Elementary Education/K-6 (ELEM) - BT Major

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77 credits (no minor required)

2.75 GPA required.

Letter grade required in all major courses unless otherwise noted.

A major in Elementary Education/K-6 (ELEM) is designed to prepare teacher candidates to design, implement, and evaluate developmentally appropriate learning experiences for children from kindergarten through grade 6 in a variety of school settings. The elementary teacher collaborates with families, colleagues, and related service personnel to enhance the learning of all children. Students who successfully complete this program and program-related assessments will be eligible to be recommended for Elementary Education Licensure in MN.

Teacher Education Licensure Program Information

Students must be admitted to the Teacher Education Unit before taking Professional Education courses. For more information on this Admission process, visit the Teacher Education Program Admissions page.

All Winona State University Teacher Education Licensure Programs are continuously updated to reflect new licensure requirements from the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board. Please contact your program academic advisor for the latest information about program requirements.

Criteria required to be met one semester before completing online application:

30 college level credits completed with no more than 4 credits of pass/no credit
Cumulative G.P.A. of at least ≥ 2.75 based on 30 most recent credits including all credits per semester
B grade or better in a 3-credit college level writing course (ENG 111 if taken at WSU)
B grade or better in a 3-credit college level speech course (CMST 191 or 192 if taken at WSU)
C grade or better in a 3-credit college level math course (Math 202 is required for Elementary and Early Childhood majors)
Early Clinical experience; clinical hours ≥ 15 hours:
- Can be met by taking college level course(s) with clinical hours (including courses enrolled in the semester of the TE Admission application). Syllabus/clinical hour evaluation needed if non-WSU course.
- Can be met through a comparable work or volunteer experience completed after high school graduation. Complete Early Clinical Form with supervisor and return to 212 Cathedral.

Elementary Education GEP Courses

These courses are typically taken as part of the General Education Program (GEP) prior to admission to Teacher Education.

Goal 1: Communication (7 credits)

Required for all WSU students.

ENG 111 - College Reading and Writing (4 credits)
CMST 191 - Introduction to Public Speaking (3 credits)
OR
CMST 192 - Introduction to Speech Communication (3 credits)

Goal 5 Recommendation

Choose one recommended course to count under GEP Goal 5.

HIST 150 - United States History to 1865 (3 credits)
HIST 151 - United States History Since 1865 (3 credits)
POLS 120 - Introduction to American Politics (3 credits)

Other Goal Recommendations

ART 109 - Introduction to Art (3 credits)
Required for WI Licensure (choose one):
BIOL 104 - The Environment, Society, and Conservation (3 credits)
GEOS 325 - Environmental Geoscience (3 credits)

Required Education/GEP Courses (14 credits)

These required courses also meet GEP goals.

MATH 202 - Elements of Mathematics (3 credits)
MUS 120 - Introduction to Music Theory (3 credits) (Waived with permission based on experience: prerequisite for MUS 320. Waiver form available in 236 Helble.)

Choose one (180 course)

CHEM 180 - Investigative Science I: Physical Science (4 credits)
PHYS 180 - Investigative Science I: Physical Science (4 credits)

Choose one (185 course)

BIOL 185 - Investigative Science II: Earth & Life Science (4 credits)
GEOS 185 - Investigative Science II: Earth & Life Science (4 credits)

License Requirements (13 credits)

◆ MATH 203 - Number and Number Systems (3 credits)
◆ MATH 204 - Exploratory Geometry (3 credits)
EDUC 221 - Children’s Literature (3 credits)
PESS 200 - Elementary Physical Education for Classroom Teachers (2 credits)
HERS 310 - Foundations of Elementary Health Education (2 credits)

Professional Educational Sequence (30 credits)

Note: Teacher education majors must complete all Professional Education Sequence courses in addition to content area courses. Refer to Teacher Education Licensure Programs for more information.

✽ HERS 204 - Personal & Community Health (3 credits)
SPED 300 - Children and Youth with Exceptionalities (3 credits)
EDFD 400 - Human Development and Learning: Early Childhood and Elementary (2 credits)
EDFD 420 - Classroom Management: Early Childhood and Elementary (1 credit)
◆ EDFD 440 - Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment: Early Childhood and Elementary (3 credits)
△ EDFD 459 - The Professional Educator (3 credits)
EDFD 460 - Multicultural Youth, Children, & Families Part I: Early Childhood and Elementary (2 credits)
EDFD 462 - Multicultural Youth, Children, and Families Part II (1 credit)

Student Teaching (12 credits)

◎ EDST 464 - K-6 Student Teaching (1-16 credits)

Methods (20 credits)

These courses require formal admission to the Teacher Education Licensure Programs .

ART 301 - Art in Elementary Classrooms (1 credit)
EDUC 328 - Teaching Reading and Language Arts I (3 credits)
EDUC 329 - Teaching Reading and Language Arts II (3 credits)
EDUC 333 - Teaching Social Studies in the Elementary School (3 credits)
△ EDUC 334 - Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary School (3 credits)
EDUC 335 - Teaching of Science and Environmental Studies in the Elementary School (3 credits)
EDRD 450 - Differentiated Reading Instruction (3 credits)
MUS 320 - Music for Elementary Teachers (1 credit)

Legend

◎ = Oral Intensive

◆ = Math/Critical Analysis Intensive

△ = Writing Intensive

✽ = Physical Development and Wellness Graduation Requirement