Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 Governors State University Academic Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Governors State University Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Elementary Education, B.A.


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 one or two (depending upon specialization) additional 3-credit courses in the area of the teaching specialization and one middle grades teaching methods course in the appropriate content area for a total of 24 credit hours (see Middle Grades (Grades 5-8) Licensure below). 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. This curriculum offers a combination of classroom instruction, intensive pre-student teaching field experiences, and 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 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
  • receive a positive recommendation from the Elementary Education faculty to continue in the program.

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 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 and Middle Grades Education Program Handbook.

Conditional Continuation

The faculty may permit a candidate to continue conditionally. In such cases, faculty review the candidate’s records to 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 and Middle Grades Education Program Handbook referred to in this catalog is available through the program advisor.

Teacher Licensure

This program is approved by the Illinois State Board of Education for recommendation of the Professional Educator License endorsed in Elementary Education (Grades 1-6) by entitlement. To be recommended for licensure by Governors State University, candidates must complete 49 hours of general education earning the designated GPA; 66 hours of professional education course work in Elementary Education with a grade of at least a B in every course, including EMED-4999 Student Teaching; and 18 hours in the area of teaching specialization, several of which are included in the Elementary Education requirements for general and professional education. General education courses may include both lower- and upper-division course work. Additionally, candidates must meet other requirements for licensure through approved programs listed in the Licensure of Teachers and Other School Professionals section in this catalog. Candidates must also pass the edTPA and the Illinois Certification Testing System Elementary (Grades 1-6) Education Exam (197-200) to be recommended for licensure.

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 all professional education courses with a grade of “B” or better;
  2. complete the 49 hours of general education requirements with a G.P.A. of 2.75 or higher;
  3. document 100 clock hours of pre-student teaching field experiences in conjunction with required professional education courses;
  4. complete a minimum of 18 hours in the teaching specialization with a G.P.A. of 2.75 or higher;
  5. complete all but three credit-hours in general education;
  6. receive a positive recommendation from the Elementary and Middle Grades Education faculty; and
  7. verify successful completion of the Elementary Education (Grades 1-6) Content Exam (197-200) of the Illinois Certification Testing System.

An application certifying that the first six of these requirements have been met must be submitted to the Director of Educator Preparation by March 1 of the preceding year for fall student teaching, and by December 1 of the preceding year for spring student teaching. Candidates should work with their program advisor in preparing this application.

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:

1. maintain a grade of B or higher in all professional education courses (66 hours required).
2. maintain a G.P.A. of 2.75 or higher in all general education courses (49 hours required) and teaching specialization courses (18 hours required).
3. complete at least one three-hour course in non-Western or Third World cultures.
4. complete all course work at GSU within five calendar years.
5. maintain satisfactory candidate progress as defined in the Elementary and Middle Grades Education Program Candidate Handbook.
6. receive a positive recommendation from the Elementary and Middle Grades Education faculty.

General Education Requirement for the Professional Educators License with an Elementary Endorsement (Grades 1-6): 49 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.  The following courses or their equivalents may be completed at the lower-division level:

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: 66 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: 121-124 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.

English


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 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.

General Science


Earth and Space Science (3 Hours)

Select one of the following*:

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.


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.

Mathematics


Selectives (6 Hours)

Select two from the following*:

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.


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.

Social Science


Sociology (3 Hours)

Select one from the following*:

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.


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.

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)


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: 3 Hours


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.