Nov 21, 2024  
2016-2017 Governors State University Academic Catalog 
    
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2016-2017 Governors State University Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Elementary Education, B.A.

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The College of Education  undergraduate major in Elementary Education prepares education majors to teach elementary students in grades one through six.  Elementary Education majors may also pursue dual certification at the middle grades (5-8) level with an additional semester of coursework and field experience (see Middle Grades (Grades 5-8) Licensure - #middlegradesgrades58licensure).  Professional education courses provide preparation for teaching, and general education courses expand candidates’ knowledge of elementary school curricula and their understanding of pupils.  This curriculum offers a combination of classroom instruction, intensive pre-student teaching field experiences, as well as a supervised student teaching experience.

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 2.5 or higher in all undergraduate work attempted;
  • present evidence of passing the Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) of the Illinois Certification Testing System or of achieving requisite scores (check with an advisor) on the ACT plus Writing or on the SAT plus Writing;
  • 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, and
  • receive a positive recommendation from the Elementary Education faculty to continue in the program.

Note: Candidates must provide proof of passing the TAP or achieving requisite scores on the ACT or SAT before enrolling in EMED-3321  and EMED-3333 .

All candidates for Illinois teacher licensure at Governors State University are required to submit to a criminal background check prior to their initial field experience in the schools.  For more information on this testing, please contact the Director of Field Experience in the Division of Education.  Consult with your advisor for information concerning related GSU policies and procedures.

Candidate Progress

The faculty monitor and evaluate candidate progress continually. The section 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 Education Candidate Handbook.

Conditional Continuation

The faculty may permit a candidate to continue conditionally.  In such cases, faculty reviews of the candidate’s records identify evidence that the candidate will likely be successful in the program.  The status of candidates allowed to continue under conditions is reviewed by the faculty each term, and candidates are informed in writing of the conditions necessary for them to be transferred to good standing status.  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.  A candidate may not be admitted to student teaching without being in good standing status.

Candidate Handbook

The Elementary Education Candidate Handbook referred to in this catalog is available through the Program Advisor.

Elementary (Grades 1-6) Teacher Licensure

This program is approved by the Illinois State Board of Education for recommendation of the Professional Educator License with an Elementary Endorsement (Grades 1-6) by entitlement. To be recommended for licensure by Governors State University, candidates must complete 58-63 hours of general education and 65 hours of professional education course work in Elementary Education.  General education courses may include both lower- and upper-division course work.  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.

Program Portfolio

The Program Portfolio is a selection of examples of candidate work (artifacts) that is organized according to the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards and the Standards for Licensure in Elementary Education.  Throughout the program, candidates choose artifacts to include in their portfolios, write reflections, and receive evaluations of their artifacts and reflections.  At the conclusion of student teaching, candidates submit these portfolios containing faculty-evaluated artifacts and reflections for each standard.

Admission to Student Teaching

All professional course work must be completed before enrolling in student teaching. For those students teaching in a content area at the middle-grades level, all endorsement requirements must also be completed.

To be admitted to student teaching, candidates must:

  1. complete EMED-3321  and EMED-3333  with a grade of “B”;
  2. complete all but three credits in general education;
  3. complete general education requirements with a G.P.A. of 2.75 or higher;
  4. complete all professional education courses with a grade of “B” or better;
  5. complete 100 clock hours of pre-student teaching field experiences in conjunction with required professional education courses;
  6. complete a minimum of 18 hours in the teaching specialization with a G.P.A. of 2.75 or higher;
  7. receive a positive recommendation from the Elementary Education faculty; and
  8. verify successful completion of the Elementary Content Exam of the Illinois Certification Testing System.

Students must submit to the Director of Field Experience an Application for Student Teaching, verifying that the first six of these requirements have been met, by December 1 of the preceding year when student teaching is planned for the fall and by May 1 of the preceding year when student teaching is planned for the spring semester.  Student teaching is not offered during the summer term.  

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) below instead of the University General Education Requirement.

