• Skip to Content
  • AZ Index
  • Catalog Home
  • Institution Home
  • Apply
  • Request Info
  • Visit
  • Giving
  • Athletics
  • News
  • Events
  • Info for
    • Current Students
    • Faculty & Staff
    • Parents & Family
    • Alumni
    • Community
    • Media
Wheaton College Wheaton College logo
  • About
  • Academics
  • Admissions & Aid
  • Life at Wheaton
filter by
Wheaton College
  • About
  • Academics
  • Admissions & Aid
  • Life at Wheaton
  • Apply
  • Request Info
  • Visit
  • Giving
  • Athletics
  • News
  • Events
  • Current Students
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Parents & Family
  • Alumni
  • Community
  • Media
Catalog 2021-2022

Elementary Education Major

Print
  • Catalog Home/
  • Undergraduate/
  • Arts and Sciences/
  • Education/
  • Elementary Education Major

Menu

  • Catalog A-​Z Index
  • Wheaton in Profile
  • Undergraduate
    • Undergraduate Student Life
    • Undergraduate Admissions
    • Undergraduate Academic Policies and Information
    • Arts and Sciences
      • Anthropology
      • Applied Health Science
      • Art
      • Biblical and Theological Studies
      • Biological and Health Sciences
      • Business and Economics
      • Chemistry
      • Christian Formation and Ministry
      • Communication
      • Computer Science
      • Core and General Studies
      • Education
        • Elementary Education Major
        • Secondary Education Major
      • Engineering Dual Degree
      • English
      • Environmental Science
      • Geology
      • Global Programs and Studies
      • History
      • Human Needs and Global Resources
      • Interdisciplinary Studies
      • International Relations
      • Liberal Arts/​Nursing
      • Mathematics
      • Military Science
      • Modern and Classical Languages
      • Music, Bachelor of Arts
      • Philosophy
      • Physics
      • Political Science
      • Pre-​Law Studies Certificate
      • Psychology
      • Science Area Programs
      • Sociology and Anthropology
      • TESOL and Intercultural Studies
      • Urban Studies
    • Conservatory of Music
    • Special Programs
    • Undergraduate Programs
  • Graduate
  • Course Descriptions
  • Financial Information
  • Directory
  • College Calendar
  • Archived Catalogs
  • Catalog Addendum
  • Overview
  • Requirements

Elementary candidates are responsible for content knowledge in physical, life, and earth and space sciences as well as history, geography, civics and government, and economics in the social sciences. Candidates are advised to enroll in general education courses accordingly.

24 semester hours in the subject matter area of major teaching assignment (e.g., language arts, mathematics, general science, social science, music, etc.), which may include specific course designations in the content area, and does include the appropriate 2-hour middle school discipline-specific methods course and passing a state middle level content specific exam. Contact the Education Department for the specific middle grade endorsement requirements for English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Science.

In order to complete licensure, candidates must also take and pass the Illinois Test of Academic Proficiency (or receive a waiver), the Elementary/Middle Grades content area test, and pass the Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA).

Student Teaching Prerequisites:

 EDUC 496 Student Teaching (9 c.h.)

Prerequisites for elementary student teaching: EDUC 135, EDUC 136, EDUC 136L, EDUC 225, EDUC 225L, EDUC 305, EDUC 305L, EDUC 311, EDUC 311L , EDUC 312, EDUC 315, EDUC 317, MATH 125 , SSCI 321, SCI 322, a minimum GPA of 2.5 in the major/professional education courses, and cumulatively, admission to WheTEP, a passing score on the Illinois Licensure Testing System Elementary content-area knowledge test, clearance through completion of a fingerprint and criminal background check (at the candidate’s expense), and the recommendation of the department.

  • Prerequisites for secondary and special foreign language student teaching: EDUC 135,EDUC 136, EDUC 136L, EDUC 225, EDUC 225L, EDUC 305, EDUC 305L, a teaching methods course in the major, EDUC 324L, a minimum GPA of 2.5 in the major, in professional education courses, and cumulatively, admission to WheTEP, a passing score on the Illinois Licensure Testing System content-area test, clearance through completion of a fingerprint and criminal background check (at the candidate’s expense), and a recommendation from the department of their teaching area.
  • Prerequisites for special music student teaching: EDUC 135, EDUC 136, EDUC 225, EDUC 225L, music teaching methods studies, EDUC 305, EDUC 305L, a minimum GPA of 2.5 in the major, in professional education courses, and cumulatively, admission to WheTEP, a passing score on the Illinois Licensure Testing System content-area test, clearance through completion of a fingerprint and criminal background check (at the candidate’s expense), and a recommendation from the Conservatory.
  • Candidates are expected to take all 300- and 400-level education courses at Wheaton. Exceptions may be granted by the Department of Education. A candidate's teaching field is one in which s/he has sufficient hours to meet licensure requirements and for which s/he has obtained the recommendation of the Department. Candidates must have a major in a subject commonly taught in the public schools of Illinois.

Initial Elementary License

For Elementary Education Students, Grades 1-6

Along with specific requirements for any major, all students in the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degree programs must meet all general education and graduation requirements under a single catalog.

Requirements for the Elementary Education major are 40 hours in education. Education courses include:

Course List
Code Title Credits
Major Requirements
EDUC 135School & Society2
EDUC 136Teaching Ethnically and Linguistically Diverse Students (and EDUC 136L)2
EDUC 225Learning and Development: The Psychological and Developmental Contexts of Education (and EDUC 225L)4
EDUC 305Learning Differences (and EDUC 305L)2
EDUC 311Theories and Methods of Teaching Elementary and Middle School Students (and EDUC 311L)2
EDUC 312Theories and Methods: Elementary and Middle School Reading4
EDUC 315Theories and Methods of Teaching Elementary and Middle School Mathematics4
EDUC 317Theories and Methods of Teaching Elementary and Middle School Language Arts2
EDUC 494Senior Seminar2
EDUC 496Student Teaching (see more info on overview tab)9
EDUC 497Philosophical Foundations of Education3
MATH 125Mathematics for Elementary and Middle Grade Education4
SSCI 321Elementary and Middle School Curricular Themes in the Social Sciences2
SCI 322Elementary Grade Education Science Curriculum2

A minimum of 100 hours of clinical experiences is required prior to student teaching. This includes four required experiences: EDUC 136L, EDUC 225L, EDUC 305L and EDUC 311L. EDUC 405L or other experiences approved by the Department of Education may also count toward the 100 hours.

Elementary Education majors are strongly encouraged to complete a middle grade (grades 5-8) endorsement by enrolling in EDUC 405L. Candidates may earn additional endorsements for teaching in the middle grades (5-8) by completing the following requirements:

Wheaton College

For Christ and his Kingdom

Contact

501 College Avenue
Wheaton, IL 60187-5501
630.752.5000
Contact Us

Maps and Directions

  • Campus Map
  • Directions
  • About the Area
  • Video Campus Tour

Employment

  • Human Resources

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Merit Pages

© 2021-2022 Wheaton College

  • Disclosures and Privacy Policy
  • Emergency Information
  • IBHE
Back to Top

Print Options

Send Page to Printer

Print this page.

Download Page (PDF)

The PDF will include all information unique to this page.

Download the catalog PDF

The PDF will include the entire 2021-2022 catalog.

Cancel