Elementary Education majors are licensed for grades 1-6. Students are encouraged to add a subsequent endorsement to their primary elementary license, as these endorsements can often increase employment opportunities. Subsequent endorsements can be added in ESL or Bilingual, Middle School English/Language Arts, Mathematics, General Science, or Social Science, and Special Education. The Initial Elementary License can be earned as a traditional undergraduate student or in conjunction with the Master of Arts in Teaching.
In order to complete licensure, candidates must take and pass the Elementary/Middle Grades content area test and pass the Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA).
Student Teaching Prerequisites:
Prerequisites for elementary student teaching: EDUC 101, EDUC 135, EDUC 136, EDUC 136L, EDUC 225, EDUC 225L, EDUC 305, EDUC 305L, EDUC 311L , EDUC 312, EDUC 313, EDUC 314, EDUC 315, EDUC 317, LING 326, MATH 125 , SSCI 321, SCI 322, a minimum GPA of 2.8 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.
Candidates are expected to take all 300- and 400-level education courses at Wheaton. 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.
Initial Elementary License
For Elementary Education Students, Grades 1-6
Requirements for the Elementary Education major are 57-58 hours in education. Education courses include:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements | ||
| EDUC 101 | The Teaching Profession | 2 |
| EDUC 135 | School & Society | 2 |
| EDUC 136 | Teaching Ethnically and Linguistically Diverse Students | 2 |
| EDUC 136L | Cross-cultural Tutoring | 0 |
| EDUC 225 | Learning and Development: The Psychological and Developmental Contexts of Education | 4 |
| EDUC 225L | Teacher Aiding Practicum | 1 |
| EDUC 305 | Learning Differences | 2 |
| EDUC 305L | Learning Differences Practicum | 1 |
| EDUC 311L | Methods Practicum for Elementary and Middle School | 1 |
| EDUC 312 | Theories and Methods: Elementary and Middle School Reading | 4 |
| EDUC 313 | Theories and Methods of Teaching Elementary and Middle School Students | 4 |
| EDUC 314 | Methods & Materials: Children's Books in the Elementary Classroom | 4 |
| EDUC 315 | Theories and Methods of Teaching Elementary and Middle School Mathematics | 4 |
| EDUC 317 | Theories and Methods of Teaching Elementary and Middle School Language Arts | 2 |
| LING 326 | English Language Methods for Content Area Teachers | 2 |
| EDUC 494 | Senior Seminar | 2 |
| EDUC 496 | Student Teaching (see more info on overview tab) | 9-10 |
| EDUC 497 | Philosophical Foundations of Education | 3 |
| MATH 125 | Mathematics for Elementary and Middle Grade Education | 4 |
| SSCI 321 | Elementary and Middle School Curricular Themes in the Social Sciences | 2 |
| SCI 322 | Elementary Grade Education Science Curriculum | 2 |
| Total Credits | 57-58 | |
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:
18 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-grade content specific exam. Contact the Department of Education for the specific middle-grade endorsement requirements for English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Science.