Bachelor of Arts [B.A] [Elementary Education] From Illinois Dominican University

Dominican University teacher candidates who major in elementary education experience a comprehensive, clinically based program that includes:

• The liberal arts and sciences core curriculum,
• Foundational courses within the School of Education and
• Extensive supervised, clinically based courses that focus on the development of practices essential to beginning teachers.

The major requirements for the elementary program include both foundational and professional courses.

Foundational courses?focus on building understanding in areas such as child growth and development, learning theory, diversity from multiple lenses, and educational philosophy.

Professional courses?are designed to integrate the subject matter of the elementary classroom, including reading and writing, language arts and literature, mathematics, science, social studies, health, physical education and the fine arts. Professional courses provide a solid foundation in learning specific methods of teaching unique to each subject matter and the development of materials and resources needed to implement lessons and units of study.

Upon entering the undergraduate BA degree program, students take:

• General education core curriculum requirements,
• An introduction to elementary education in a foundational education course and
• A philosophy of education course.?

After completing the first year of coursework, students in good standing who meet requirements for acceptance into the Teacher Education Program can matriculate into the elementary education program with candidacy and begin intensive licensure program coursework and fieldwork.