Elementary Education

St. Ambrose offers an elementary education major which allows a student to teach in a self-contained classroom for grades kindergarten through sixth. In addition, each elementary major also completes additional courses which add an endorsement to the elementary license. This endorsement allows a student to teach in a departmentalized setting, for example, as a fifth grade science teacher. The student may also teach at the seventh and eighth grade level in that endorsement area only.

Courses Required of All Elementary Education Majors

EDUC 205 Field Experience - 2 credits 70 field hours or EDUC 207 Orientation to Teaching - 1 credit
(for those with documented 70 hours classroom experience)

One course in US History or US Government

PSYC 105 Introductory Psychology - 3 credits

Science courses totaling at least 6 credit hours (one course must include a lab)
· One course in biology
· One course in a science other than biology or environmental science
(chemistry, physics, geology, physical science, astronomy, earth
science, meteorology, physical geography)

EDUC 284 Child and Adolescent Psychology - 3 credits
(Prerequisite: PSYC 105)

EDUC 300 Diversity and Culturally-Responsive Teaching - 3 credits
(Prerequisites: EDUC 205 or 207; EDUC 284 or PSYC 284; admission to Teacher Education Program or consent of instructor)

WI-EDUC 301 History and Philosophy of Education - 3 credits
(Prerequisites: EDUC 205 or 207; sophomore status; ENGL 101 with C or better.)

EDUC 308 Educational Technology - 3 credits
(Prerequisites: sophomore status; EDUC 205 or 207)

EDUC 309 Educational Psychology: Tests and Measurements - 3 credits
(Prerequisites: EDUC 205 or 207; EDUC 284 or PSYC 284; admission to Teacher Education Program)

EDUC 329 Methods of Teaching Social Studies - 3 credits
(Prerequisites: EDUC 205 or 207; EDUC 284 or PSYC 284; admission to Teacher Education Program)

EDUC 353 Methods of Elementary Science - 3 credits
(Prerequisites: EDUC 205 or 207; EDUC 284 or PSYC 284; admission to Teacher Education Program)

EDUC 354 Methods of Elementary Mathematics - 3 credits
(Prerequisites: MATH 210; EDUC 284 or PSYC 284; admission to Teacher Education Program)

EDUC 369 Child and Adolescent Literature - 3 credits
(Prerequisites: EDUC 205 or 207; EDUC 284 or PSYC 284)

EDUC 371 Language Arts and Reading in the Elementary Schools: K-3 - 3 credits
(Prerequisites: EDUC 205 or 207; EDUC 284 or PSYC 284; admission to Teacher Education Program)

EDUC 372 Language Arts and Reading in the Elementary Schools: 4-6 - 3 credits
(Prerequisites: EDUC 371)

WI-EDUC 452 Diagnostic and Prescriptive Techniques of Teaching Reading - 4 credits
(Prerequisites: ECE 303 or EDUC 371; minimum 25 clock hours of clinical work with students)

SPED 310 Inclusive Strategies for Students with Special Needs - 3 credits 25 field hours
(Prerequisites: EDUC 205 or 207; EDUC 284 or PSYC 284; admission to Teacher Education Program)

ENGL 313 Linguistics: Language and Learning - 3 credits

MATH 210 Theory of Arithmetic - 3 credits
(Prerequisites: MATH 121 or appropriate placement score and 1.5 units of high school algebra)

Three courses from the following
· ART 340 Elementary Art Methods - 3 credits
· KIN 270 Personal and Consumer Health - 2 credits
· MUS 244 Music for the Elementary Classroom Teacher - 3 credits
· KIN 210 Games and Rhythms - 2 credits

EDUC 409 Observation and Student Teaching: Elementary Grades - 12-15 credits
(Prerequisites: Admission to Teacher Education Program; senior standing; all requirements in elementary education endorsement areas; recommendation of the Elementary Education chair)

Endorsements are offered in the areas of:
· English/Language Arts
· Foreign Language (French, German or Spanish)
· Mathematics
· Reading
· Science
· Social Sciences: History
· Social Sciences: Social Studies
· Special Education - Instructional Strategist I: Mild and Moderate

