A degree in elementary education at Iowa State prepares you to teach all subjects at the elementary school level (grades K-6). Program completers can be recommended for licensure to the Iowa Board of Education Examiners.
In addition to pursuing a degree in Elementary Education, candidates are required to pursue an endorsement in at least one additional area. Candidates will be prepared to teach students in grades kindergarten through eighth grade in this area of specialization. Endorsements in the following areas are available for elementary education majors:
- K-8 English/Language Arts & Reading
- K-12 English as a Second Language (ESL)
- K-8 Health
- K-8 Mathematics
- K-8 Science
- K-8 Social studies
-
K-8 Special education (Instructional Strategist I: Mild/Moderate Disabilities K-8)
In addition, candidates can choose to pursue endorsements in K-8 Reading, K-12 Coaching, and 5-8 Algebra for HS Credit.
Additional information about endorsements can be found at: https://www.education.iastate.edu/find-majors/elementary-education/.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon graduation, students should be able to:
The Learner and Learning
Standard #1: Learner Development.
Understand how learners grow and develop, recognizing that patterns of learning and development vary individually within and across the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas, and designs and implements developmentally appropriate and challenging learning experiences.
Standard #2: Learning Differences.
Use understanding of individual differences and diverse cultures and communities to ensure inclusive learning environments that enable each learner to meet high standards.
Standard #3: Learning Environments.
Work with others to create environments that support individual and collaborative learning, and that encourage positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation.
Content
Standard #4: Content Knowledge.
Understand the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline(s) he or she teaches and creates learning experiences that make the discipline accessible and meaningful for learners to assure mastery of the content.
Standard #5: Application of Content.
Understand how to connect concepts and use differing perspectives to engage learners in critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative problem solving related to authentic local and global issues.
Instructional Practices
Standard #6: Assessment.
Understand and use multiple methods of assessment to engage learners in their own growth, to monitor learner progress, and to guide the teacher’s and learner’s decision making.
Standard #7: Planning for Instruction.
Plan instruction that supports every student in meeting rigorous learning goals by drawing upon knowledge of content areas, curriculum, cross-disciplinary skills, and pedagogy, as well as knowledge of learners and the community context.
Standard #8: Instructional Strategies.
Understand and use a variety of instructional strategies to encourage learners to develop deep understanding of content areas and their connections, and to build skills to apply knowledge in meaningful ways.
Standard #8A: Technology.
Integrate current and emerging technology in instruction to encourage student creativity, problem solving, collaboration, and digital literacy. Teachers practice and advocate safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology.
Professional Responsibility
Standard #9: Professional Learning and Ethical Practice.
Engage in ongoing professional learning and uses evidence to continually evaluate his/her practice, particularly the effects of his/her choices and actions on others (learners, families, other professionals, and the community), and adapts practice to meet the needs of each learner.
Standard #10: Leadership and Collaboration.
Seek appropriate leadership roles and opportunities to take responsibility for student learning, to collaborate with learners, families, colleagues, other school professionals, and community members to ensure learner growth, and to advance the profession.
Curriculum in Elementary Education
Educator Preparation Program Admission Requirements
In addition to being admitted to Iowa State University and departmental programs/majors, educator preparation candidates must be admitted to the Educator Preparation Program prior to beginning advanced coursework.
Educator Preparation Program Admission Requirements are provided in Educator Preparation Policy.
- Decision Point 1 - Admission to the Educator Preparation Program
- Decision Point 1 - Early Admission to the Educator Preparation Program for Transfer Students
Degree Requirements
120 total credits minimum required
Communications and Library: 10 credits
| ENGL 1500 | Critical Thinking and Communication ** | 3 |
| ENGL 2500 | Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition ** | 3 |
| LIB 1600 | Introduction to College Level Research | 1 |
| Communication course from approved Elementary Education list * | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 10 | |
*Must receive a "C-" or above
**Must receive a "C" or above
Social Sciences: 9 credits
| PSYCH or SOC Option from approved Elementary Education list * | 3 | |
| Social Sciences course from approved Elementary Education list * | 3 | |
| Social Sciences course from approved Elementary Education list * | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
*Must receive a "C-" or above
Humanities: 6 credits
| HIST 2210 | Survey of United States History I * | 3 |
| or HIST 2220 | Survey of United States History II | |
| Humanities courses from approved Elementary Education list * | 3 | |
*Must receive a "C-" or above
Mathematics: 9 credits
| MATH 1950 | Mathematics for Elementary Education I * | 3 |
| MATH 1960 | Mathematics for Elementary Education II * | 3 |
| Math Option from approved Elementary Education list * | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
*Must receive a "C-" or above
Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, Earth/Space Sciences: 9 credits
| Biological Sciences course from approved Elementary Education list * | 3 | |
