Primary Elementary Education Curriculum: Shaping Future Educators

The primary elementary education curriculum focuses on preparing aspiring teachers with the knowledge, skills, and practical experiences necessary to excel in pre-kindergarten through elementary school settings. These programs emphasize a blend of theoretical understanding and hands-on application, ensuring graduates are well-equipped to guide the next generation of learners.

Core Principles and Philosophies

The principal philosophy behind the curriculum is to provide a liberal education in subjects relevant to teaching students in pre-k to 3rd grade as well as numerous opportunities for the student to experience, learn and reflect on effective pedagogy. The curriculum emphasizes best practices through hands-on experiences.

Curriculum Overview

A Bachelor of Arts or Science in Primary Education typically encompasses a range of courses designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of child development, pedagogy, and subject-specific content.

General Education Courses

As with nearly all bachelor’s degree programs, a BS in Elementary Education program will require you to take general education courses in a range of subjects. These courses are intended to provide you with foundational knowledge and elevate your critical thinking abilities. Generally, you’ll complete several courses in each of the following subjects:

Written and oral communication
Arts/humanities (including classes in literature and fine or performing arts)
Mathematics/natural sciences (including higher-level math, like statistics, and at least one science lab)
Social sciences (including classes in world history and multicultural, ethnic, linguistic, global, or religious studies)

Lower-Level Courses

As you work to complete all of your general education requirements, you’ll also be taking courses specifically for elementary education students. In most programs, you’ll be expected to complete a series of lower-level courses before you can proceed to higher-level ones. These lower-level courses focus on subjects that future kindergarten and elementary school teachers need to learn in order to succeed in their field. They typically include:

Child Development: An examination of the prevailing philosophies and theories of child development.
Concepts of Health Promotion: An exploration of the factors that influence health and the evidence-based methodologies for promoting better health.
American Government and Politics: An examination of the American government and the roles of government branches and the American citizenry.

Higher-Level Courses

You will move on to these after you complete your lower-level courses. These are your “teaching degree” courses that prepare you for the tasks and challenges of an elementary school classroom. Some of the higher-level courses you are likely to take include:

Child Development, Motivation, and Learning: An exploration of the social, physical, emotional, and intellectual growth of children as related to learning and the motivation to learn.
Effective Practices: Planning, Instruction, and Assessment: An examination of the effective practices for elementary education and the challenges of the modern classroom.
Community-Building for Effective Classroom Management: An exploration of the strategies for fostering a sense of community in the classroom and developing positive relationships with and among students.
Exploring Dimensions of Literacy K-6: An in-depth study of early literacy development and the strategies for helping students learn to read and develop vocabulary, comprehension, fluency, writing skills, content-area literacy, and media literacy.
Social Studies and the Arts K-6: Instruction and Assessment: An in-depth study of teaching strategies designed to educate students on social studies and the arts, and help them become effective citizens of a democratic and culturally diverse society.
Mathematics K-6: Instruction and Assessment: An in-depth study of the conceptual understanding, procedural skills, and application of knowledge needed to help students acquire mathematical skills.
Science K-6: Instruction and Assessment: An in-depth study of the ways to use developmentally appropriate strategies to promote modes of inquiry and analytical skills in science education.

Field Experiences and Clinical Practice

Field experiences are introduced early and culminate in an extended student teaching experience in the senior year. Crucial to a successful career in early childhood education after graduation, field experiences provide you with the opportunity to go out into classrooms and gain practical experience.

Early Field Experiences: Early in your program, you will explore your chosen career path through real-world experiences and seminars in the required First Education Experience Program (FEEP). During this service-learning course, you will spend meaningful time in partner pre-K-5 schools or other education settings. You may take the course for either three or five credits - you will consult with your advisor about which is required for your degree choice.
Student Teaching: The final step in earning a BS in Elementary Education-and an important step in qualifying for teacher certification in most states-is to spend time in an actual classroom. Typically, your program will place you in a local elementary school classroom, where you will gradually assume complete teaching responsibility and take full control of the classroom for four weeks during a 12-week placement. Student teaching consists of supervised teaching, group and individual conferences, weekly seminars, attendance and participation in professional meetings, and involvement in other school activities. You are given the opportunity to state a preference of schools (public or private), grade and/or subjects. Student teaching is done only in state-approved public and private schools in the metropolitan area with certified teachers, in the fall term of your senior year.

Capstone Experiences

The Education Leadership Seminar focuses on topics of special importance to students finishing their Elementary Education degree and assuming leadership roles in classroom and school settings. The Education Leadership Seminar is our capstone event for the teacher education program, and is one of the requirements for graduation.

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Opportunities for Specialization and Enrichment

Global Education

The Global Option in Education and Human Ecology is an option for students in good academic standing on any Ohio State campus.

