Elementary Education Certification Program (Grades 1-6), B.S.

The Program

The Elementary Education Certification Program offers courses and learning experiences designed to prepare teaching candidates for an elementary school teaching career. These courses and experiences are designed to enable the candidate to demonstrate:

Mastery of the content of the elementary school subjects.
Skill in implementing basic principles of teaching and learning, integrating theory relating to curricula with practice.
Ability to plan effective teaching-learning activities for the elementary school learner by stating objectives in terms of expected behavioral outcomes and by evaluating elementary school instruction in terms of stated objectives.
Knowledge of the changing role expectations that society holds for elementary school education by exhibiting an understanding of widely accepted articulated goals of education and curricular organization as reflected by these goals.
Commitment to continuous professional growth by regularly examining his/her academic knowledge and competence and by assuming responsibility for his/her learning and development.
Knowledge of the elementary school curriculum in relation to the learner’s development and his/her social, cultural and linguistic background as related to the larger society.
Ability to use first-hand experiences, media, and technology in developing concepts and skills taught in the elementary schools.
Knowledge of the multitudinous ways in which learners differ and of the procedures available for adapting instruction to complement learner diversity.
Ability to use a variety of instructional strategies aimed toward enhancing the learner’s higher ordered learning and performance skills.
Knowledge and implementation of diverse motivational strategies that are aimed toward enhancing the learner’s self-motivation and ability to engage in positive social interaction.

Requirements:

The Elementary Education Program includes the broad base of liberal arts courses required of all University students. These requirements are described in this catalog under “Requirements for Graduation.” Specific requirements for the elementary teacher education programs are as follows:

Academic Courses (Supporting Courses): The general studies program of the University provides a solid base of courses and learning experiences for the prospective elementary school teacher. To strengthen and broaden this base, a sequence of additional courses (supporting courses) has been assigned and is required for completion of the Elementary Education Program. The courses include the following: ENGL 250 and ENGL 353 ; GEOG 101 (Recommended); Speech or Communication Elective (SPCH 100-499 or COMM 100-499); SCIENCE Elective – 4 credits recommended to be EASC 205 ; MATH 107 , MATH 108 , and MATH 205
Professional Education Courses: All professional education courses, as well as general education and supporting courses, should be completed prior to enrolling in student teaching (ELED 487 ). Professional education courses include: EDUC 200 , EDUC 222 , EDUC 301 , EDUC 334 , EDUC 415 , EDUC 480 , EDUC 486 , EDUC 489 , ELED 210 , ELED 310 , ELED 316 , ELED 318 , ELED 412 , ELED 475 , ELED 476 , ELED 478 , ELED 479 , and ELED 487 . ELED 487 - Student Teaching in the Elementary School , (12 credits) is the last course in the professional sequence.
Professional Methods Courses and Student Teaching: Unconditional admission to the Teacher Education Program is required for enrollment in the methods courses and student teaching.
Practicum: Candidates must complete 100 consecutive days of the student teaching practicum in order to be eligible for graduation/ certification. NB: Elegibility for the 100-consecutive day internship practicum requires mandatory fingerprinting. A fee is required.
PRAXIS: Candidates must register and sit for the PRAXIS I Core test (3) by the end of their sophomore year. Successful completion of the Praxis Core and the appropriate Praxis II assessments, prior to graduation, is mandatory. Candidates who fail to satisfy all graduation criteria (including achieving a passing score on the Praxis I Core and Praxis II examinations) are not eligible for graduation and will not be permitted to participate in the graduation exercises. Praxis I Core and Praxis II scores must be submitted to the Department Chair by November 1 (fall graduation) or April 1 (spring graduation).
GPA: Candidates must acquire and maintain a GPA of 2.75 (or higher) in order to be eligible for graduation.
MSU outcomes assessment: Candidates must complete all MSU/Departmental Outcome Assessments.
Major Exit/Program Surveys: Candidates must com- plete all Major Exit and Program Development Surveys.

Teacher Education Certification Graduation Requirement:

Elementary Education

Candidates upon completing the Elementary Education Teacher Certification Program must, prior to graduation, successfully complete (i.e., meet the state qualifying scores on) the Praxis Core and Praxis II assessments. The Praxis II assessment include: Elementary Education: Instructional Practice and Applications (5019) – (qualifying score – 155) and Principles of Learning and Teaching K – 6 (5622) - (qualifying scores 160). Additionally, candidates must acquire and maintain a mimimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75.

Suggested Curriculum Sequence

Elementary Education