| Physical Sciences course from approved Elementary Education list * | 3 | |
| Earth/Space Sciences course from approved Elementary Education list * | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
*Must receive a "C-" or above
Orientation and Initial Field Experience: 2 credits
| EDUC 2160 | Learning Community Orientation to Teacher Education | 1 |
| or EDUC 3150 | Transfer Orientation | |
| EDUC 2800N | Pre-Student Teaching Experience I: Elementary Education | 1 |
| or EDUC 2800T | Pre-Student Teaching Experience I: Tutoring | |
| Total Credits | 2 | |
Professional Education Core: 21 credits
| EDUC 2010 | Educational Technologies in the PK-6 Classroom ** | 3 |
| EDUC 2050 | Social Foundations of Education in the United States: Early Childhood and Elementary Education ** | 3 |
| SPED 2500 | Education of the Exceptional Learner ** | 3 |
| EDUC 2450 | Landscape of Teaching ** | 3 |
| HDFS 1020 | Human Development ** | 3 |
| or PSYCH 2300 | Developmental Psychology | |
| EDUC 3320 | Educational Psychology of Early Childhood and Elementary Education ** | 3 |
| HDFS 2400 | Literature for Children ** | 3 |
| Total Credits | 21 | |
**Must receive a "C" or above
Block I: Literacy and Mathematics Methods and Social Justice Education: 12 Credits
| EDUC 3770 | Teaching Literacy in the Primary Grades ** | 4 |
| EDUC 4050 | Social Justice Education and Teaching: Early Childhood and Elementary ** | 3 |
| EDUC 4480 | Teaching Children Mathematics ** | 3 |
| EDUC 4680A | Pre-Student Teaching Experience III: Primary Grades, Reading and Language Arts | 1 |
| EDUC 4680C | Pre-Student Teaching Experience III: Primary Grades, Mathematics | 1 |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
**Must receive a "C" or above
Block II: Literacy, Science, and Social Studies Methods: 12 credits
| EDUC 3780 | Teaching Literacy in the Intermediate Grades ** | 4 |
| EDUC 4430 | The Teaching of Social Studies ** | 3 |
| EDUC 4490 | The Teaching of Science ** | 3 |
| EDUC 4680B | Pre-Student Teaching Experience III: Intermediate Grades, Reading and Language Arts | 1 |
| EDUC 4680D | Pre-Student Teaching Experience III: Intermediate Grades, Science | 1 |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
**Must receive a "C" or above
Related Methods: 7 credits
| KIN 2840 | Elementary and Pre-school Movement Education ** | 3 |
| or HS 2750 | Health Education in the Elementary School | |
| MUSIC 2650 | Music in Elementary Education ** | 2 |
| ARTED 2090 | Methods of Teaching in and Through Art ** | 2 |
| Total Credits | 7 | |
**Must receive a "C" or above
Primary Endorsement Area: Credits Vary
Minimum grade of a “C” required for all EDUC, HDFS, and SPED courses and all content-specific pedagogy/methods courses. Minimum grade of "C-" required for all other courses in endorsement areas.
Primary Endorsement Options:
- K-8 English/Language Arts & Reading
- K-12 English as a Second Language (ESL)
- K-8 Health
- K-8 Mathematics
- K-8 Science
- K-8 Social studies
- K-8 Special education (Instructional Strategist I: Mild/Moderate Disabilities K-8).
Additional information about endorsements can be found at https://www.education.iastate.edu/find-majors/elementary-education/.
Student Teaching: 16 credits
| EDUC 4160A | Supervised Student Teaching - Elementary: Primary grades (K-3) ** | 8 |
| EDUC 4160B | Supervised Student Teaching - Elementary: Intermediate grades (3-6) ** | 8 |
| Total Credits | 16 | |
**Must receive a "C" or above
Total Credits: 122 minimum credits (credits will vary depending on endorsement option)
U.S. Cultures and Communities (formerly U.S. Diversity) and International Perspectives Requirements: Students in elementary education fulfill the U.S. Cultures and Communities (formerly U.S. Diversity) and International Perspectives requirements by choosing three credits of coursework from university-approved Humanities or Social Sciences courses included on the Elementary Education approved options sheet.
Additional Endorsement
Candidates can pursue any of the primary endorsement areas listed above and in the following areas:
- K-8 Reading
- K-12 Coaching
- 5-8 Algebra for HS Credit
Information about these endorsements can be found at: https://iastate.app.box.com/s/m4tr3ogr9ouwmiubz5dhv9catryr2jqf.
Contact an Elementary Education academic advisor for additional information.
Educator Preparation Program Completion Requirements:
In order to be recommended for licensure, candidates must have completed all degree program requirements and be considered an Educator Preparation Program Completer. Access the policy: Decision Point 3 - Recommendation for Licensure
Elementary Education, B.S.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| EDUC 2050 | 3 | EDUC 2800N | 1 |
| EDUC 2160 | 1 | SPED 2500 | 3 |
| PSYCH 2300 or HDFS 1020 | 3 | MATH 1950 | 3 |
| ENGL 1500 | 3 | HIST 2210 or 2220 | 3 |
| LIB 1600 | 1 | Science Option 1 | 3 |
| Social Science Option | 3 | PSYCH or SOC Option | 3 |
| 14 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| EDUC 2010 | 3 | EDUC 2450 | 3 |
| HDFS 2400 | 3 | EDUC 3320 | 3 |
| ENGL 2500 | 3 | Biological Science Option 3 | 3 |
| MATH 1960 | 3 | Math Option | 3 |
| Science Option 2 | 3 | Endorsement Area | 3 |
| Apply/Accepted to Educator Preparation Program | |||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Block I | Block II | ||
| EDUC 3770 | 4 | EDUC 3780 | 4 |
| EDUC 4050 | 3 | EDUC 4430 | 3 |
| EDUC 4480 | 3 | EDUC 4490 | 3 |
| EDUC 4680A | 1 | EDUC 4680B | 1 |
| EDUC 4680C | 1 | EDUC 4680D | 1 |
| Social Science Option | 3 | Endorsement Area | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ARTED 2090 | 2 | Student Teaching: | |
| KIN 2840 or HS 2750 | 3 | EDUC 4160A | 8 |
| MUSIC 2650 | 2 | EDUC 4160B | 8 |
| Communications Option | 3 | ||
| Humanities Option/Endorsement Area | 6 | ||
| Apply for Graduation | |||
| 16 | 16 | ||
Total Credits: 122 and above
It is our expectation that students know the requirements of their academic program and develop and follow an academic plan based on their academic catalog and degree audit using their individual academic advisor as a resource in this process.