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Elementary Education Degree Program

Embrace your desire to teach, support, and inspire in the Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (B.S.Ed.) degree program from Western Illinois University (WIU). Pursue specialized credentials in one of four tracks: early childhood education, elementary education, English as a second language, or multilingual education.

Studying on our Macomb or Quad Cities campuses, gain everything you need to become eligible for professional teacher licensure: broad knowledge of literacy, science, math, and social studies, along with research-based principles and practices for the classroom—both through coursework and in-person teaching experiences.

At WIU, we train confident, compassionate, effective teachers. The elementary education major prepares you for Illinois Professional Educator licensure—which is highly transferable to other states—as a teacher of grades 1–6.

Why Major in Elementary Education at WIU?

Western’s elementary education program equips you to become an elementary school teacher with the support of expert faculty, practical fieldwork, one-of-a-kind research experiences, and more. Here, you will:

  • Apply knowledge gained in the classroom during multiple field experiences throughout your elementary education degree program
  • Make use of Western’s 12,000-unit Children's Literature Examination Center, 18,000-unit Curriculum Library, state-of-the-art Interactive Multimedia Lab, and WIU Infant/Preschool Center licensed daycare and lab training site
  • Learn from faculty who are experienced public school teachers and hold advanced education degrees
  • Prepare for licensure in a program approved by the Illinois State Board of Education and accredited through the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)

  • Program Curriculum

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    The bachelor’s degree in elementary education delivers a deep understanding of lifespan development, diverse teaching methods, designing and managing learning environments, and integrating technology in the classroom—the fundamentals necessary to identify, appreciate, and respond to the needs of every class you teach.

    Develop a broad knowledge base through courses in literacy, children’s literature, social studies, science, and mathematics. As you advance through your studies, you also increase your classroom contact time from a few hours of fieldwork in your first semester to 12 weeks of student teaching in your final year.

    These escalating field experiences are essential for obtaining a professional teaching license and launching your career with both confidence and competence.

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  • Prepare to Be Classroom Competent

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    WIU’s elementary education degree program equips future teachers to:

    • Cultivate best practices for teaching science, social studies, math, and reading/language arts
    • Assess and document student learning in a variety of ways
    • Accommodate the needs of diverse groups of students
    • Foster collaboration between parents, fellow teachers, and community resources
    • Use technology to create meaningful learning experiences
    • Create effective learning environments
    • Motivate students to become lifelong learners
    • Reflect on practice, explore future potential, and engage in continuing professional development

  • How to Become an Elementary School Teacher

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    The bachelor’s degree in elementary education empowers you with the knowledge, skills, and field experience necessary to apply for an Illinois Professional Educator License, which makes you eligible to work in any private or public elementary school in Illinois. And since most states hold reciprocal license agreements with Illinois, this credential grants you the flexibility to teach in other parts of the country.

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  • Four Elementary Education Program Options

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    Choose one of our four program options to gain knowledge and experience relevant to your specific passions and goals. Each pathway offers deep, tailored insights into the students, subjects, and classrooms that await you.

    • Early Childhood Education, licensure (birth-grade 2) or non-licensure (ECH Gateway Credential)
    • Elementary Education, licensure (grades 1-6)
    • English as a Second Language, licensure (grades 1-6 and ESL endorsement)
    • Multilingual Education, licensure (grades 1–6, ESL and bilingual endorsement)
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  • Student Teaching

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    Throughout the elementary education major, immerse yourself in elementary classrooms as an observer, participant, collaborator, and teacher. These vital experiences equip you to develop your pedagogical approach, practice classroom management, prepare lessons, manage student behavior, and experiment with varied teaching strategies.

    In the first semester of your senior year, conduct fieldwork as an elementary classroom assistant over a 12-week (half days) period. Along with supporting the teacher and working with individuals or small groups of children, you will teach at least 30 lessons in mathematics, science, reading, language arts, and social studies. Join a classroom in one of four regions:

    • REGION A Chicago Suburbs (North, West, South)
    • REGION B Chicago Public Schools (City of Chicago)
    • REGION C Quad Cities (including Bettendorf/Davenport, IA)
    • REGION D Western/Central Illinois (Quincy, Peoria, Macomb)
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Educational Research Centers

Western is home to several state-of-the-art educational research centers. These facilities offer an exciting blend of leading-edge research, training and workshops with world-class facilitators, and practical experience working with children.

Engage in research, training, networking, and fieldwork through the Center for Best Practices in Early Childhood Education, our hub for developing family-centered approaches to improve young children’s learning opportunities.

In the Center for Social Studies Education, dive into our collection of resources for teaching American history, geography, economic concepts, and global issues.

The Children’s Literature Examination Center (CLEC) hosts a wide-ranging collection of children’s books, including everything from picture books to young adult novels, folklore to biographies, graphic novels to bilingual publications, and more.

Local families enroll their children in the WIU Infant and Preschool Center, where early childhood education students complete observations and student teaching experiences.

WIU’s Reading Center provides reading-related services, including tutoring, assessment, and America Reads to students and other young people from around West Central Illinois.

Explore science methods, innovative approaches to professional development, and ever-evolving technologies in the Science Education Center.

WIU Student Life Opportunities

Elementary school teachers play a vital role in the lives of hundreds—even thousands—of young people. These careers are fulfilling, rewarding, and inspiring, shaping the minds and hearts of a future generation. In turn, teaching is a profession with long-term stability, given consistent demand and a median salary of $63,680 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Graduate eligible for an Illinois Professional Educator License, which allows you to work in both public and private schools in Illinois and in many other states. The elementary education degree qualifies you to teach self-contained classrooms of students in grades 1-6, along with specialized classes and student populations, depending on your additional endorsements.

A bachelor’s degree in elementary education also positions you for further study and specialization for leading classrooms and supporting schools. Western offers more than 15 endorsement, licensure, and graduate degree and certificate programs, including master’s opportunities in educational leadership, curriculum and instruction, reading, and special education.

Admissions

Ready to become a Leatherneck? Western is a test optional institution, meaning we don’t require SAT/ACT scores. Review our undergraduate admissions standards for more information about applying to WIU.

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Tuition and Financial Aid

Start creating an all-around plan for your educational and financial future with the help of our financial tools like the Net Price Calculator and by exploring Western’s abundant scholarship opportunities.

Scholarships

Eligible students have all tuition costs and mandatory fees covered through The Western Way, our unique scholarship program that ensures as many people as possible can access a Western education. The teacher education program offers dozens more scholarships, including five opportunities specifically for incoming elementary education majors.

Shape the Next Generation of Learners with WIU’s Elementary Education Major

Find your stride in every part of the classroom—as a student, observer, assistant, and teacher—in the Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education degree program at Western. Earn essential experience and skills for teacher certification that can serve you throughout the country and your career.

Get started: apply today!