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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary Education Core Content: | ||
| MATH 140 | College Algebra (GT-MA1) | 3 |
| MATH 221 | Foundations of Mathematics for Teaching I | 3 |
| MATH 222 | Foundations of Mathematics for Teaching II | 3 |
| MATH 323 | Foundations of Mathematics for Teaching III | 3 |
| SCI 110 | Habitable Planet (with laboratory) | 4 |
| SCI 111 | Nature of Science | 1 |
| SCI 120 | Living Planet (with laboratory) | 4 |
| SCI 210 | Dynamic 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 Credits | 43 | |
Required Education Coursework
The Elementary Licensure Program requires 42 credits of Education coursework and the Gateway course.
Pre-residency coursework:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 400 | Foundations for Literacy: Phonology and Linguistics | 3 |
| EDUC 402 | Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, and Fluency | 3 |
| EDUC 404 | Creating Positive Learning Environments | 3 |
| EDUC 405 | Data-driven Instructional Practices | 3 |
| EDUC 408 | Teaching Writing with the Brain in Mind | 3 |
| EDUC 413 | Mathematical Investigations | 3 |
| EDUC 428 | Teaching English Learners in Elementary Classrooms | 3 |
| 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.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| 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 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| 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 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| 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 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| 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 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| 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 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| 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 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| 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 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| 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 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 122 | |