B.A./M.A. in Educational Innovation — Elementary Education
Entrance Requirements
Admission into the elementary education track of the B.A. in Educational Foundations requires 32 credits of coursework in science, mathematics, literacy and social science, with a concentration of 12 credits in one area.
Students are then reviewed for acceptance into the education major, which they complete in their fourth year of undergraduate study. The courses below are required to develop a broad background in the elementary content areas:
Literacy
WTG 192 College Composition 2
MGT 201 Communication Skills for Managers
Mathematics
MATH 152 Elementary Algebra or MATH 153 Intermediate Algebra
MATH 266 Geometry for the Artist
Social Science
HUM 231 Great Civilizations
MGT 220 Principles of Economics
Science
PHYS 110 Physics or PHYS 207 Classical Physics
BIO 375 Earth Systems or BIO 317 Ecology
The following criteria are also considered in evaluating candidates:
- Demonstration of Competency in Basic Skills: In compliance with State of Iowa standards for teacher education, candidates are required to pass the PRAXIS® I test of basic reading, writing and math skills. This test must be taken either in paper or electronic form prior to their third course in the program. Students must attain a minimum score of 168 on each test and an average of 170.
- Personal Maturity: a written or phone recommendation from a University faculty member who knows the student well. In addition, applicants submit a brief statement of purpose. A personal interview with a member of the faculty of the Department of Education may be requested.
- General Academic Ability: an official record of previous undergraduate work showing a grade point average of 2.5 or better. Candidates are expected to have a 3.0 average or better in their subject field.
- Performance in Education Courses: a GPA of 3.0 or better in education courses taken.
The department may choose to admit provisionally a student who shows particular promise as a teacher, yet who does not meet all of the above criteria. In this case a plan will be developed with the student by which the deficiency can be monitored and remedied prior to student teaching at which time a student will be fully admitted or asked to withdraw.
A teacher education student is expected to maintain a “B” average in all required course work in the department in order to be admitted to student teaching. Students who do not maintain a “B” average may still complete the major in education and even complete an internship in a field placement, but they will not therefore be eligible for recommendation to a license.
Additional requirements for the specialist
Students who wish to specialize in teaching a specific subject at the elementary level must complete a major, which may be a teaching major, in that subject as well as a major in education. A teaching major is either the standard major or a track within an academic major designed to prepare a student to teach that subject in an elementary school. Teaching majors at the University require 40 to 60 credits of course work. Specific information regarding the requirements for a teaching major may be obtained from the education department office.
The University’s education program prepares students for initial licensure in the following subjects at the elementary level: K-6 classroom (all subjects), basic science, mathematics, art and language arts. Additional endorsements require 15 to 24 credits of course work in the area of specialization.
This program is approved by the Bureau of Practitioner Preparation and Licensure of the Iowa Department of Education and successful completion of it prepares one to gain an Iowa teaching license in one’s chosen field.
NOTE: Students considering a specialization in a single subject should consult the department early in their undergraduate studies to plan to meet State of Iowa requirements for course work in their teaching area and to reserve a position for student teaching.
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