Elementary Education: Education Studies Option (B.S. in Education)

Total Semester Hours Required for the Degree: 121

The B.S. in Elementary Education, Education Studies option is a non-licensure degree focusing on children ages six through twelve years old.

This major requires that all students (including native, transfer students from community colleges or senior institutions, internal transfers, and post-baccalaureate) follow and meet the requirements for Admission and Retention in Teacher Licensure programs as described in the "Teacher Licensure Programs" section of this catalog. Additional information on Admission and Retention is found on the College of Education, Health and Human Services website.

Students must receive a "C" or better in all courses used toward graduation, regardless of where they are taken. This includes general education, professional education, major and minor courses, all university required courses, and electives. Students must maintain a minimum cumulative and major GPA of 2.65 in order to continue in the program.

Professional Course Work (59-62 semester hours)

All professional education coursework must be completed with a "C" or better prior to internship.

ART 3440

Art for Teachers in the Elementary Grades. (2 credits)

or MUS 3420

EDF 2555

Education in a Diverse Society: The Multilingual/Multicultural Classroom. (3 credits)

EDU 2022

Teaching and Learning with Technology in Classrooms. (2 credits)

ELE 1050

Introduction to Teaching as a Profession. (1 credits)

ELE 2050

The Whole Child: Teaching and Learning in the Educational Environment. (3 credits)

ELE 3050

Diverse Contexts that Influence the Learning Process. (2 credits)

ELE 3100

Instructional Strategies for the Elementary Classroom. (4 credits)

ELE 3280

Developmental Reading in the Elementary and Middle School. (3 credits)

ELE 3290

Science in the Elementary and Middle School. (3 credits)

ELE 3340

Social Studies for the Elementary and Middle School. (3 credits)

ELE 3350

Language Arts in the Elementary and Middle Level School. (3 credits)

ELE 4100

Assessing Student Learning: A Field-Based Experience. (3 credits)

ELE 4280

Content Area Reading in the Elementary and Middle Levels. (3 credits)

ELE 4880

Diagnostic and Prescriptive Reading Instruction. (3 credits)

ELE 4890

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students/English Language Learners: Instructional Methods. (3 credits)

KSR 2400

Introduction to Elementary School Physical Education. (2 credits)

MAT 3420

Teaching Mathematics in Grades PreK-6. (2 credits)

MUS 3420

Music in Elementary Schools. (2 credits)

or ART 3440

PUBH 3200

School Health for K-12 Teachers. (3 credits)

SPE 2000

Disabilities in the Context of Education and the Life Span. (2 credits)

SPE 3000

Education of Individuals with Exceptional Learning Needs. (3 credits)

ELE 4275

Internship in Education Studies. (6 to 9 credits)

Departmental Requirements (in addition to University General Education Requirements)

University General Education and additional departmental required courses: 55-58 semester hours

Some courses may also count toward University general education requirements. Consult with Departmental Advisor.

HIS 3600

The U.S. Constitution and the Nation. (3 credits)

PLS 1153

American Government and Constitution. (3 credits)

AND

HIS 2010

History of the United States to 1877. (3 credits)

HIS 2020

History of the United States Since 1877. (3 credits)

AND

BIO 1001

Biological Principles and Issues. (3 credits)

AND

CHM 1040

The World of Chemistry. (4 credits)

(See footnote 1)

CHM 1310

General Chemistry I. (3 credits)

and

CHM 1315

General Chemistry Laboratory I. (1 credits)

(See footnote 1)

CHM 3025

The Chemistry in Your Life. (3 credits)

AND

PHY 1051

Physics of the Modern World. (3 credits)

PHY 1052

Adventures in Physics. (3 credits)

and

PHY 1053

Adventures in Physics Laboratory. (1 credits)

(See footnote 1)

PHY 1351

General Physics I. (3 credits)

and

PHY 1352

General Physics I Laboratory. (1 credits)

(See footnote 1)

PHY 3050

Excursions in Physics. (3 credits)

AND

GEO 1120

The Natural Environment. (4 credits)

(See footnote 1)

GEO 1300

Introduction to Earth Sciences. (4 credits)

(See footnote 1)

GEO 1400

Weather and Climate. (4 credits)

(See footnote 1)

GEO 2450

Oceanography. (3 credits)

GEO 3200

Human Impacts on the Environment. (3 credits)

PHY 1055

Principles of Astronomy. (3 credits)

and

PHY 1056

Principles of Astronomy Laboratory. (1 credits)

(See footnote 1)

PHY 3045

Wonders of Astronomy. (3 credits)

AND

MAT 1271

College Algebra. (3 credits)

(If proficiency has not been met)

MAT 1420

Mathematics for Elementary Teachers I. (3 credits)

MAT 2420

Mathematics for Elementary Teachers II. (3 credits)

MAT 2620

Mathematics for Elementary Teachers III. (3 credits)

(preferred)

MAT 2250

Elementary Statistics. (4 credits)

AND

ENG 1001

College Composition I: Critical Reading & Source-Based Writing. (3 credits)

ENG 1002

College Composition II: Argument & Critical Inquiry. (3 credits)

CMN 1310

Introduction to Speech Communication. (3 credits)

AND

ENG 2901

Structure of English. (3 credits)

ENG 3001

Advanced Composition. (3 credits)

AND

Elective from General Education Humanities courses. Credits: 3

AND

Art, Music, or Theatre course from General Education Fine Arts courses. Credits: 3

AND

GEO 1100

Cultural Geography. (3 credits)

GEO 1200

World Regional Geography. (3 credits)

AND

HIS 3810

History of Illinois. (3 credits)

AND

ANT 2200

Introduction to Anthropology. (3 credits)

PLS 2253

Introduction to International Relations. (3 credits)

PSY 1879

Introductory Psychology. (3 credits)

SOC 2750

Social Problems in Contemporary Society. (3 credits)

Footnotes:

¹ A complete program must include a lab in chemistry, physics, or earth science.

The student should consult with his/her advisor to develop the study plan best suited to his/her needs and interests.

Selection to Teacher Education programs should occur following the freshman year but no later than the end of the sophomore year (for transfer students this should occur no later than the end of their first semester).

Major GPA based on all coursework taken at EIU.

Information sourced from the 2026-2027 EIU Undergraduate Catalog.

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