A degree in elementary education at Iowa State prepares you either to teach all subjects or to specialize in mathematics, science, language arts, or social studies. The curriculum in elementary education is planned for students preparing to teach in grades kindergarten through six. Teaching endorsements in areas closely related to elementary education, including a special education endorsement in multi-categorical resource teaching, are available for elementary education majors.
Curriculum in Elementary Education
Degree Requirements
119 total credits minimum required
Communications and Library: 10 credits
| ENGL 150 | Critical Thinking and Communication ** | 3 |
| ENGL 250 | Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition ** | 3 |
| LIB 160 | Information Literacy | 1 |
| Communication course from approved Elementary Education list * | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 10 | |
*Must receive a "C-" or above
**Must receive a "C" or above
Mathematics: 9 credits
| MATH 195 | Mathematics for Elementary Education I * | 3 |
| MATH 196 | 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 Science from approved Elementary Education list * | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
*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 221 | Survey of United States History I * | 3 |
| or HIST 222 | Survey of United States History II | |
| Humanities courses from approved Elementary Education list * | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
*Must receive a "C-" or above
Orientation and Initial Field Experience: 2 credits
| C I 216 | Learning Community Orientation to Teacher Education | 1 |
| or C I 315 | Transfer Orientation | |
| C I 280N | Pre-Student Teaching Experience I: Learning Community | 1 |
| or C I 280T | Pre-Student Teaching Experience I: Tutoring | |
| Total Credits | 2 | |
Professional Education core: 21 credits
| C I 201 | Learning Technologies in the PK-6 Classroom ** | 3 |
| C I 204 | Social Foundations of Education in the United States ** | 3 |
| SP ED 250 | Education of the Exceptional Learner in a Diverse Society ** | 3 |
| C I 245 | Strategies in Teaching ** | 3 |
| C I 332 | Educational Psychology of Young Learners ** | 3 |
| HD FS 240 | Literature for Children ** | 3 |
| HD FS 102 | Individual and Family Development, Health, and Well-being ** | 3 |
| or PSYCH 230 | Developmental Psychology | |
| Total Credits | 21 | |
**Must receive a "C" or above
Block I:Reading, Writing, & Math Methods: 9 credits
| C I 377 | The Teaching of Reading and Language Arts in the Primary Grades (K-3) ** | 4 |
| C I 448 | Teaching Children Mathematics ** | 3 |
| C I 468A | Pre-Student Teaching Experience II: Primary Grades, Reading and Language Arts | 1 |
| C I 468C | Pre-Student Teaching Experience II: Primary Grades, Mathematics | 1 |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
**Must receive a "C" or above
Multicultural Foundations: 3 credits
| C I 406 | Social Justice Education and Teaching: Secondary ** | 3 |
| Total Credits | 3 | |
**Must receive a "C" or above
Block II:Reading, Writing, & Science Methods: 9 credits
| C I 378 | The Teaching of Reading and Language Arts in the Intermediate Grades (4-6) ** | 4 |
| C I 449 | The Teaching of Science ** | 3 |
| C I 468B | Pre-Student Teaching Experience II: Intermediate Grades, Reading and Language Arts | 1 |
| C I 468D | Pre-Student Teaching Experience II: Intermediate Grades, Science | 1 |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
**Must receive a "C" or above
Social Studies Methods: 3 credits
| C I 443 | The Teaching of Social Studies ** | 3 |
| Total Credits | 3 | |
**Must receive a "C" or above
Related Methods: 7 credits
| KIN 284 | Elementary and Pre-school Movement Education * | 3 |
| or H S 275 | Health Education in the Elementary School | |
| MUSIC 265 | Music in Elementary Education * | 2 |
| ARTED 209 | Methods of Teaching in and Through Art * | 2 |
*Must receive a "C-" or above
Primary Endorsement Area: Credits Vary
Minimum grade of "C-" required for all endorsement areas but Special Education (min grade of "C" required)
Primary Endorsement Options:
Art
English/Language Arts
English as a Second Language (ESL)
Health
History
Math
Science
Special Education
Speech/Theatre
Social Studies
World Languages
Student Teaching: 16 credits
| C I 416A | Supervised Student Teaching - Elementary: Primary grades (K-3) ** | 8 |
| C I 416B | Supervised Student Teaching - Elementary: Intermediate grades (4-6) ** | 8 |
| Total Credits | 16 | |
**Must receive a "C" or above
Total Credits: 119 minimum credits (credits will vary depending on endorsement option)
U.S. Diversity and International Perspectives Requirement: Students in elementary education fulfill the U.S. Diversity with SP ED 250 or HD FS 240. International Perspectives Requirements are met by choosing three credits of coursework from university-approved Humanities or Social Sciences included on the Elementary Education approved options sheet.
Elementary Education, B.S.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| C I 216 or 315* | 1 | C I 280N or 280T* | 1 |
| C I 205X Social Foundations of Schooling in the United States: Early Childhood and Elementary Education | 3 | SP ED 250 | 3 |
| PSYCH 230 or HD FS 102 | 3 | MATH 195 | 3 |
| ENGL 150 | 3 | HIST 221 or 222 | 3 |
| LIB 160 | 1 | CHEM 102L or PHYS 102L | 3 |
| Social Science Option | 3 | PSYCH or SOC Option | 3 |
| Summer: Praxis Core | |||
| 14 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| C I 201 | 3 | C I 245 | 3 |
| HD FS 240 | 3 | C I 332 | 3 |
| ENGL 250 | 3 | Biological Science Option | 3 |
| MATH 196 | 3 | Math Option | 3 |
| ASTRO 106 | 2 | Endorsement Area | 3 |
| ASTRO 106L | 1 | ||
| Apply/Accepted to Educator Preparation Program | |||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Block I | 12 | Block II | 12 |
| C I 405X | |||
| Social Science Option | 3 | Endorsement Area | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ARTED 209 | 2 | Student Teaching: | |
| KIN 284 or H S 275 | 3 | C I 416A | 8 |
| MUSIC 265 | 2 | C I 416B | 8 |
| Communications Option | 3 | ||
| Humanities Option/Endorsement Area | 3 | ||
| Apply to Student Teach Praxis Subject Assessments Apply for Graduation | |||
| 13 | 16 | ||
| Total Credits: 119 | |||
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 adviser as a resource in this process.