As an elementary educator, you can introduce children to the pleasures of reading and writing, math, science, social studies, and the arts. You’ll learn about how children develop and learn, explore options for teaching a wide range of content areas, and develop the skills and knowledge to inspire lifelong intellectual curiosity in the students you teach.

The Education Department offers a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with a choice of an area of concentration.

The Areas of Concentration

Elementary majors select one area of concentration from a possible set of six areas to broaden their expertise in at least one area. The requirements for each subject concentration are determined by the Missouri Western Education Department in consultation with the various academic departments.

Four of the concentration areas also yield an additional teaching certification (called an added endorsement) approved by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Those four areas are:

  1. Early Childhood-Special Education (birth to grade 3);
  2. Early Childhood Education (birth to grade 3);
  3. Special Reading (K-12); and
  4. English Language Learners (ELL) (K-12).

The General Concentration consists of 4 total credits of coursework in Education that is not part of the major requirements.

Teacher instructing students
General Studies
42-47
Major Requirements
EDU 150Psychological Development for Children & Adolescents for Educators3
EDU 202Introduction to Education3
EDU 203Participation in Teaching I1
EDU 225Educational Psychology3
EDU 230Science Content for Elementary Teachers3
EDU 250Assessment & Data Analysis for Teachers2
EDU 303Experience in Teaching II2
EDU 304Applied Methods and Management3
EDU 308Multicultural Education3
EDU 315Psychology and Education of the Exceptional Child3
EDU 325Introduction to Reading and Language Arts Methods5
EDU 330Science Methods for Elementary Teachers3
EDU 331Instructional Media and Technology2
EDU 332Teaching in the Integrated Areas3
EDU 340Social Studies Methods for the Elementary and Middle School Teacher2
EDU 351Mathematics Methods for Early Childhood and Elementary Educators3
EDU 360Assessing and Individualizing Reading3
EDU 370Behavior Management3
EDU 375Teaching Reading in the Elementary School3
EDU 403Seminar in Elementary Education and Human Relations3
EDU 408Elementary Student Teaching III9
ENG 403Literature for Children3
MAT 352Mathematics for Elementary and Middle School Teachers I3
Concentration
Select an area of concentration
1

Course is within the Professional Sequence.

2

See Professional Semester for prerequisites and requirements.

NOTE: In addition to the above major coursework, students may be required to take an Orientation Workshop, EDU 110. Also, upon Education Department determination, some students will be required to enroll in EDU 200 for state certification requirements.

Concentrations:
Early Childhood- Special Education (Birth to Grade 3)
Early Childhood Education (Birth to Grade 3)
Special Reading (K-12)
English Language Learner (ELL) (K-12)
General

The Professional Semester - Elementary Education

A student enrolled in Elementary Student Teaching will assume the daily teaching schedule of the cooperating teacher.

Elementary Student Teaching (EDU 408 Elementary Student Teaching III) is to be taken during the student’s senior year. Seminar in Elementary Education and Human Relations (EDU 403 Seminar in Elementary Education and Human Relations) is to be taken concurrently with Elementary Student Teaching. A passing score on the Content Area Assessment is required before enrollment in EDU 403 Seminar in Elementary Education and Human Relations or EDU 408 Elementary Student Teaching III.

Course work during the professional education semester is usually limited to EDU 403 Seminar in Elementary Education and Human Relations and EDU 408 Elementary Student Teaching III. Petition for any additional course work must be submitted to the Education Department in the semester prior to Elementary Student Teaching.

The Area of Concentration

The elementary major must also select one area of concentration from a possible set of five areas to broaden one’s expertise in at least one area. The requirements for each subject concentration are determined by the MWSU Education Department in consultation with the various academic departments.

Four of the concentration areas also yield an additional teaching certification (called an added endorsement) approved by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Those four areas are:

  1. Early Childhood-Special Education (birth to grade 3);
  2. Early Childhood Education (birth to grade 3);
  3. Special Reading (K-12); and
  4. English Language Learners (ELL) (K-12).

The General Concentration will consist of 8 total credits of coursework in Education that are not already counted as elementary major coursework.

Added Endorsements for Certified Areas of Concentration                                                (Missouri Certification Required)

Early Childhood-Special Education (birth to grade 3)

Concentration Requirements
EDU 342Evaluation of Abilities and Achievement2
EDU 357Introduction to Early Childhood Special Education: Curriculum Development3
EDU 411Methods of Teaching the Student with Cross-Categorical Disabilities3
EDU 461Experience in Early Childhood Special Education2
EDU 474Collaborating with Families and School Personnel for Inclusion3

 Early Childhood Education (birth to grade 3)

Concentration Requirements
EDU 300Introduction to Early Childhood Education3
EDU 344Early Childhood Assessment3
EDU 348Language Development for Educators3
EDU 374Literacy Development in Early Childhood3
1

Elementary Education Degree Requirement

Special Reading (K-12)

Concentration Requirements
EDU 311Secondary Reading Techniques3
EDU 312Secondary Reading Techniques Practicum1
EDU 342Evaluation of Abilities and Achievement2
EDU 348Language Development for Educators3
EDU 474Collaborating with Families and School Personnel for Inclusion3
EDU 483Practicum I in Reading: Diagnosis of Reading Difficulties3
EDU 484Practicum II in Reading: Remediation of Reading Difficulties3
EDU 521Teaching Students with Reading Deficits3
ENG 503Literature for Children3

 NOTE: Candidate applies for certification after 2 years of classroom teaching experience.

1

Elementary Education Degree Requirement

 English Language Learners (ELL) (K-12)

General Requirements
A valid Missouri permanent professional certificate or license to teach
Concentration Requirements
EDU 311Secondary Reading Techniques3
EDU 308Multicultural Education3
or COM 342 Intercultural Communication
EDU 430Teaching Students with Reading Deficits3
EDU 470English Language Learners Elementary Practicum2
EDU 475English Language Learners Secondary Practicum2
ENG 232Language Awareness3
or EDU 348 Language Development for Educators
TSL 459Policy, Curriculum, and Instruction for ELLs3
TSL 467Second Language Acquisition3
TSL 468Methods of Teaching Second Language Students3
TSL 469Materials and Assessment for ELL3

 General Concentration

Any six Education Department credits not already required for the Elementary major6

Program Graduation Requirements

  1. Earn a grade of C or higher in all major and concentration coursework.
  2. Earn an overall GPA of at least 2.50 and a major GPA of 3.0.

University Graduation Requirements 

  1. Earn a minimum of 120 credit hours (100 level and higher, maximum of 6 CED credit hours applicable).
  2. Earn a minimum of 30 credit hours in upper-division courses.  Lower-division transfer courses accepted as meeting upper-division departmental course requirements cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.
  3. Earn 30 of the last 45 credit hours at MWSU in institutional coursework (exclusive of credit by examination).
  4. Participate in required departmental and campus wide assessments. 
  5. Fulfill the Missouri Constitution requirement.
  6. Successfully pass the Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement exam. 

Are you ready to declare this major? Download, sign and submit the form(s) to the Education Department.

Mapping your degree plan is an important task for every student. You should consult with your academic advisor to create a plan for degree completion and monitor it regularly.