The elementary education program enables qualified students to obtain an Illinois State certification to teach kindergarten through ninth grade. Classes, with the exception of student teaching obligations, are held in the evening so program participants may continue to work and attend school at the same time. There also is an intense day time clinical element to this program-- all students devote themselves to at least 100 hours of experience in area schools beyond their student teaching requirements.
Why is DePaul’s program special?
We view the process of becoming a teacher as a career long endeavor that begins with solid foundations and is sustained through strong learning communities developed in our program.
Our program features:
- A shared conceptual framework that focuses on issues of diversity, personalism, critical engagement, and action such that educators can address the needs of all students.
- Clinical experiences throughout the program so that program participants are well acquainted with life in multiple school and classroom settings prior to student teaching.
- Evening courses (with the exception of student teaching and day-time field experiences).
- Faculty with classroom experience and regular, on-going relationships with schools.
The Partnership School Cohort program provides individuals who are interested in the master's degree in the Teaching and Learning elementary education program with the opportunity to be apart of a collaborative learning community dedicated to quality education. The cohort features courses sequenced as a group at the Lincoln Park Campus with prearranged field experiences and guaranteed student teacher placement.
Degree Requirements
Masters of Education-M.Ed.
Requires 12 courses plus student teaching (56 quarter hours)
Masters of Arts-M.A.
Requires 13 courses(including a thesis) plus student teaching (60 quarter hours)
Printable PDF of program requirements
Content Area Prerequisites
Elementary Education teachers need to have an understanding of the subjects taught in classrooms at the Elementary level. DePaul’s program requires that students in the Elementary program have a minimum of one course in each of the following areas:
-
writing
-
fine arts or literature
-
mathematics
-
science
-
social science
-
US history or American government
These courses may be taken at the undergraduate level and may have been included in the student’s bachelor’s degree program. Elementary Education students will be evaluated by an academic advisor after admission to determine if additional coursework is needed. Completion of content area requirements are not prerequisites for admission, however coursework must be completed before student teaching. It is strongly encouraged that applicants meet with an advisor after admission and prior to taking content courses.
Advanced Standing
Students are admitted to DePaul’s School of Education as pre-teacher candidates. After a minimum of 8 hours of coursework, students must petition to become an advanced teacher candidate, at which time the School of Education reviews the student’s file to determine if he or she has met the criteria for continuing in the program. The criteria for advanced standing include passing the Illinois Test of Basic Skills, having a minimum GPA of 3.0, and passing the Basic Technology Assessment (EDU 025).
Field Experience
The State of Illinois requires extensive and intensive field experiences during the school day, working with both students and teachers. Field experiences, which are assigned by faculty in program courses, offer a gradual introduction to the full range of experiences associated with teaching. Level I experience provides students an opportunity to observe a classroom and engage with small groups of students. Level II experience allows students to teach short lessons to small groups or an entire classroom.
For more detailed information about field experiences Click Here.
Student Teaching
Student teaching is the culminating experience of the program that places students in a classroom full time for at least 10 weeks. Students become progressively more responsible for curriculum development and classroom instruction with the end goal being complete control during the last half of the overall experience. An on-campus seiminar accompanies student teaching.
For more information on student teaching Click Here .
Admission requirements
| |