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
- 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 and K-12 Coaching.
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 Teacher Education Program. To access the policy, please follow this link: https://iastate.box.com/s/vnp2dt4sihtu99ilym531y1lnjkrb4e9
- Decision Point 1 - Early Admission to the Teacher Education Program for Transfer Students. To access the policy, please follow this link: https://iastate.box.com/s/o45gppndbjxa3j9fm9pwvwrk9cc92jzb
Degree Requirements
120 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 | 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 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 | |
*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 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 216 | Learning Community Orientation to Teacher Education | 1 |
| or EDUC 315 | Transfer Orientation | |
| EDUC 280N | Pre-Student Teaching Experience I: Elementary Education | 1 |
| or EDUC 280T | Pre-Student Teaching Experience I: Tutoring | |
| Total Credits | 2 | |
Professional Education Core: 21 credits
| EDUC 201 | Educational Technologies in the PK-6 Classroom ** | 3 |
| EDUC 205 | Social Foundations of Education in the United States: Early Childhood and Elementary Education ** | 3 |
| SP ED 250 | Education of the Exceptional Learner ** | 3 |
| EDUC 245 | Landscape of Teaching ** | 3 |
| HD FS 102 | Individual and Family Development, Health, and Well-being ** | 3 |
| or PSYCH 230 | Developmental Psychology | |
| EDUC 332 | Educational Psychology of Early Childhood and Elementary Education | 3 |
| HD FS 240 | 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 377 | Teaching Literacy in the Primary Grades ** | 4 |
| EDUC 405 | Social Justice Education and Teaching: Early Childhood and Elementary ** | 3 |
| EDUC 448 | Teaching Children Mathematics ** | 3 |
| EDUC 468A | Pre-Student Teaching Experience III: Primary Grades, Reading and Language Arts ** | 1 |
| EDUC 468C | 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 378 | Teaching Literacy in the Intermediate Grades ** | 4 |
| EDUC 443 | The Teaching of Social Studies ** | 3 |
| EDUC 449 | The Teaching of Science ** | 3 |
| EDUC 468B | Pre-Student Teaching Experience III: Intermediate Grades, Reading and Language Arts ** | 1 |
| EDUC 468D | Pre-Student Teaching Experience III: Intermediate Grades, Science ** | 1 |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
**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 |
| Total Credits | 7 | |
**Must receive a "C" or above
Primary Endorsement Area: Credits Vary
Minimum grade of a “C” required for all EDUC/C I, HD FS, and SP ED 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
- 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 416A | Supervised Student Teaching - Elementary: Primary grades (K-3) ** | 8 |
| EDUC 416B | Supervised Student Teaching - Elementary: Intermediate grades (3-6) ** | 8 |
| Total Credits | 16 | |
**Must receive a "C" or above
Total Credits: 120 minimum credits (credits will vary depending on endorsement option)
U.S. Diversity and International Perspectives Requirements: Students in elementary education fulfill the U.S. Diversity requirement with SP ED 250 or HD FS 240. Students in elementary education fulfill the International perspectives requirement 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
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. To access the policy: Decision Point 3 - Recommendation for Licensure, please follow this link: https://iastate.box.com/s/s6l016zuyu0r7v7alw426d6bosai6zo3
Elementary Education, B.S.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| EDUC 205 | 3 | EDUC 280N | 0.5-1 |
| EDUC 216 | 1 | 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 | Science Option 1 | 3 |
| Social Science Option | 3 | PSYCH or SOC Option | 3 |
| 14 | 15.5-16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| EDUC 201 | 3 | EDUC 245 | 3 |
| HD FS 240 | 3 | EDUC 332 | 3 |
| ENGL 250 | 3 | Biological Science Option 3 | 3 |
| MATH 196 | 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 377 | 4 | EDUC 378 | 4 |
| EDUC 405 | 3 | EDUC 443 | 3 |
| EDUC 448 | 3 | EDUC 449 | 3 |
| EDUC 468A | 1 | EDUC 468B | 1 |
| EDUC 468C | 1 | EDUC 468D | 1 |
| 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 | EDUC 416A | 8 |
| MUSIC 265 | 2 | EDUC 416B | 8 |
| Communications Option | 3 | ||
| Humanities Option/Endorsement Area | 3 | ||
| Apply for Student Teaching | |||
| Praxis Subject Assessments | |||
| Apply for Graduation | |||
| 13 | 16 | ||
Total Credits: 120 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.