Program: Elementary Education, BS - University of Montana Western

Apr 07, 2025

2021-2022 Catalog

The BS: Elementary Education program prepares teachers for positions in grades K-8 in rural, urban, and global classrooms. Through coursework and extensive field experiences in a variety of settings, teacher candidates are able to integrate content knowledge, curriculum, and pedagogy, with emphasis on classroom management and leadership, into effective research-based instructional practices. The Elementary Education program emphasizes integrated experiential learning.

Students majoring in Elementary Education may add any approved minor.

In addition, students pursuing the BS: Elementary Education may select an Option Area to further enhance their background and potentially improve their employability. Option Areas are available in Coaching Minor Special Education Concentration , and Instructional Technology Middle School Option , Mathematics Middle School Option ,Earth Science Middle School Option , Life Science Middle School Option Physical Science Middle School Option , and Social Studies Middle School Option . Although these Options are not licensure endorsements, they show evidence of additional study in these areas.

Additional Requirements for the Degree:

A grade of C- or higher is required in all General Education courses and all other degree requirements for non-Professional Education courses.
A grade of B- or higher is required in all required Professional Education courses.
Candidates must maintain at least a 2.70 GPA overall, and a 2.70 GPA for all content courses
The TEP Handbook also provides additional requirement information

Credit Requirements

General Education: 32 Credits

Grade of C- or higher is required in all courses

Written and Oral Communication

WRIT 101 - College Writing I 4 Credit(s)

Mathematics

Any 100 level or higher M or STAT course 4 Credit(s)

History

Any 100 or 200 level HSTA 4 Credit(s)

Select two of the following for Natural Sciences:

If BIOB 101 or GEO 101 is not completed in the General Education section, it must be completed in the Professional Content Section.

Any 100 level GEO course 4 Credit(s)
BIOB 101 - Discover Biology 4 Credit(s)
or one of the following courses
CHMY 121 - Introduction to General Chemistry 4 Credit(s)
PHSX 103 - Our Physical World 4 Credit(s)

Professional Content Major Requirements: 10-12 Credits

Grade of C- or higher is required in all courses

HEE 340 - Methods of Health Education 4 Credit(s)

Select 2-4 credits from the following:

Cannot be a course chosen for General Education

ARTH 160 - Global Visual Culture 4 Credit(s)
ARTZ 105 - Visual Language—Drawing 4 Credit(s)
ARTZ 106 - Visual Language—2-D Foundations 4 Credit(s)
DANC 285 - Dance & Rhythm Methods & Techniques I 1 Credit(s)
DANC 286 - Dance & Rhythm Methods & Techniques II 1 Credit(s)
MUSI 103 - Fundamentals of Musical Creation 4 Credit(s)
THTR 101 - Introduction to Theatre 4 Credit(s)

Select 4 credits from the following Natural Sciences

Cannot be a course chosen for General Education. If BIOB 101 or any 100 level of GEO was not completed in the General Education section, it must be completed as the Professional Content selection.

Any 100 level GEO 4 Credit(s)
BIOB 101 - Discover Biology 4 Credit(s)
or one of the following
CHMY 121 - Introduction to General Chemistry 4 Credit(s)
PHSX 103 - Our Physical World 4 Credit(s)

Professional Education: 85 Credits

Grade of B- or higher is required in all courses

Freshmen Year Professional Education Courses: 16 Credits

EDU 201 - Introduction to Education With Field Experience 4 Credit(s)
EDU 222 - Educational Psychology & Child Development 4 Credit(s)
EDU 233 - Literacy, Language, & Texts 4 Credit(s)
EDU 234 - Reading & Writing Connections for All Learners K-8 4 Credit(s)

Sophomore Year Professional Education Courses: 16 Credits

EDU 334 - Children’s & Young Adult Literature 4 Credit(s)
EDU 382 - Assessment, Curriculum, & Instruction 4 Credit(s)
HEE 302 - Methods of Instructional Strategies in Elementary Physical Education 4 Credit(s)
EDU 370 - Integrating Technology Into Education 4 Credit(s)

Junior Year Semester A Professional Education Courses: 17 Credits

ECP 100 - First Aid & CPR 1 Credit(s)
EDU 385 - Mathematics for K -8 Schools With Pedagogy I 4 Credit(s)
EDU 386 - Mathematics for K -8 Schools With Pedagogy II 4 Credit(s)
EDU 397L - Methods: K -8 Language Arts & Social Studies for All Learners 4 Credit(s)
EDU 415 - Differentiation and Data-Driven Pedagogy, K-8 4 Credit(s)

Junior Year Semester B Professional Sequence Part 1 Courses: 12 Credits

EDU 397A - Methods: K -8 Integrated Arts for All Learners 4 Credit(s)
EDU 397S - Methods: K -8 Science & Mathematics Inquiry for All Learners 4 Credit(s)
EDU 438 - Literacy Assessment, Diagnosis, & Instruction 4 Credit(s)

Senior Year Semester A Professional Sequence Part 2 Courses: 12 credits

EDU 311 - Cultures, Diversity, & Ethics in Global Education 4 Credit(s)
EDU 344 - Classroom Management in Elementary Schools 4 Credit(s)
EDU 352 - Field Experience in Integrated Planning, Instruction, and Positive Classroom Management, P-12 4 Credit(s)

Senior Year Semester B Student Teaching: 12 credits

EDU 495K - Student Teaching: K - 8 2-15 Credit(s) (10 Credits Required)
EDU 494 - Teacher Work Sample 2 Credit(s)

Electives: 0-1 Credits

Any college-level credits to bring degree total to 128 credits

BS: Elementary Education Total Credits: 128

Additional Program Information

Minors and Options

Many Elementary Education graduates teach in upper elementary (grades 4-8) or middle school (grades 7-8). Option Areas provide candidates with a greater depth of knowledge than can be attained within a broadfield Elementary Education Major alone. To increase their hiring options, the Education Department strongly recommends that all Elementary Education majors complete either an additional Major or a Minor which leads to licensure in Montana, the Early Childhood Education Minor, or one of the Middle School Option Areas listed below. These Option Areas do not lead to licensure, and must be taken in conjunction with the Elementary Education Major.

Elementary Education, BS