Elementary Education, B.S.E.

The elementary education curriculum includes a solid core of general education and content courses designed to provide a broad background for prospective teachers by developing knowledge, skills and attitudes, that lead to effective teaching. Many courses in the major require participation in field experiences prior to yearlong residency / student teaching.

System-wide General Education Requirement (30 Credits)

Majors must take MATH 102 or a course requiring MATH 102 as a prerequisite; POLS 100 or GEOG 200 ; and HIST 151 or HIST 152 or HIST 256 as part of the System-wide General Education Requirement.

Institutional Graduation Requirement (11 Credits)

Majors must take EPSY 210 as part of the Institutional Graduation Requirement.

Note

Students must complete 30 hours of system-wide general education courses in their first 64 credit hours.

¹ No grade less than a “C”; must be completed prior to admission to Teacher Education.

²Requires field experience.

Professional Education Courses (79 Credits)

CIS 350 - Computer Hardware, Data Communications and Networking 3 credits
EDFN 295 - Practicum: Pre-Admission 1 credit
EDFN 338 - Foundations of American Education 1-2 credits (2 credits required)^{1, 2}
EDFN 365 - Computer-Based Technology & Learning 2-3 credits (3 credits required) ²
EDFN 475 - Human Relations 3 credits
ELED 303 - Earth and Physical Science for Elementary Teachers 3-4 credits (4 credits required)
EPSY 302 - Educational Psychology 2-3 credits (3 credits required)^{1, 2}
LIBM 205 - Children’s Literature 2 credits
MATH 341 - Math Concepts for Teachers I 3 credits
MATH 342 - Math Concepts for Teachers II 3 credits
SPED 100 - Introduction to Persons with Exceptionalities 2-3 credits (3 credits required) ^{1, 2}
Note: Admission to the Teacher Education Program is required for the remaining courses.
EDER 415 - Educational Assessment 2 credits
EDFN 401 - Methods of Educational Technology 1 credit
EDFN 440 - Classroom Management 1-3 credits (2 credits required)
EDFN 465 - Multimedia Web Development in Education 2-3 credits (2 credits required)
ELED 310 - K-8 Methods of Music, Art and Drama 2 credits
ELED 320 - K-8 Science Methods 2-3 credits (3 credits required) ²
ELED 330 - K-8 Math Methods 2-3 credits (3 credits required) ²
ELED 360 - K-8 Social Science Methods 2 credits ²
ELED 440 - K-8 Language Arts Methods 2-3 credits (2 credits required) ²
ELED 450 - K-8 Reading Methods 2-3 credits (3 credits required) ²
ELED 454 - Literacy: Data Based Reflective Teaching 2-3 credits (2 credits required) ²
ELED 459 - Introduction to Literacy Assessment and Remediation 1-3 credits (3 credits required)
ELED 462 - Teaching English: New Language 2 credits
ELED 488 - K-8 Student Teaching 2-16 credits (8 credits required)
GEOG 312 - Geography for Elementary Teachers 1-3 credits (2 credits required)
HLTH 420 - K-12 Methods of Health Instruction 1-3 credits (1 credit required)
INED 211 - South Dakota American Indian Culture and Education 3 credits
MLED 300 - Survey of Middle Level Education 1 credit
PE 360 - K-8 Physical Education Methods 1-2 credits (1 credit required) ^₂
SPED 441 - Inclusive Methods for Diverse Learners 1-2 credits (2 credits required)
SPED 460 - Family Systems and Professional Collaboration 2-3 credits (2 credits required)

Yearlong Residency / Student Teaching

Teacher candidates complete a yearlong residency / student teaching capstone experience during the final two semesters prior to graduation. Placements are made in districts with which the College of Education has a formal partnership and whose personnel are trained in the co-teaching model. Out-of-area placements are not granted for the yearlong residency / student teaching experience. Requirements for licensure vary from one state to another. If you are interested in professional licensure, please check with the appropriate licensing body in the state where you intend to practice. The US Department of Education link will help you learn more about certification in your state.