Elementary Education, BS

for the degree of Bachelor of Science 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 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 in Elementary Education


Degree Requirements

EDUC 101Education Orientation Seminar1
Composition I
Composition I4
Advanced Composition
Advanced Composition3-4
Natural Sciences and Technology 2
Life science3-4
Physical science (mathematics not acceptable)3-4
Cultural Studies 3
Western/Comparative3-4
US Minority3-4
Non-Western3-4
Social/Behavioral Sciences 3
Two courses from the approved Social and Behavioral Sciences general education course list.6-8
Quantitative Reasoning 4
MATH 103Theory of Arithmetic4
MATH 117Elementary Mathematics3-4
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 2683
Electives
Elective Courses (if needed to complete the 120 hour graduation requirement) 16
Professional Education
EDUC 201
EDUC 202
Identity and Difference in Education
and Social Justice, School and Society (Or program approved equivalent courses)
6
EPSY 201Educational Psychology 63
EDPR 250School & Community Experiences 74
EDPR 432Ed Prac in EC & ELED12
SPED 405General Educator's Role in Special Education3
CI 415Language Varieties, Cultures and Learning3
CI 405Introduction to Teaching Elementary Age Children3
CI 407Theory Practice in Elementary School Teaching II3
CI 406Theory Practice in Elementary School Teaching I3
CI 430Teaching Children Mathematics3
CI 432Investigative Approach to Elementary Mathematics Instruction3
CI 448Teaching Elementary Social Studies3
CI 450Teaching Elementary Science I3
CI 451Teaching Elementary Science II3
CI 467Principles in Teaching Literature to Children and Youth3
CI 475Teaching Elementary Reading and Language Arts I3
CI 476Teaching Elementary and Middle Grade Language Arts3
FAA 202Artsful Teaching through Integ3
CI 452Social Studies as Action and Inquiry3
Total Hours120

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 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 SemesterHours
EDUC 1011
EDUC 2013
Composition I or General Education course4
Language Other Than English (3rd level)4
General Education course3
 15
Total Hours 15
First Year
Second SemesterHours
General Education course or Composition I3
General Education course3
General Education course3
MATH 117 or STAT 1004
Elective course3
 16
Total Hours 16
Second Year
First SemesterHours
CI 4153
EPSY 2013
General Education course3
MATH 1034
Elective course3
 16
Total Hours 16
Second Year
Second SemesterHours
EDUC 2023
General Education course3
KIN 268 (now HK 263)3
Elective course3
Elective course3
 15
Total Hours 15
Third Year
First SemesterHours
CI 4053
CI 4303
CI 4503
CI 4673
 12
Total Hours 12
Third Year
Second SemesterHours
CI 4323
CI 4483
CI 4513
CI 4753
FAA 2023
 15
Total Hours 15
Fourth Year
First SemesterHours
CI 4063
CI 4523
CI 4763
EDPR 2504
SPED 4053
 16
Total Hours 16
Fourth Year
Second SemesterHours
CI 4073
EDPR 43212
 15
Total Hours 15

Total Hours: 120

for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education


  1. Students will acquire deep knowledge of content in the field of Education.
  2. 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.
  3. 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 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: ci@education.illinois.edu
(217) 244-8286
Department of Curriculum & Instruction website
Department of Curriculum & Instruction faculty

Office of Undergraduate Programs

110 Education Building
Education Academic Affairs email: saao@education.illinois.edu
(217) 333-2800
Admissions & Academics website
Student Academic Affairs website