Elementary Education Standard Major

Program Requirements

The Elementary Education Standard Emphasis requires the Elementary Education Core coursework in addition to 18 credits from any minor offered at Western.

The Elementary Education Major requires students to complete all requirements of the Licensure Program, including 42 credits of Education (EDUC) coursework. The major also requires students to complete 40 credits of interdisciplinary content coursework.

Elementary Education Core Content:
MATH 140College Algebra (GT-MA1)3
MATH 221Foundations of Mathematics for Teaching I3
MATH 222Foundations of Mathematics for Teaching II3
MATH 323Foundations of Mathematics for Teaching III3
SCI 110Habitable Planet (with laboratory)4
SCI 111Nature of Science1
SCI 120Living Planet (with laboratory)4
SCI 210Dynamic Planet (with laboratory)4
Two of the following:6
Introduction to Literature (GT-AH2)
Introduction to Creative Writing (GT-AH1)
Grammar and the English Language
Critical Approaches to Literature
Literature and Ethnicity: Studies in:
Poetry: Studies in:
Women Writers
Children's Literature
Four of the following (courses must include at least 3 disciplines):12
Macroeconomics (GT-SS1)
Microeconomics
Environmental Economics
Introduction to Human Geography (GT-SS2)
Geography of North America (GT-SS2)
Geography of Latin America and the Caribbean
Topics in World History (GT-HI1)
U.S. History to 1865 (GT-HI1)
U.S. History Since 1865 (GT-HI1)
Historical Inquiry
HISTORY OF LATIN AMERICA GHI1
Colorado History
History of the Hispanic Southwest
Introduction to Political Ideas (GT-SS1)
Introduction to American Politics (GT-SS1)
Politics of the Environment
Total Credits43

Required Education Coursework

The Elementary Licensure Program requires 42 credits of Education coursework and the Gateway course.

Pre-residency coursework:

Course List
EDUC 000 Education Gateway Course 0
EDUC 102 Learning & Teaching 3
EDUC 202 Education and Schooling in the U.S. 3
EDUC 210 Science Teaching Methods 3
EDUC 326 Equity, Diversity and Social Justice in Education 3
EDUC 340 Application of Pedagogy and Practice 3
Total Credits 15

4th year Residency Coursework 

Elementary Licensure Coursework to be taken in year 4 of Elementary Education Standard Major Program.

EDUC 400Foundations for Literacy: Phonology and Linguistics3
EDUC 402Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, and Fluency3
EDUC 404Creating Positive Learning Environments3
EDUC 405Data-driven Instructional Practices3
EDUC 408Teaching Writing with the Brain in Mind3
EDUC 413Mathematical Investigations3
EDUC 428Teaching English Learners in Elementary Classrooms3
Six credits of the following:6
Elementary Student Teaching

The residency for Elementary Licensure must be completed in a K-6 classroom, where students are expected to work cooperatively 24 hours per week with qualified mentor teachers. During this year-long clinical residency, students are applying and extending the pedagogical knowledge that they are learning in their Education courses. The Elementary Licensure coursework and the post-licensure coursework are taught online.   

Graduation Requirements

Undergraduate programs require a minimum of 120 semester credits for graduation.  Of those 120 credits, 40 credits must be in upper-division courses (those marked 300 and above).  Fifteen of these 40 upper-division credits must be earned in courses that are part of the standard or comprehensive major program being pursued. 

Students are expected to review all graduation requirements, which can be found in the Western Undergraduate Catalog: Graduation Requirements

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
EDUC 000 Education Gateway Course 0
EDUC 102 Learning & Teaching (GT-SS3) 3
ENG 102 Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) 3
HWTR 100 First Year Seminar 1
MATH 140 College Algebra (GT-MA1) 3
SCI 110 Habitable Planet (with laboratory) 4
Gen Ed Social Sciences 3
 Credits17
Spring
ENG 103 Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) 3
SCI 120 Living Planet (with laboratory) 4
Gen Ed Arts & Humanities 3
Gen Ed Social Sciences 3
Gen Ed Social Sciences 3
 Credits16
Year Two
Fall
EDUC 202 Education and Schooling in the U.S. (GT-SS3) 3
MATH 221 Foundations of Mathematics for Teaching I 3
SCI 111 Nature of Science 1
Elective ENG Elective 3
Elective Specialization Elective 3
Gen Ed Social Sciences 3
 Credits16
Spring
EDUC 210 Science Teaching Methods 3
MATH 222 Foundations of Mathematics for Teaching II 3
SCI 210 Dynamic Planet (with laboratory) 4
Elective Specialization Elective 3
Gen Ed Social Sciences 3
 Credits16
Year Three
Fall
MATH 323 Foundations of Mathematics for Teaching III 3
Gen Ed Arts & Humanities 6
Elective Specialization Elective 3
Elective Specialization Elective 3
 Credits15
Spring
EDUC 326 Equity, Diversity and Social Justice in Education 3
EDUC 340 Application of Pedagogy and Practice 3
Elective ENG Elective 3
Elective Specialization Elective 3
Elective Specialization Elective (upper divisional) 3
 Credits15
Year Four
Fall
EDUC 400 Foundations for Literacy: Phonology and Linguistics 3
EDUC 404 Creating Positive Learning Environments 3
EDUC 405 Data-driven Instructional Practices 3
EDUC 413 Mathematical Investigations 3
EDUC 458 Elementary Student Teaching 3
 Credits15
Spring
EDUC 402 Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, and Fluency 3
EDUC 408 Teaching Writing with the Brain in Mind 3
EDUC 428 Teaching English Learners in Elementary Classrooms 3
EDUC 458 Elementary Student Teaching 3
 Credits12
 Total Credits122