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 120-credit requirement for public education majors, we’ve also reduced the credit load to 126 for the Lutheran Teacher Diploma or Christian Education Certification. 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 complete the Education Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA, a Wisconsin licensure requirement) the semester before student teaching. This makes you more classroom-ready and lets you focus your full attention on growing as a new teacher while your score helps set goals for your 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.
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)
Birth to 9th Grade
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Core Requirements 1 | 48-51 | |
Early Childhood and Elementary Education Majors | 72-78 | |
Total Hours | 120-129 |
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 | Intro to Writing | 3 |
Faith and Life Elective: Any course with REL prefix other than REL 100, 110, 201, 203, 204 | 3 | |
Communication and Language Elective | 3 | |
ED 102 | 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 | Intro Life & Phys Sci | 4 |
ED 103 | Human Relations for Teachers (register with ED 212) | 3 |
Note: Two writing intensive courses required for graduation. Other electives may be added to reach 120 credit minimum for graduation. | 3 |
EARLY CHILDHOOD CURRICULUM
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
Theoretical Component | ||
ED 230 | Nature of Exceptional Child (register with ED 213) | 3 |
ED 231 | Best Practices in Engaging Children in Literacy | 3 |
ED 275 | Human Learning (register with ED 211) | 3 |
ED 411 | Profession & Ethics Teaching 2 | 3 |
Experiential Component | ||
ED 100 | Orientation Seminar | 0 |
ED 200 | UDS Seminar | 0 |
ED 300 | Student Teaching Seminar | 0 |
ED 211 | General Clinical I Experience | 0 |
ED 212 | Cultural Clinical II Expr | 0 |
ED 213 | Special Educ Clinical III Expr | 0 |
Practical Component | ||
ED 204 | The Art and Science of Teaching Reading | 3 |
ED 252 | Best Practices in Engaging Adolescents in Literacy (OR ED 312 Math in the Middle School) | 3 |
ED 358 | Teaching the Emergent Writer | 2 |
ED 401 | Instruction and Assessment of Reading 2 | 3 |
Practical Component: Early Childhood | ||
ED 327 | Coll w Fam & Pro Div Soc | 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 479 | Assessment Strategies for Diverse Learners 2 | 3 |
ED 3356 | STEM: Math in Early Childhood 2 | 2 |
ED 3357 | STEM: Science and Environment in Early Childhood 2 | 2 |
ED 478 | Preschool Practicum 2 | 3 |
"The Block" - Take these courses during the same semester | ||
ED 385 | Collaborating with Families and Members of the Community | 1 |
ED 301 | Data-Driven Analysis of Classroom Instruction 2 | 3 |
ED 303 | Language Arts Methods 2 | 3 |
ED 304 | Curr/Meth-Math Elem 2 | 3 |
ED 305 | Meth-Science & Envir 2 | 3 |
ED 407 | Curr/Meth Soc Studies Elem 2 | 3 |
Student Teaching Component (Take these courses in the same semester) | ||
ED 412 | Portfolio Completion-Elem 2 | 1 |
ED 343 | Portfolio Completion: Early Childhood 2 | 1 |
ED 421 | Student Teach-Elem/Gr 1-6 2 | 6 |
ED 425 | Student Teaching EC 2 | 6 |
Lutheran (LCMS Members) Teacher Diploma Requirements | ||
REL 404 | Lutheran Confessions | 3 |
ED 306 | Teaching the Faith | 3 |
Christian Teacher Certification Requirements | ||
ED 306 | Teaching the Faith | 3 |
Select one of the following 3 credit courses: | ||
Lutheran Confessions | ||
Law/Gosp Life in Church | ||
A Survey of Christian Thought | ||
Christian Apologetic I | ||
OR | ||
Christ and Culture |
1 | SCI 110 Intro Life & Phys Sci recommended |
2 | Course requires upper division status |