Additional Courses Required for Elementary Endorsements

English / Language Arts (K-8)
· ENGL 101 Written Communication - 3 credits
· ENGL 120 Literary Topics - 3 credits
· ENGL 210 American Literature I - 3 credits or ENGL 211 American Literature II - 3 credits
· ENGL 316 Expository Writing Workshop - 3 credits
· COMM 101 or COMM 203 or COMM 328 or COMM 329
· THTR 105 Beginning Acting: Voice and Body for Non-Majors - 3 credits

Foreign Language - French
· EDUC 330
· FR 201
· FR 202
· 18 semester crs @ 300+ level including 6 crs in French Literature

Foreign Language - German
· EDUC 330
· GERM 201
· GERM 202
· 18 semester crs @ 300+ level including 6 crs in German Literature

Foreign Language - Spanish
· EDUC 330
· SPAN 201
· SPAN 202
· 18 semester crs @ 300+ level including 6 crs in Spanish or Latin American Literature

Mathematics (K-8)
· MATH 151 College Algebra - 3 credits or MATH 171 Elementary Functions - 3 credits
· MATH 152 Trigonometry - 2 credits
· MATH 191 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I - 4 credits
· MATH 192 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II - 4 credits
· WI-MATH 300 Probability and Statistics I - 3 credits
· MATH 360 Modern Geometry - 3 credits
· CSCI elective - 3 credits

Reading (K-8)
· EDUC 453 Reading Clinic: Advanced Teaching Practicum - 4 credits
· EDUC 460 Developing Evidence-Based Reading Instruction Programs - 1 credit
· EDUC 459 Content Area Reading - 3 credits
· COMM 325 Introduction to Speech Pathology - 3 credits

Science (K-8)
· Biology - 6 credits in any biology or environmental science courses
· Earth / Space Science - 6 credits in any geology, earth science, meteorology, astronomy, or physical geography courses
· Physical Science - 12 credits in any physical science, physics, or chemistry courses

Social Sciences: History (K-8)
· HIST 101 World Civilization to 1300 - 3 credits
· HIST 102 World Civilization Since 1300 - 3 credits
· HIST 111 United States to 1865 - 3 credits
· HIST 112 United States Since 1865 - 3 credits
· American History electives - 6 credits
· World History electives - 6 credits

Social Sciences: Social Studies (K-8)
· United States History - 3 credits
· World Civilization - 3 credits
· Political Science - 3 credits
· Psychology - 6 credits
· Sociology - 3 credits
· Geography - 3 credits
· Economics - 3 credits
NOTE: Courses required for the major will satisfy requirements in Psychology and either Political Science or US History

Special Education: Instructional Strategist I: Mild and Moderate
· SPED 311 Foundations of Special Education - 2 credits
· SPED 312 Characteristics of Learners with Mild/Moderate Disabilities - 2 credits
· SPED 313 Collaboration with Families and Professional - - 3 credits
· SPED 314 Managing Behavior and Social Integration Skills - 3 credits
· SPED 411 Assessment in Special Education - 3 credits
· SPED 416 Curriculum: Content and Materials for Learners with Mild/Moderate Disabilities - 3 credits
· SPED 417 Methods for Teaching Elementary Learners with Mild/Moderate Disabilities - 3 credits
· SPED 418 Student Teaching: Special Education in the Elementary School - 7-8 credits

Questions regarding elementary education should be directed to:
Dr. Tracy Schuster-Matlock, 563-333-6049
Dr. Rachel Serianz, 563-333-6114
Deanna Stoube, 563-333-6079
Dr. Tanya Volkova, 563-333-6187
Dr. Barbara Wiese, Special Education, 563-333-6174

Specific course information and class listings can be found in the University Catalog.

Middle School Endorsement

Both Iowa and Illinois consider grades fifth through eighth as middle grades. The state of Iowa does not require a middle school endorsement to teach at these grade levels, but individual Iowa school districts may require such an endorsement. A middle school endorsement is a state-wide requirement in Illinois. In both Iowa and Illinois, a middle school endorsement must be in addition to another endorsement such as an elementary or secondary endorsement.

For more detailed information regarding the endorsement, contact Dr. Dean Marple at 563-333-6185, or through his personal Web site.

Additional information regarding middle school endorsement is available at the Web sites for Iowa Board of Educational Examiners or the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), or through the Rock Island Regional Superintendent's Office at 309-736-1111.