PreK - 6

PreK-6 initial license, ELED MAT

The elementary program draws heavily from research and theories in child development and teaching and learning. Through course work and extensive field experiences, the pre-service teacher is prepared to design activities which have an interdisciplinary focus, reflect an understanding of child development and learning, and support the young child in constructing knowledge about self and the world.

The IDLS major is designed to provide the prospective teacher with the content background necessary to understand the discipline and know how to access resources. The major has a core of courses across the four main content areas (language arts, math, science, and social sciences) and an upper level content concentration in either math, science and technology or humanities and social sciences.

Professional studies courses are sequentially organized over three semesters of undergraduate coursework and three semesters of graduate coursework. Candidates will develop an understanding of how children learn and interact in classroom settings as well as a familiarity with methods and material appropriate for teaching all subject areas. Field experiences accompany coursework and enable candidates to apply this knowledge through participation in a variety of classroom settings. Candidates will earn a BS degree in IDLS at the end of their undergraduate coursework and a MAT degree with completion of graduate coursework.

Course Sequence

    Undergraduate

  • 2nd year
    • EDUC 360 *
  • 3rd year Either fall or spring semester, the other semester will be for IDLS courses (15 hrs.)
    • ELED 308 Child Development
    • ELED/ECED 372 Introduction to ECED
    • ELED 310 Diversity with service learning practicum
    • ELED 311 Practicum: Focus on Learners and Learning
    • READ 366 Early Literacy Development and Acquisition
  • 4th year - Either fall or spring semester, the other semester will be for IDLS courses and electives (15 hrs)
    • ELED 432 Children and Science
    • ELED 433 Children and Math I: Numbers, Operations, Algebraic and Geometric Reasoning
    • ELED 411 Practicum and Seminar: Focus on Curriculum and Guiding Behavior
    • ELED 434 Children and Social Studies
    • READ 436 Literacy Learning in the Elementary Grades

    *Plan your IDLS courses so that you do not have to take more than 2-3 upper level courses in any semester. Humanities and Social Science concentrators will take IDLS 400 in senior year and all core courses should be complete before enrolling.

    Graduate

    Option A Option B

    Summer

    ELED 632 Inquiry in ELED
    ELED 501/601 or approved elective

    Summer

    ELED 533
    ELED 570 Learning and Teaching in Elementary School

    Fall

    ELED 570 Learning and Teaching in Elementary School
    READ 590 Reading Across the Curriculum
    ELED 510 Creativity in Arts
    ELED 533 Children and Math II: Data, Chance and Space
    ELED 621 Practicum and Seminar: Focus on Inquiry (2)
    ELED 622 Inquiry Project (1)

    Fall

    ELED 641 Families, Schools and Communities (2)
    ELED 690 Internship in Teaching (8) – 16 weeks

    Spring

    ELED 641 Families, Schools and Communities (2)
    ELED 690 Internship in Teaching (8) – 16 weeks

    Spring

    ELED 501/601 or approved elective
    READ 590 Reading Across the Curriculum
    ELED 510 Creativity in Arts
    ELED 621 Practicum and Seminar: Focus on Inquiry
    ELED 632 Inquiry in ELED

    All courses are 3 hrs unless noted. For course descriptions please refer to the JMU Course Catalog

    Updated 4/16/2008