Examples of global educational experiences include:

Israel: Teaching and Learning Globally is a 10-day exploration of one of the world's most culturally rich settings: Tivon, Israel.
Scotland: First Education Experience Program is an opportunity to focus on the rural populations of Ohio and communities were Appalachian ancestors hail.
England: Imaginative Teaching and Learning teaches active and dramatic approaches to inquiry-based education at an urban elementary in Newcastle, England.

Research and Community Engagement

Students can work with the Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy, a multidisciplinary research center dedicated to conducting high-quality research that improves children’s learning and development at home, in school and in the community. Through the center, students can also work with a network of community partners to provide early childhood programming and family engagement; this includes the possibility of collaborating with the A.

Extracurricular Activities and Organizations

Getting involved in extracurricular opportunities and student organizations will better prepare you for a long range of plans in the field of education.

Kappa Delta Pi (KDP) is an international honorary for education majors. KDP was founded in 1911 and promotes excellence in and recognizes outstanding contributions to education.
Kappa Phi Kappa is a national professional co-ed fraternity in education devoted to the professional development of its members.
To supplement your coursework and practical experience, Mount Mercy offers the Student-Iowa State Education Association (S-ISEA) club.

Career Prospects

Early childhood education graduates may seek teaching positions in pre-k to 3rd grade at public and private schools.

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The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that job opportunities in the education field will grow in the years to come due to a larger number of children and adults seeking education opportunities and increased retirements. This growth is expected to be larger at the elementary (grades 1-5) and middle school (grades 6-8) levels. As a primary education major at Mount Union, you will be able to fulfill this growing need with preparation for teaching at the prekindergarten through grade three level.

Licensure and Certification

This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio.

Since the state of Ohio has high standards for teacher preparation, graduates could potentially be hired as teachers anywhere in the United States.

If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure and certification and state licensing board contact information at go.osu.edu/onground.

State-Specific Considerations

Individuals interested in licensure in states other than Minnesota may qualify by virtue of completing a state-approved educator preparation program; however, individuals must review their state’s regulations to ensure the program meets all requirements, paying particular attention to any requirements specific to out-of-state program completers. Individuals who reside in certain states may be ineligible to enroll in this program. Walden Enrollment Specialists can provide guidance on licensure questions; however, it remains the individual’s responsibility to understand and comply with all state licensure requirements.

Admission Requirements

If you choose to pursue a career as an elementary school teacher, you’ll need to apply to a college or university. Each school has different admission requirements. Walden offers a simple, streamlined process, and considers admission for all adult students who have a high school diploma or its equivalent. You can apply to Walden if you are 21 years old or older, or if you are under 21 and have completed at least 12 college-level quarter credits. Active-duty military members and veterans with documentation of service are also encouraged to apply. Additionally, Walden welcomes international students. You can review the general admission requirements for international students.

GPA Requirements

In addition to meeting all Auburn University GPA graduation requirements, candidates must also meet all ALSDE GPA requirements.

Application Process

Mount Mercy makes it easy by accepting applications year-round!

There is no fee to apply to Walden. To get started, simply create an account and provide some basic information. An Enrollment Specialist will review your application, ensure that it’s ready to be submitted to the admission team, and answer any questions you may have.

Walden accepts transfer credits from other institutions. Additionally, it recognizes that adult learners bring valuable experiences to the classroom, from on-the-job training and work experience to volunteer work and military service. Because of that, you may be able to translate your college-level knowledge into credits. Speak to an Enrollment Specialist about a free transfer-of-credit evaluation and to discuss credit for college-level knowledge. Simply call 1-866-492-5336 in the United States, or one of Walden’s international toll-free phone numbers.

Restricted Enrollment

Due to high demand, the elementary education major has a restricted enrollment. A total of 90 elementary education applicants are admitted each year with admission decisions occurring in fall and spring. Applications are considered only if students have met all criteria noted in the Admission to Teacher Education. Fall semester 30 applicants are accepted and begin a cohort sequence the following spring semester; spring semester 60 applicants are accepted and begin a cohort sequence the following fall semester. Rankings for elementary education applicants are determined by the AU Core GPA and a professional interview which includes a review of a resume, a writing sample, and an interview.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

The college awarded its top students with over $200,000 in scholarships last year based on academic achievement and potential for success in a specific education field, among other criteria. Application deadline is typically the end of November.

Examples of scholarships include:

