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Undergraduate Catalog 2004-2006: Programs

Major in Elementary Education

Bachelor of Arts

The career of a teacher requires intellectual competence, dedication to service, and a love of children. For those willing and able to meet the rigorous standards for teacher certification, the joys of helping students grow and learn are lifelong rewards.

Aurora University has designed its certification programs around the concept of achieving excellence in teaching and learning through "professional education communities." We believe that teachers are best prepared for the classroom when their professional education has involved various stakeholders such as individuals with expertise in an area, practicing teachers and school administrators, service providers, paraprofessionals, university and college faculty, profit and non-profit organizations, government agencies, school students, and parents. Professional learning communities provide environments where everyone involved brings their expertise and knowledge to contribute to the personal, professional and academic development of everyone in the community with the aim to improve schools for the benefit of all students and, ultimately, society.

The elementary education major leads to Illinois State Board of Education certification for Kindergarten through grade Nine. An elementary education major must satisfy state requirements in both elementary education and general education. It is therefore essential that the entering freshman work closely with an advisor in order to ensure that all course requirements will be met within four years of college academic coursework. It is advisable for students to work toward fulfillment of state requirements early in their academic careers. Students seeking certification must apply to the College of Education for acceptance no later than the end of the sophomore year, or upon admission to the University as a transfer student in the case of those who have completed the sophomore year. Admission to the University does not guarantee admission to a major in the College of Education. Admission to the program is based on passing the Illinois State Board of Education background check; passing the Illinois Certification Testing System Basic Skills Test; writing of an essay, and having a GPA of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale. Because of the extensive nature of the program requirements, which overlap some of the University general education requirements, students must plan coursework carefully in consultation with education faculty. Only students who have been accepted into the College of Education may take methods courses.

The College of Education is currently undertaking a major redesign of its programs based on the conceptual framework. Students must be aware that there is the possibility that this redesign may alter some of the requirements currently stated in this catalog and your program could be subject to these changes.

Required Elementary Education Courses: 43-46 semester hours

EDU1750 Clinical Immersion in Elementary Education I (1)
EDU2100 How Schools Work (4)
EDU2260 Theories of Learning (4)
EDU2750 Clinical Immersion in Elementary Education II (1)
EDU3350 Assessment/Approaches to Elementary Instruction (4)
EDU3360 Methods of Teaching Mathematics & Science in the Elementary School (4)
EDU3380 Reading & Writing Across Content Areas with a Focus on Social Studies (4)
EDU3420 Methods of Teaching the Fine Arts in Elementary School (2)
EDU3500 Methods of Teaching Physical Education in the Elementary School (2)
EDU3480 Methods of Teaching Reading and Language Arts (4)
EDU3750 Clinical Immersion in Elementary Education III (1)
EDU4750 Student Teaching Internship (12)
EDU4760 Student Teaching Seminar (3)

Students are required either to complete an area of specialization of 15 semester hours OR 15 semester hours of elective courses.

Elective Courses: Among the courses that may be taken as electives are:

EDU2180 Multicultural Literature for Children (3)
EDU2190 Multicultural Literature for Young Adults (3)
EDU3440 Middle School: Mission and Methods (4)

Area of Specialization: The following are acceptable areas of specialization:

Art, Biology, Chemistry, English, History, Mathematics, Music, Political Science, Spanish, Sociology, Theatre.
Required for State Certification in Elementary Education: 56-62 semester hours

• 9 semester hours in communications
  • ENG1010 Composition I: Introduction to Academic Writing (2)
  • ENG1020 Composition II: Introduction to Research Writing (4)
  • COM1500 Human Communication/Public Speaking (3)
• 0-6 semester hours MTH1210 Math for Elementary Teachers I and MTH1220 Math for Elementary Teachers II or successful completion of Mathematics Competency requirement.
• 8 semester hours of Ways of Knowing: Ourselves and Others (PSY3350 and PSC2110)
• 4 semester hours SBS1100 Introduction to Social Sciences
• 4 semester hours HIS1200 or HIS1210
• 8 semester hours of Ways of Knowing: Aesthetic and Philosophical Expression (ART1000)
• 8 semester hours of Ways of Knowing: Our Natural World (NSM1150 and NSM1300)
• 4 semester hours BIO1220 Biology of Organisms
• 8 semester hours of Ways of Living (IDS1600 and IDS2000)
• 3 semester hours PSY3460 Exceptional Individual
  
  NOTE: For those individuals seeking a middle school endorsement, completion of EDU3440 Middle School Missions and Methods (4) is required.
  

Posted 31 December 2003
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