Requirements
General Education Requirements for the Major in Elementary Education
For accreditation and licensure requirements the following general education courses are required for a major in Elementary Education:
Communication and Technology
Natural Sciences
Expressions of Human Civilization
Select one course from the following:
| ENGL 220 | Introduction to Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 240 | Masterpieces of World Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 260 | Masterpieces of American Literature | 3 |
Understanding Human Civilization
Select one course from the following:
Health and Wellness
| HPER 100 | Concepts of Fitness and Wellness | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 43 |
Elementary Education Major Courses
Pre-Professional Courses:
EDUC 210 and EDUC 298 must be taken in conjunction with EDUC 250.
BIOL 111 counts as both a general and major education course, but credits earned are tallied only in the total for general education courses.
Professional Courses in Elementary Methods Block - Fall
| ELED 281 | Reading for the Elementary Teacher | 3 |
| ELED 290A | Art Methods for Elementary Education | 3 |
| ELED 300 | Elementary Curriculum and Language Arts | 3 |
| ELED 390S | Elementary Education Science Methods | 3 |
| | | |
| ELED 398B | Elementary Methods Block Field Experience I | 1 |
| | Or | |
| ELED 398C | Elementary Methods Block Field Experience II | 1 |
These courses must be taken concurrently.
Professional Courses in Elementary Methods Block - Spring
| ELED 282 | Reading Across Curriculum and Content Reading | 3 |
| ELED 290X | Mathematics for Elementary Teachers II | 3 |
| ELED 310 | Elementary Curriculum and Social Studies | 3 |
| ELED 390P | Teaching Physical Education and Health in the Elementary School | 3 |
| | | |
| ELED 398B | Elementary Methods Block Field Experience I | 1 |
| | Or | |
| ELED 398C | Elementary Methods Block Field Experience II | 1 |
| | | |
| THEA 340 | Creative Dramatics | 2 |
These courses must be taken concurrently.
Additional Professional Courses:
| EDUC 280 | Education of Exceptional Learners | 3 |
| EDUC 300 | Teaching For Diversity | 3 |
| EDUC 398D | Diversity and Exceptionalities Field Experience | 1 |
| EDUC 360 | Managing the Learning Environment | 2 |
| EDUC 405 | Educational Psychology and Evaluation | 3 |
| MATH 277 | Mathematics for Elementary Teachers | 3 |
| MUSC 305 | Music Activities for Elementary Teachers | 2 |
Elective (optional)
Pre-Service Teaching Semester (15 credits):
Select one (
ELED 498K requires prior completion of coursework for early childhood concentration):
| ELED 498A | Teaching in the Elementary School | 15 |
| ELED 498K | Teaching in Elementary and Early Childhood Classrooms | 15 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 82 |
All professional courses have a pre-requisite of admission to Teacher Education
Minors and Areas of Concentration
In addition to the General Education and major requirements, an Elementary Education major may choose to pursue a minor or an area of concentration. A student may select a minor from the following options: art, biology, chemistry, coaching, computer science, earth science, English, geography, history, mathematics, choral music, instrumental music, physical education, political science, psychology, social science, Spanish, communication, or theater. A student intending to teach upper elementary or middle school is strongly encouraged to select a minor. Specific requirements for each minor are shown under that department in the catalog.
With the approval of the chair of the Department of Teacher Education, a student may select coursework for the middle school endorsement in lieu of a minor. The middle school endorsement must be in a content area approved by the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board (ESPB). Coursework applicable to the middle school endorsement will be determined in consultation with the academic advisor and the department chair.
A concentration consists of a minimum of 12 hours in one of these areas: natural science, social science, computer science, mathematics, reading, or early childhood. Other options may be available with the approval of the chair of the Department of Teacher Education. Required courses for the major or those courses used for general studies may not be counted in an area of concentration. Otherwise, coursework for most areas of concentration is decided jointly by the student and his or her academic advisor. Two exceptions are the reading and early childhood concentrations. Those concentrations lead to special state teacher license endorsements or credentials and require particular courses, as described in the next section.
Requirements for the Area of Concentration in Early Childhood Education
A student must be majoring in Elementary Education and be admitted into the Teacher Education Program to take the required courses in the early childhood sequence. Students must complete the entire sequence to be recommended for an early childhood endorsement on a state teaching license.
| EC 310 | Introduction to Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| EC 313 | Language and Literacy in Early Childhood | 3 |
| EC 323 | Observation and Assessment in Early Childhood | 3 |
| EC 324 | Early Childhood Curriculum, Methods and Materials | 3 |
| ELED 498B | Teaching in the Elementary School: Early Childhood | 7 |
ELED 498B is for students who already have completed ELED 498A - Teaching in the Elementary School (15 credits). Alternately, students may complete ELED 498K - Teaching in Elementary and Early Childhood Classrooms (15 credits) in lieu of ELED 498A and ELED 498B.
Requirements for the Area of Concentration in Reading
A student must be admitted into the Teacher Education Program to take the required courses in the area of concentration in reading. The area of concentration in reading offers the coursework leading to a reading credential for grades K-6. To obtain a reading credential, students make application to the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (DPI) after graduation and attainment of their initial North Dakota teaching license for elementary school.
| ELED 282 | Reading Across Curriculum and Content Reading | 3 |
| ELED 383 | Diagnosis and Correction of Reading Disabilities | 3 |
| ELED 484 | Practicum in Reading | 2 |
| EC 313 | Language and Literacy in Early Childhood | 3 |
| COMM 211 | Oral Interpretation | 3 |
Select two courses from the following: (6 credits)