Education - Elementary Education, A.A.

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This curriculum suggests courses likely to apply to a major in Elementary Education meeting the guidelines of the Illinois Articulation Initiative General Education Core.

State Licensure Requirements

To teach elementary education (grade 1 to grade 6) in Illinois public schools, teachers must be licensed by the State of Illinois. See the Illinois State Board of Education’s website for details on current licensure options. To transfer into a baccalaureate program in education as a junior, students must have 60-64 semester credits. Admission to teacher preparation programs is competitive; completion of recommended courses does not guarantee acceptance. A minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale is usually required for program admission. Students should consult their advisor and an advisor at the university early and often. This will ensure you are taking appropriate courses for the major and licensure requirements. Licensure requirements may change and these professionals will have the most up-to-date information to ensure you complete appropriate courses.

Suggested Curriculum

I. General Education Core (42-43)

Area A: Communication (9 credits)

ENG 101 Composition I 3 hrs transfer credit - with a grade of C or better
ENG 102 Composition II 3 hrs transfer credit - with a grade of C or better
COMM 101 Principles of Communication 3 hrs transfer credit

Area B: Humanities and Fine Arts (9 credits)

Select three courses from the list for Area B with at least one course selected from humanities and one course from fine arts, including one English course numbered 200 or above. ART 131 , ENG 243 , HUMAN 101 , or PHILO 205 recommended to meet the non-Western Cultures requirement at some senior institutions.

Area C: Mathematics (8 credits)

MATH 200 Mathematics for Elementary Teaching I 4 hrs transfer credit
MATH 206 Mathematics for Elementary Teaching II 4 hrs transfer credit

Area D: Physical and Life Sciences (7-8 credits)

Select one life science course and one physical science course from the list for Area D . One course must have a lab component. It is recommended that both courses have a lab for the Illinois teaching certificate.

Area E: Social and Behavioral Sciences (9 credits)

HIST 201 U.S. History: 1492 to 1877 3 hrs transfer credit or
HIST 202 U.S. History: 1877 to Present 3 hrs transfer credit
POLSC 140 Introduction to U.S. Government and Politics 3 hrs transfer credit
PSYCH 101 Introduction to Psychology 3 hrs transfer credit

II. Area of Concentration/Major Field (9)

ED 100 Foundations of American Public Education 3 hrs credit
ED 101 Child Growth and Development 3 hrs transfer credit
ED 212 Exceptional Child 3 hrs transfer credit

III. Electives (10-11)

ECED 103 Health, Safety, and Nutrition 3 hrs transfer credit or
HLTH 101 Health and Wellness 2 hrs transfer credit
PSYCH 202 Educational Psychology 3 hrs transfer credit
Additional science course (4)
One academic discipline course, in the subject in which you plan to seek endorsement, selected in consultation with an advisor.

Required A.A. Degree Program Total: 62 credits

Note: Select at least one course designated by IAI as non-Western (N) or Diversity (D) from either Social and Behavioral Sciences or Humanities and Fine Arts. Any of these courses will fulfill this requirement: ANTHR 215 , ANTHR 222 ; ART 131 ; ENG 215 , ENG 243 ; GEOG 101 ; HIST 111 , HIST 112 , HIST 115 , HIST 116 , HIST 140 ; HUMAN 101 ; PHILO 205 ; SOCIO 215 , SOCIO 220

Each college and university has its own major requirements and transfer policies. Consult the schools you are considering and a PSC advisor to discuss courses and their transferability.