Elementary Education, Major and Professional Educator License (PEL)
College: School of Education
Department: Education
Student Type: Traditional Undergraduate
Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Campus: Lisle Campus
Requirements for the Major and Teacher Licensure in Elementary Education
The following requirements for the degree and Professional Educator License (PEL) in Elementary Education are for candidates who have been admitted to the Teacher Education Program (TEP) and who are completing their program after September 1, 2017, as set forth in 23 Ill. Adm. Code 20 (Standards for Endorsement in Elementary Education). Completers of this program will receive the Self-Contained General Education endorsement on the PEL for grades 1-6.
Students majoring in Elementary Education must complete the following requirements. These align with, but are not totally inclusive of, all of the University Basic Skills and Distribution Requirements for an undergraduate degree at Benedictine University.
- The Basic Skills core with at least a “C” in each course. This core includes WRIT 1101 Writing Colloquium, WRIT 1102 Research Writing, COMM 1110 Speech Communication and MATH 1110 College Algebra.
- The Arts and Humanities require 15 semester credit hours, as per University distribution requirements.
- The Natural Sciences requires 9 semester credit hours as per University distribution requirements. One Life-Scientific (QLS) or Physical-Scientific (QPS) course must include a lab.
- The Social Sciences I and II requires 6 semester credit hours as per University distribution requirements.
The cognate requirements for the major in the Elementary Education program for degree and license requirements are:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 1110 | College Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 1112 | Mathematics for Elementary Teachers I | 3 |
| MATH 1150 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| MATH 2222 | Mathematics for Elementary Teachers II | 3 |
| HIST 1111 | American History to 1865 | 3 |
| or HIST 1112 | American History since 1865 | |
| INTB 1101 | The Global Economy | 3 |
| MUSI 1107 | Music Appreciation for Educators | 3 |
| PHYS 1107 | Earth and Space Science | 4 |
| PLSC 1102 | American Government | 3 |
| Total Hours | 28 | |
The professional education requirements for the Elementary Education program for degree and license requirements are:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 2200 | Preclinical Experience Level 1 with Seminar | 1 |
| EDUC 2205 | Educational Foundations | 3 |
| EDUC 2207 | Introduction to Education Seminar | 1 |
| EDUC 3209 | Language Arts in the Elementary School | 3 |
| EDUC 2210 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| EDUC 2215 | Technology for Teachers | 3 |
| EDUC 3234 | Preclinical Experience Level 2 with Seminar | 1 |
| EDUC 4236 | Preclinical Experience Level 3 with Seminar | 1 |
| EDUC 3240 | Teaching Reading/Writing in the Elementary School | 3 |
| EDUC 2260 | Educating Students with Exceptionalities | 3 |
| EDUC 4308 | Creating An Inclusive Learning Environment | 3 |
| EDUC 3310 | Assessment in Action | 3 |
| EDUC 3312 | Methods of Teaching Social Studies - Elementary | 3 |
| EDUC 3315 | Methods of Teaching Mathematics - Elementary | 3 |
| EDUC 3318 | Methods of Teaching Science - Elementary | 3 |
| EDUC 4320 | Reading/Writing Diagnostics for All Learners | 3 |
| EDUC 4355 | Managing the Learning Environment | 3 |
| EDUC 4370 | Student Teaching | 12 |
| EDUC 2100 | Physical Development and Health for Educators | 2 |
| Total Hours | 57 | |
Included in these requirements are three preclinical experiences (EDUC 2200 Preclinical Experience Level 1 with Seminar, EDUC 3234 Preclinical Experience Level 2 with Seminar and EDUC 4236 Preclinical Experience Level 3 with Seminar) and student teaching (EDUC 4370 Student Teaching).
All coursework for licensure must be completed with grades of “C” or better. Grades of C minus (C-) are considered to be below a “C”. “C-“ grades for equivalent courses received from another institution will need to be retaken at Benedictine and passed with a grade of “C” or better.
Students must successfully complete the education Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) as part of EDUC 4370 Student Teaching for degree and license completion. Students must also pass the Test of Academic Proficiency/ACT/SAT and content area test to complete their degree with license. If a student has not completed all license requirements at the time the degree is awarded, the transcript will show that the degree/program was completed “Without License.”
Completion of the Elementary Education major with licensure test requirements entitles the candidate to the Professional Educator License (PEL) with the endorsement for Elementary Education/Self Contained General Education for grades 1-6.
Most requirements on this list are mandated by the Illinois State Board of Education. Changes in the state licensure requirements must be met at the time they go into effect. This could change program requirements, requiring different/added courses than those listed. See your education advisor with questions.
Students in the Education programs will achieve the following student learning outcomes (SLO):
Student Learning Outcome 1: Teacher candidates in the Education Program will have pass student teaching.
• University SLO: 1; Disciplinary Competence and Skills
Student Learning Outcome 2: Teacher Candidates will pass the content area test in their major
• University SLO: 9; Personal Development
Student Learning Outcome 3: Teacher Candidates will successfully pass edTPA
• University SLO: 2; Critical and Creative Thinking Skills