Elementary Education, BS
for the degree of Bachelor of Science Major in Elementary Education
The Elementary Education, BS prepares teachers for grades one through six. A minimum of 120 semester hours is necessary for graduation.
Students pursuing teacher licensure programs in the College of Education (COE) must meet requirements in a series of sequential gateways. Included in the gateway requirements are successful completion of specified coursework, achievement of appropriate grade point averages, requirements for clinical experiences, and appropriate tests for the licensure area. Meeting all Gateway requirements leads to degree and licensure completion.
In order to be recommended for licensure, candidates are required to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 (A=4.0). Candidates in teaching licensure programs must maintain a C- or better in ALL content and professional education coursework. For teacher education licensure requirements applicable to all curricula, see the Council on Teacher Education
Licensure requirements are subject to change without notice as a result of new mandates from the Illinois State Board of Education or the Illinois General Assembly.
for the degree of Bachelor of Science Major in Elementary Education
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 101 | Education Orientation Seminar | 1 |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Composition I | ||
| Composition I | 4 | |
| Advanced Composition | ||
| Advanced Composition | 3-4 | |
| Natural Sciences and Technology 2 | ||
| Life science | 3-4 | |
| Physical science (mathematics not acceptable) | 3-4 | |
| Cultural Studies 3 | ||
| Western/Comparative | 3-4 | |
| US Minority | 3-4 | |
| Non-Western | 3-4 | |
| Social/Behavioral Sciences 3 | ||
| Two courses from the approved Social and Behavioral Sciences general education course list. | 6-8 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning 4 | ||
| MATH 103 | Theory of Arithmetic | 4 |
| MATH 117 | Elementary Mathematics | 3-4 |
| or STAT 100 | Statistics | |
| Humanities/Arts 3 | ||
| Two courses from the approved Humanities and the Arts general education course list. | 6 | |
| Language Other Than English | ||
| Three years of one language other than English in high school or completion of the third semester of college level language. | 0-12 | |
| Health and Physical Development | ||
| KIN 268 | 3 | |
| Electives | ||
| Elective Courses (if needed to complete the 120 hour graduation requirement) 1 | 6 | |
| Professional Education | ||
| EDUC 201 & EDUC 202 | Identity and Difference in Education and Social Justice, School and Society (Or program approved equivalent courses) | 6 |
| EPSY 201 | Educational Psychology 6 | 3 |
| EDPR 250 | School & Community Experiences 7 | 4 |
| EDPR 432 | Ed Prac in EC & ELED | 12 |
| SPED 405 | General Educator's Role in Special Education | 3 |
| CI 415 | Language Varieties, Cultures and Learning | 3 |
| CI 405 | Introduction to Teaching Elementary Age Children | 3 |
| CI 407 | Theory Practice in Elementary School Teaching II | 3 |
| CI 406 | Theory Practice in Elementary School Teaching I | 3 |
| CI 430 | Teaching Children Mathematics | 3 |
| CI 432 | Investigative Approach to Elementary Mathematics Instruction | 3 |
| CI 448 | Teaching Elementary Social Studies | 3 |
| CI 450 | Teaching Elementary Science I | 3 |
| CI 451 | Teaching Elementary Science II | 3 |
| CI 467 | Principles in Teaching Literature to Children and Youth | 3 |
| CI 475 | Teaching Elementary Reading and Language Arts I | 3 |
| CI 476 | Teaching Elementary and Middle Grade Language Arts | 3 |
| FAA 202 | Artsful Teaching through Integ | 3 |
| CI 452 | Social Studies as Action and Inquiry | 3 |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
TOTAL minimum hours include general education and professional education credits.5
- 1
Six hours of ROTC upper level courses (300 level or above) can count toward the degree as free electives.
- 2
Exclusions apply including, but not limited to: Horticulture, Dance and Urban Planning. Must be a science rubric. Consult with advisers for further information.
- 3
Across these gen-ed categories, students will need to take courses that include at least four different rubrics from the following: ANTH, ECON, GEOG, GLBL, HIST, PS, PSYC, SOC to meet the ISBE Social Science requirement.
- 4
ISBE standards require demonstration of proficiency in algebra and statistics. Consult with adviser for further information.
- 5
The total hours required for the degree may be higher for students who have not already completed the language other than English requirement and/or the ISBE algebra requirement.
- 6
PYSC 100 is a prerequisite for EPSY 201.
- 7
Students will register for EDPR 250 during their spring term of the year one professional education sequence year for zero credit hours and register for EDPR 250 again their fall term of the year two professional education sequence for four credit hours.
for the degree of Bachelor of Science Major in Elementary Education
Sample Sequence
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a third level of a language other than English. For more information, see the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| EDUC 101 | 1 | Composition I or General Education course | 4 |
| EDUC 201 | 3 | General Education course (PSYC 100 recommended) | 4 |
| Composition I or General Education course | 4 | MATH 117 or STAT 100 | 4 |
| Language Other Than English (3rd level) or Elective course | 4 | Elective course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| CI 415 | 3 | EDUC 202 | 3 |
| EPSY 201 | 3 | KIN 268 | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| MATH 103 | 4 | General Education course | 3 |
| Elective course | 3 | Elective course | 3 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| CI 405 | 3 | CI 432 | 3 |
| CI 430 | 3 | CI 448 | 3 |
| CI 450 | 3 | CI 451 | 3 |
| CI 467 | 3 | CI 475 | 3 |
| Elective course | 1 | FAA 202 | 3 |
| 13 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| CI 406 | 3 | CI 407 | 3 |
| CI 452 | 3 | EDPR 432 | 12 |
| CI 476 | 3 | ||
| EDPR 250 | 4 | ||
| SPED 405 | 3 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 120 | |||
for the degree of Bachelor of Science Major in Elementary Education
- Students will acquire deep knowledge of content in the field of Education.
- Students will demonstrate awareness and application of the Illinois Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading (CRTL) standards in their teacher preparation course work and field experiences.
- Students will display the expectations of professionalism related to success in the field of education and beyond (fairness, commitment to collaboration, community, reflective practice, and attention to 21st century skills and practices).
for the degree of Bachelor of Science Major in Elementary Education
College of Education
Education Building, 1310 S. Sixth Street, Champaign, IL 61820
College of Education website
Department of Curriculum & Instruction
306 Education Building
Department of Curriculum & Instruction email
(217) 244-8286
Department of Curriculum & Instruction website
Department of Curriculum & Instruction faculty
Office of Undergraduate Programs
110 Education Building
Education Academic Affairs email
(217) 333-2800
Admissions & Academics website
Student Academic Affairs website