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 7 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 - 2 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
(Prerequisite: 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
     HED 201 Personal and Consumer Health - 2 credits
     MUS 244 Music for the Elementary Classroom Teacher - 3 credits
     PED 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 
          Mathematics 
          Reading 
          Science 
          Social Studies: History 
          Social Studies: Social Sciences 
          Special Education - Instructional Strategist I: Mild and Moderate

Additional Courses Required for Elementary Endorsements

English / Language Arts (K-6)
     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

Mathematics (K-6)
     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-6)
     EDUC 453 Reading Clinic: Advanced Teaching Practicum - 4 credits
     EDUC 460 Developing Evidence-Based Reading Instruction Programs - 1 credit
     COMM 101 or COMM 203 or COMM 328 or COMM 329
     COMM 325 Introduction to Speech Pathology - 3 credits

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

Special Education: Strategist Level 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 563-333-6049 or SchusterTracy@sau.edu
Dr. Rachel Serianz 563-333-6114 or SerianzRachelK@sau.edu 
Ms. Deanna Stoube 563-333-6079 or StoubeDeannaM@sau.edu
Dr. Barbara Wiese, Special Education 563-333-6174 or WieseBarbaraJ@sau.edu

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 MarpleDeanW@sau.edu or 563-333-6185, or view middle school information on his home page at http://web.sau.edu/MarpleDeanW.

Additional information regarding this endorsement is available at the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners web site for Middle School Endorsement Information, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) web site for Middle Grade, or through the Rock Island Regional Superintendent's Office at 309-736-1111.

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