Early Childhood and Elementary Education Dual Major (M)
There are several aspects of our early childhood and elementary education department that are truly unique to CUW. In addition to the 121-credit requirement for public education majors, we have a variety of flexible options to increase marketability and prepare preservice educators to teach in multiple settings. Concordia offers a Lutheran Teacher Diploma for members of LCMS congregations who wish to teach in Lutheran schools and Christian Education Certification for members of other Christian churches who wish to teach in Christian schools. Along with your dual major in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, we also offer a variety of minors, concentrations, and certificates, including Urban Education, Adaptive Education, Special Education, and our Compassion Care Certificate, which includes work with our Compassion Care and Comfort Dogs. Thanks to our enhanced program, most students graduate in 3.5 to 4 years, and 99+ percent of them find jobs immediately.
Our early childhood and elementary education program also offers you the opportunity to student teach internationally or outside of the immediate CUW geographical area. Another unique offering is our STREAMS of Living Water Content Integration Model—an initiative implemented to support Science, Technology, Reading/ELA, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics with a more hands-on approach to learning. Additionally, our students have field placements in area schools each semester before student teaching. This makes you more classroom-ready as you grow as a new teacher and feedback from your supervisors helps you set goals for continued improvement.
If your calling is to change a student’s life from birth through 9th grade, our calling is to help get you there.
Program Learning Outcomes
1. Learner Development: The teacher understands how learners grow and develop, recognizing that patterns of learning and development vary individually within and across the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas, and designs and implements developmentally appropriate and challenging learning experiences (Human Relations, Pedagogical Knowledge)
2. Learning Differences : The teacher uses understanding of individual differences and diverse cultures and communities to ensure inclusive learning environments that enable each learner to meet high standards. (Human Relations, Pedagogical Knowledge)
3. Learning Environments: The teacher works with others to create environments that support individual and collaborative learning, and that encourage positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation. (Teaching Practice, Human Relations)
4. Content Knowledge: The teacher understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline(s) he or she teaches and creates learning experiences that make these aspects of the discipline accessible and meaningful for learners to assure mastery of the content. (Content Knowledge)
5. Application of Content: The teacher understands how to connect concepts and use differing perspectives to engage learners in critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative problem solving related to authentic local and global issues.
6. Assessment Strategies: The teacher understands and uses multiple methods of assessment to engage learners in their own growth, to monitor learner progress, and to guide the teacher’s and learner’s decision making. (Content Knowledge, Pedagogical Knowledge)
7. Planning for Instruction: The teacher plans instruction that supports every student in meeting rigorous learning goals by drawing upon knowledge of content areas, curriculum, cross-disciplinary skills, and pedagogy, as well as knowledge of learners and the community context. (Content Knowledge, Pedagogical Knowledge)
8. Instructional Strategies: The teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage learners to develop deep understanding of content areas and their connections, and to build skills to apply knowledge in meaningful ways. (Pedagogical Knowledge, Communication Skills, Teaching Practice)
9. Professional Learning and Ethical Practice: The teacher engages in ongoing professional learning and uses evidence to continually evaluate his/her practice, particularly the effects of his/her choices and actions on others (learners, families, other professionals, and the community), and adapts practice to meet the needs of each learner.
10. Leadership and Collaboration: The teacher seeks appropriate leadership roles and opportunities to take responsibility for student learning, to collaborate with learners, families, colleagues, other school professionals, and community members to ensure learner growth, and to advance the profession.
11. Character/Faith Development: All teachers model a value system which emphasizes moral and ethical character. Teachers in Christian schools integrate faith and learning while modeling Christian mission and service with a biblical worldview. Lutheran teachers adhere to the doctrine and practice of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. (Human Relations, Professional Dispositions, Content Knowledge)
Curriculum
Birth to 9th Grade
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Core Requirements 1 | 48-51 | |
Early Childhood and Elementary Education Majors | 73-79 | |
Total Hours | 121-130 |
- 1
For transfer students, please see the Advanced Transfer Core.
NOTE: Check with the Chair of the Early Childhood Education Department for possible changes in this major.