Candidates must also:

  1. complete all course work (65 hours of professional education; 18-21 hours of teaching specialization; and 49-51 hours of general education);
  2. maintain a G.P.A. of 2.75 or higher in all general education courses with a grade of “C” or better in each course;
  3. earn a grade of “B” or better in all professional education courses;
  4. complete all course work at Governors State University within five calendar years;
  5. maintain satisfactory candidate progress as defined in the Elementary Education Candidate Handbook; and
  6. 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 is 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.  The following courses or their equivalents may be completed at the lower-division level:

Teaching Specialization: 18-19 Hours

In consultation with a program advisor, candidates will select 18-19 hours of course work, depending upon the area of specialization which includes: Biology, English, General Science, History, Mathematics, or Social Sciences. At least 9 specialization hours must be in upper-division courses; 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 may be included in this 18-19 hour total (minus 6-12 hours of GE and PE depending upon area of specialization; see Teaching Specializations listed below).

 

Total: 58-62 Hours

 

Professional Education Courses for Elementary Education: 65 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: (53 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 Licensure below and consult your advisor.)

Total: 123-127 Hours

Teaching Specializations

In consultation with a program advisor, candidates will select 18-19 hours of course work, depending upon the area of specialization, within one of the following teaching specializations.  At least 9 specialization hours must be in upper-division courses; 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 may be included in this 18-19 hour total.

Biology

Required Courses (15 Hours)*
Selective(s) (3-4 Hours)

Select one or two from the following*:

Total - 18 - 19 Hours

No more than 9 hours may be from courses also used to satisfy general education (GE) requirements, and only one professional education (PE) methods course may be included in this total. Thus, of the total 18-19 Hours required for this specialization, 11 hours may 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 one professional education (PE) methods course may be included in the teaching specialization courses. 

English

Required Courses (12 Hours)*
Multicultural Selective (3 Hours)

Select one from the following*:

Genre Selective (3 Hours)

Select one from the following*:

Total - 18 Hours

No more than 9 hours may be from courses also used to satisfy general education (GE) requirements, and only one professional education (PE) methods course may be included in this total. Thus, of the total 18 Hours required for this specialization, 6 hours may 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 one professional education (PE) methods course may be included in the teaching specialization courses.

General Science

Required Course (3 Hours)
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*:

Total - 18 Hours

No more than 9 hours may be from courses also used to satisfy general education (GE) requirements, and only one professional education (PE) methods course may be included in this total. Thus, of the total 18 Hours required for this specialization, 11 hours may 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 one professional education (PE) methods course may be included in the teaching specialization courses.

History

Required Courses (15 Hours)*
Selective (3 Hours)

Select one from the following*:

Total - 18 Hours

No more than 9 hours may be from courses also used to satisfy general education (GE) requirements, and only one professional education (PE) methods course may be included in this total. Thus, of the total 18 Hours required for this specialization, 9 hours may 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 one professional education (PE) methods course may be included in the teaching specialization courses.

Mathematics

Required Courses (12 Hours)*
Selectives (6 Hours)

Select two from the following*:

Total - 18 Hours

No more than 9 hours may be from courses also used to satisfy general education (GE) requirements, and only one professional education (PE) methods course may be included in this total. Thus, of the total 18 Hours required for this specialization, 12 hours may 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 one professional education (PE) methods course may be included in the teaching specialization courses.

Social Science

Required Course (3 Hours)
Anthropology (3 Hours)

Select one from the following*:

Economics (3 Hours)
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*:

Total - 18 Hours

No more than 9 hours may be from courses also used to satisfy general education (GE) requirements, and only one professional education (PE) methods course may be included in this total. Thus, of the total 18 Hours required for this specialization, 9 hours may 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 one professional education (PE) methods course may be included in the teaching specialization courses.

Middle Grades (Grades 5-8) Licensure

This program 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)

Candidates for Middle Grades licensure will satisfy the General Education requirements of their degree program, B.A. in Elementary Education or B.A. in Secondary Education.

Professional Education Courses for Middle Grades Education: 17 Hours

Total Credit Hours for Elementary and Middle Grades Dual Licensure: 146-148 Hours

Total Credit Hours for Secondary and Middle Grades Dual Licensure: 137-152 Hours

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

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