Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 University Bulletin 
    
2020-2021 University Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

Elementary Education - B.A.


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The major in elementary education prepares students for teaching children in regular education classrooms, grades 1 through 6. The major requirements for the elementary program include foundational and professional courses. Foundational courses focus on building understanding in areas such as child growth and development, learning theory, diversity from multiple lenses, and educational philosophy. Professional courses are designed to integrate the subject matter of the elementary classroom that includes reading and writing, language arts and literature, mathematics, science, social studies, health, physical education, and the fine arts. The professional courses provide a solid foundation in learning specific methods of teaching unique to each subject matter and the development of materials and resources needed to implement lessons and units of study.

Dominican University teacher candidates who major in elementary education will have the unique opportunity to experience a comprehensive clinically-based program that includes the liberal arts and sciences core curriculum, foundational courses within the School of Education, and extensive supervised clinically-based courses that focus on the development of practices essential to beginning teachers.

Upon entering the undergraduate BA degree program, students take the university general education core curriculum requirements that develop a broad liberal arts and sciences education, with an introduction to education in EDUC 200 - Foundations of Education  and EDUC 310 - History and Philosophy of Education . After completing the first education course, students in good standing  who meet requirements for acceptance into the Teacher Education Program can matriculate into the elementary education program with candidacy and begin intensive licensure program coursework and fieldwork.

Major Requirements

Core Content Coursework:


Complete the following:

Additional Requirements:


All course for the major, including core content courses, must be completed with a grade of C- or higher.

Optional Courses


The following optional courses provide first- and second-year students additional support in meeting academic requirements for the program:

Optional Pathways


Students in the elementary education program have the option to complete a minor or an endorsement program in one of the following three high-need areas:



Special Education

The licensure programs enable candidates to complete one course ( SEDU 322 - Exceptional Students: Characteristics and the Special Education Process ) toward the Learning Behavior Specialist I endorsement. In total, five courses are required for the LBS I endorsement. Candidates can choose to complete the subsequent required classes as undergraduate electives or can choose to complete them upon graduation. The following sequence of courses are required for a candidate to earn an LBS I endorsement:

Required Courses for the LBS1 Endorsement (15 hours):

*completed as part of the elementary education program

 



English Language Learners

The elementary education program enables each candidate to complete three courses toward the bilingual/ESL endorsement (indicated below) as a pathway toward completion of the bilingual and/or ESL endorsement. Candidates can choose to complete the subsequent three required classes as undergraduate electives or can choose to complete them upon graduation.

Bilingual Education Endorsement and English as a Second Language Endorsement

*Courses required in the elementary education program

Bilingual Education Endorsement

*Courses required in the Elementary Education Program

English as a Second Language Endorsement

*Courses required in the Elementary Education Program

 



Mathematics Education

The elementary education program enables each candidate to complete one course toward the courses required for a mathematics endorsement. Candidates can choose to complete six additional math courses (beyond what is required for the major) to earn a mathematics endorsement; the courses also satisfy the requirements for a mathematics minor .

Required Courses for the Mathematics Minor and Endorsement (24 semester hours):

*completed as part of the elementary education program

 

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