Core Curriculum - 48-51 Credits
Concordia Common Core - 18-21 Credits
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Theology - Public Education | ||
REL 100 | The Bible | 3 |
REL 110 | Christian Faith | 3 |
Theology - Lutheran (LTD) & Christian (CTC) | ||
REL 201 | Old Testament | 3 |
REL 203 | New Testament | 3 |
REL 204 | Biblical Theology | 3 |
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
CCE 130 | Christian Citizen | 3 |
CCE 140 | Science & Humanity | 3 |
CCE 110 | Western Culture & Worldview | 3 |
CCE 120 | Western Thought & Worldview | 3 |
Liberal Arts Dimensions - 30 Credits | ||
ENG 104 | Introduction to Writing | 3 |
Communication and Language Elective | 3 | |
Faith and Life Elective: Any course with REL prefix other than REL 100, 110, 201, 203, 204 | 3 | |
ED 1102 | Foundations of Education | 3 |
HHP 100 | Stewardship of the Body | 1 |
HHP Activity Course | 1 | |
Human Creativity and Expression: Art, Music, Theater, or Graphic Design activity course | 3 | |
MATH 119 | Number Sense: Teaching Pre K-9 | 3 |
MATH 120 | Data & Space: Teaching Pre K-9 | 3 |
SCI 110 | Introduction to Life and Physical Sciences | 4 |
ED 1103 | Human Relations for Teachers | 3 |
Note: Two writing intensive courses required for graduation. Other electives may be added to reach 120 credit minimum for graduation. | 3 |
Early Childhood & Elementary Education Curriculum
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
Theoretical Component | ||
ED 1230 | Nature of the Exceptional Child | 3 |
ED 1231 | Best Practices in Engaging Children in Literacy | 3 |
ED 1275 | Human Learning | 3 |
ED 4411 | The Profession and Ethics of Teaching 2 | 3 |
Experiential Component | ||
ED 1000 | Orientation Seminar | 0 |
ED 2000 | UDS Seminar | 0 |
ED 3000 | Student Teaching Seminar | 0 |
ED 1211 | Discovery Clinical | 0 |
ED 1212 | Cultural Clinical | 0 |
ED 1213 | Special Education Clinical | 0 |
Practical Component | ||
ED 2204 | The Art & Science of Teaching Reading | 3 |
ED 2252 | Best Practices in Engaging Adolescents in Literacy (OR) | 3 |
Math in the Middle School | ||
ED 2358 | Emergent Writing: Birth to Grade 3 | 2 |
ED 3401 | Instruction & Assessment of Reading 2 | 3 |
Practical Component: Early Childhood | ||
ED 2327 | Collaborating with Families and Professionals in a Diverse Society | 3 |
ED 2466 | Health, Safety, and Fitness for the Young Child | 3 |
ED 3359 | Curriculum and Techniques in Early Childhood 2 | 4 |
ED 3400 | Creativity in Early Childhood 2 | 2 |
ED 3356 | STEM: Math in Early Childhood 2 | 2 |
ED 3357 | STEM: Science and Environment in Early Childhood 2 | 2 |
ED 4478 | Preschool Practicum and Synthesis 2 | 3 |
ED 4479 | Assessment Strategies for Diverse Learners 2 | 3 |
"The Block" - Take these courses during the same semester | ||
ED 4301 | Data Driven Analysis of Classroom Practice 2 | 2 |
ED 4302 | Collaborating with Families and Members of the Community 2 | 1 |
ED 4303 | Language Arts Methods 2 | 3 |
ED 4304 | Curriculum and Methods in Mathematics 2 | 3 |
ED 4305 | Curriculum & Methods in Science & Environment 2 | 3 |
ED 4306 | Curriculum and Methods in Social Studies 2 | 3 |
Student Teaching Component (Take these courses in the same semester) | ||
ED 4412 | Portfolio Completion - Elementary/Content Tests 2 | 1 |
ED 4421 | Gr K-9 Student Teaching 1 2 | 6 |
ED 4425 | Early Childhood Student Teaching 2 | 6 |
Lutheran (LCMS Members) Teacher Diploma Requirements | ||
REL 404 | Lutheran Confessions | 3 |
ED 2306 | Teaching the Faith | 3 |
Christian Teacher Certification Requirements | ||
ED 2306 | Teaching the Faith | 3 |
Select one of the following 3 credit courses: | ||
Lutheran Confessions | ||
Law and Gospel in the Life of the Church | ||
A Survey of Christian Thought | ||
Christian Apologetics | ||
OR | ||
Christ and Culture |
- 1
SCI 110 Introduction to Life and Physical Sciences recommended
- 2
Course requires upper division status