Duane D. Awarded to a transfer student from an Iowa community college who is enrolled in a program in the College of Education and established through gifts given in memory of Dr.
Awarded to an undergraduate or graduate student in elementary education who will be student teaching during the academic year following the award. The recipient must be a resident of Iowa. It was established by W. Christine Rauscher (MA '72 / PhD '78) in honor of Dr. Dr. Bettye M. Caldwell and Dr. Fred T.
Awarded to undergraduate students interested in pursuing careers in early childhood development including the fields of education, sociology, psychology, and other related academic programs. This is a merit-based scholarship established by Dr. Bettye M. Caldwell (MA '46) and Dr. Fred T.
Awarded to a student who is a first or second semester senior in the Department of Teaching and Learning who is viewed as being creative and having outstanding potential for success in the field of K-12 education and established by Elva Davies (MA '72) in memory of her husband, Dr.
Awarded to worthy undergraduate or graduate students in education and established by the trust of Dr. Marion Anderson (BA '24/MA '26/PhD '34) in memory of her long-time friend, Dr. John H.
Awarded to a student who will be student teaching in the area of social studies education. Established in the memory of Dr.
Awarded to students who show financial need and who are enrolled in the College of Education. Established through gifts made by Margaret K. Emma E.
Awarded to an outstanding undergraduate or graduate student in any program in the College of Education. citizen with first preference for a student in the top 20 percent of his/her class with second preference for a student with demonstrated need. Established by gifts from Dr. Howard R.
Awarded to worthy undergraduate or graduate students. Established through gifts from colleagues and friends at the time of Dr. Kyle C. and Eula B.
Awarded to undergraduate and graduate students planning careers in elementary and secondary education and administration. Established through the bequest of Michael D. Jones (MD '75) in honor of his parents, Kyle C. and Eula B.
Awarded to undergraduate or graduate students in elementary or secondary education who will be student teaching for a full semester. Established by Dr. Charlotte Junge (MA '39/PhD '44) in memory of her sister, Dr. Sheila E.
Awarded to a student who will be student teaching for a full semester in the area of elementary education. Preference will be given to an Iowa resident.
Awarded to an outstanding undergraduate or graduate student of color in the College of Education who is active in working with equity issues in the College and has contributed in a positive manner to the life of the College. Margaret P.
Awarded to deserving students in the College of Education with preference given to students from St. Louis County, Minnesota; or Rock Island County, Illinois. If no candidates from the above mentioned locations qualify, then the preference will be given to a student from Iowa. Established through the estate of Margaret P. Park (BA '45) and Frank A.
Awarded to students admitted to the teacher education program at the University of Iowa that have completed at least 12 hours of education coursework.
Awarded to undergraduate or graduate students from Iowa who are enrolled in the teacher education program and established Rex B. Ann Ramsey and Richard E.
Awarded to a student who is a junior pursuing a career in teaching or education. Renewable for student’s senior year as long as student maintains the required GPA.
Awarded to an undergraduate or graduate student who is pursuing a degree in teacher education. When possible, preference should be given to students with severe visual impairments. Established by James H. Margaret A.
Awarded to undergraduate or graduate students in the College of Education. Preference to be given to Iowa students enrolled in elementary education from Iowa in elementary education. Established by Margaret A.
Awarded to an outstanding student in the area of elementary social studies. Established through gifts in memory of Dr.
Awarded to an undergraduate or graduate teacher education student. Edgar M.
Awarded to undergraduate and/or graduate students in the field of elementary education.
Awarded to students doing their student teaching experience.
Awarded to an international student in the College of Education.
Awarded to undergraduate or graduate teacher education students who show financial need and established by Murl J. Grandia in memory of his sister, Thelma R.
Awarded to an undergraduate or graduate student majoring in Art Education. Established by Rose E.
Awarded to undergraduate students who are doing their student teaching in a foreign country and established by Linda R.
Awarded to graduate students in science education and established by Dr.

Online Education

Earning an education degree takes time and commitment-a reality that can make completing a bachelor’s in elementary education challenging if you work full time or have family responsibilities. But, thanks to online learning, earning a bachelor’s degree is possible for busy adults like you.

When you choose to earn a BS in Elementary Education online, you’ll be able to complete the majority of your coursework from home or anywhere else you have internet access. Plus, online bachelor’s programs give you the flexibility to attend class at whatever time of day works best for your life.

For your demonstration teaching experience, online education institutions like Walden University can help you find placement at an elementary school in your community. Such conveniences are why so many working adults are turning to online teaching degree programs. They’re a great way to gain the knowledge you need to become a certified teacher.

Accreditation

Walden University’s Richard W. Riley College of Education and Human Sciences is accredited based on the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) Standards through June 2026. This accreditation covers specific Walden initial teacher and advanced educator preparation programs, including the BS in Elementary Education, Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) - Special Education specialization, MS in Education - Educational Leadership and Administration specialization, and EdS in Educational Leadership and Administration. The MAT-SPED, MSED-ELA, and EdS-ELA programs were reviewed by Specialized Professional Associations (SPAs), which define content-area standards for programs, and achieved national recognition.

CAEP promotes excellence in educator preparation through quality assurance and continuous improvement. Walden’s College of Education and Leadership has earned national accreditation by demonstrating excellence in the areas of content and pedagogy, clinical experiences, selectivity, program impact, and capacity for continuous improvement. CAEP is a Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) - recognized national accreditor for educator preparation.

Walden is approved by the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) to offer a program leading to a Minnesota Tier 3 license in Elementary Education. Candidates seeking licensure in Minnesota are responsible for completing all Minnesota requirements beyond Walden’s state-approved program, including passing the Minnesota Teacher Licensure Exams. The Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) is solely responsible for reviewing applications and issuing licenses.

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