COURSE CURRICULUM

The Elementary Education program at Concordia University Chicago is structured to meet the 120-credit-hour minimum by integrating general education courses with the Elementary Education major curriculum. Students begin with foundational courses that cover human and cognitive development, media and technology in the classroom, introduction to American education, teaching in diverse classrooms, and characteristics and instruction of exceptional learners, totaling 15 hours. General education content courses include speech communication, world geography, and U.S. history, while courses like literature for children and adolescents may satisfy both general education and major requirements. Elementary Education courses provide essential prerequisites for professional education coursework, including literacy foundations and mathematics for teachers. Once admitted to teacher candidacy, students enroll in professional education courses totaling 27 hours, focused on developing professional teaching skills. These include the Elementary Methods Blocks I and II, where students take courses in elementary literacy, art, music, social sciences, mathematics, physical education and health, science, classroom management, and assessment, all designed to be taken together within the same semester to ensure a cohesive learning experience. This carefully sequenced program equips students with pedagogical knowledge, instructional strategies, and professional skills necessary to teach a broad age range, preparing them for licensure and successful careers in elementary education while ensuring alignment with state and national teaching standards.