation of the Professional Educator License with an Endorsement in the Middle Grades by entitlement. To be recommended for licensure by Governors State University, undergraduate candidates must complete all requirements for licensure in Elementary or Secondary Education as well as the middle-grade-specific course work below. Candidates must earn a grade of “B” or better in EMED-4999 Student Teaching.

Candidates must also meet other requirements for licensure through approved programs listed in the Licensure of Teachers and Other School Professionals section in this catalog.

General Education Requirement for Initial Teacher Licensure, Middle Grades (Grades 5-8)

Middle Grades Licensure is approved by the Illinois State Board of Education for recommendation of the Professional Educator License with an Endorsement in the Middle Grades by entitlement. To be recommended for licensure by Governors State University, Elementary Education undergraduate candidates must complete all requirements for licensure in Elementary Education as well as the appropriate middle-grade-specific course below. Candidates must earn a grade of B- or better in EMED - 4999 - Student Teaching. Candidates must also meet other requirements for licensure through approved programs listed in the “Licensure of Teachers and Other School Professionals” section of this catalog.

Professional Education Courses for Middle Grades Education: 3 Hours

Select one of the following appropriate Middle Grades Teaching Methods courses:
EMED - 4453 Teaching English Language Arts in the Middle Grades (3)
Or
EMED - 4455 Teaching Science in the Middle Grades (3)
Or
EMED - 4457 Teaching Mathematics in the Middle Grades (3)
Or
EMED - 4459 Teaching Social Studies in the Middle Grades (3)
NOTE: Elementary Education majors also seeking licensure at the middle grades level must take additional coursework in their area of teaching specialization to total 24 hours. Only one Professional Education (PE) methods course at the middle grades level (EMED-4453 English Language Arts OR EMED-4455 Science OR EMED-4457 Mathematics OR EMED-4459 Social Studies), may be included in the teaching specialization courses. Secondary Education majors are not required to add any courses to those totaling 24 credit hours in their area of teaching specialization.

In addition to passing the Illinois Licensure Testing System Content Test for Elementary Education (305), Elementary Education candidates pursuing middle grades (5-8) endorsement must also pass the Illinois Testing Licensure System Content Test in one of the middle grades content areas:
- Middle Grades (5-8) Test in Language Arts (201);
- Middle Grades (5-8) Test in Mathematics (202);
- Middle Grades (5-8) Test in Science (203);
- Middle Grades (5-8) Test in Social Science (204).

Total Credit Hours for Elementary and Middle Grades Dual Licensure: 127 - 133 Hours

Total Credit Hours for Secondary and Middle Grades Dual Licensure: 123 - 137 Hours

Students seeking initial licensure in a Secondary content area should meet with their Academic Advisor to identify course requirements for Middle Grades endorsement.