This program is designed for individuals who possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university (in a field other than education) who desire to prepare for a career in teaching at the elementary (K-8) level.  The curriculum is designed to prepare candidates for Illinois state certification.

• Tuition for 2008-2009 is $350.00 per credit hour.
• Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.
• Accredited by the Illinois State Board of Education
• 44 semester hour program (includes student teaching).
• Twelve courses plus student teaching. 
• Open enrollment format.
• Attend one class at a time, one night a week (6-10 PM).  Day hours required for field experiences and student teaching. 
• Transfer up to 6 credit hours of comparable undergraduate or graduate course work.
• Five locations –  Belleville, Greenville College, Lewis & Clark Community College, Lincoln Christian College, and Kaskaskia Community College

 
EDU - 501 Issues in Education - 2 credits
Introduces graduate students to issues of professionalism including the agencies and entities that impact education. Reviews school law that relates to the practice of teaching.

EDU 539 - Adolescent Growth and Development - 3 credits
Explores human growth of typical and exceptional youth from the on-set of puberty through late adolescence.

EDU 540 - Students with Exceptionalities - 3 credits
Examines the process of identifying children whose intellectual, physical or emotional development deviates from normalcy in order to create strategies to accommodate them.  Introduces the legal, historical, and social foundations of special education.

EDU 516 - Teaching Reading and Writing - 3 credits
Addresses the processes of reading and writing development, emphasizing methods and materials for teaching literacy skills in elementary and middle schools.

EDU 542 - Diversity and Schools - 3 credits
Provides an introduction to the history, politics, issues, and approaches to educating a culturally and linguistically diverse student population.

EDU 544 - Technology and Teaching - 3 credits
Investigates the impact technology has on teaching and learning. Students design and implement technology based curriculum for use in the classroom.

EDU 548 - Behavioral Management - 3 credits
Examines the application of learning theory to the management of both exceptional and typical school populations.

EDU 520 - Corrective Reading and Writing - 3 credits
Explores strategies for meeting the needs of individual students through the use of commercial reading materials and development of teacher-prepared materials.

EDU 522 - Teaching Fine Arts - 2 credits
Provides students exposure to the techniques for teaching art and music to elementary students.

EDU 524 - Teaching Social Studies - 3 credits
Provides students the opportunity to develop teaching methods and strategies to integrate social studies with other content areas.

EDU 555 - Teaching Mathematics – Elementary and Middle School - 3 Credits
This course examines effective strategies for teaching mathematics to elementary and middle school students.  The focus will include: math instruction, inquiry-oriented, problem solving classroom environment, lesson planning, and assessment.  The course will seek to provide pre-service teachers with instructional tools to help children learn mathematics.

EDU 557 - Teaching Science – Elementary and Middle School - 3 Credits
This course examines effective strategies for teaching science to elementary and middle school students.  The students will be exploring the nature of inquiry and strategies for promoting, supporting, and assessing students’ scientific inquiry. The course will seek to provide pre-service teachers with instructional tools to help children learn science.

EDU 546 - Student Teaching - 10 credits
Offers students the opportunity to participate full-time in a supervised teaching assignment in an appropriate school environment. (Requires 14 weeks of clinical practice)