Elementary Education

University Integrative Studies and Writing Requirements

All undergraduate students at Michigan State University must complete University Integrative Studies and Writing requirements. Course selections are tailored to various majors.

Integrative Studies Requirement

To satisfy the University’s requirement for 24 credits of Integrative Studies, elementary education students must complete:

1. 8 credits in Integrative Studies in Arts and Humanities
   • IAH A Course (IAH 201-209—4 credits
   • IAH B Course (IAH 211-241)—4 credits
   • Note: See the Elementary Planned Program for courses from this list that can be used to meet the “Arts” requirement
2. 8 credits in Integrative Studies in Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences
   • 200-level ISS course (4 credits)
   • 300-level ISS course (4 credits)
   • Note: a 200-level ISS course is a prerequisite for the 300-level ISS course
3. 8 credits in Integrative Studies in General Science
   • ISB course (3 credits)
     • Prerequisite or co-requisite: MTH 103
     • Integrated Science majors may substitute BS 111
   • ISP course (3 credits)
     • Prerequisite: MTH 103 or higher
     • Integrated Science majors may substitute CEM 141
   • Lab course taken concurrently with ISB or ISP course (2 credits)
     • Integrated Science majors may substitute BS 111L or CEM 161
4. At least two Integrative Studies courses that emphasize diversity
   • one course designated “I” and one designated “N”, or
   • one course designated “I” or “N” and one designated “D”
5. “I” – emphasizes international and multicultural diversity
6. “N” – emphasizes national diversity
7. “D” – emphasizes both of above

Writing Requirement

To fulfill the University’s writing requirement a student must:

1. Complete a 4-credit Tier I  writing course from the Department of Writing, Rhetoric & American Cultures (WRA) formerly called ATL
2. Complete the Tier II writing course approved for education and special education majors (TE 301)

Planned Program for Elementary Education: 20-25 credits

All courses listed in the Planned Program are required unless otherwise stated. The Planned Program must total at least 20 credits that are not double-counted with the teaching major.

GPA Requirement: A minimum grade of 2.0 is required for all courses in the Planned Program.

Planned program courses that serve as prerequisites for TE 400-level courses: 

• Grades of 2.0 or better in TE 301 and ISE 301 are prerequisites for TE 403 (offered fall semester).
• A grade of 2.0 or better in TE 301 is a prerequisite for TE 404 (offered fall semester).
• Grades of 2.0 or better in TE 403, TE 404, and TE 348 are prerequisites for TE 405 (offered spring semester).
• Grades of 2.0 or better in TE 403, TE 404, MTH 201 and MTH 202 are prerequisites for TE 406 (offered spring semester).

Planned Program Courses

• Both of the following mathematics courses (6 credits counted on the Planned Program): MTH 201 Elementary Mathematics for Teachers I 3 credits MTH 202 Elementary Mathematics for Teachers II 3 credits
• The following course on children’s literature: TE 348 Reading and Responding to Children’s Literature 3 credits
• One of the following courses on language acquisition and development:
  ENG 302 Introduction to English Language 3-4 credits CSD 333 Oral Language Development 3-4 credits LIN 200 Introduction to Language 3-4 credits LIN 401 Introduction to Linguistics 3-4 credits
• The following course on science in elementary schools:ISE 301 Science for Elementary Schools  3 credits
• One of the following U.S. History courses:HST 202 US History to 1876 4 credits
• The following geography course: GEO204 World Regional Geography 3 credits
• One of the following arts courses: IAH 208 Music and Culture 4 credits IAH 209 Art, Visual and Culture 4 credits IAH 241A Music and Society in Modern World 4 credits IAH 241C Cultural Traditions of Europe 4 credits IAH 241D Theater and Society in the West 4 credits IAH 241E The Creative Process 4 credits IAH 241F Traditions in World Art   4 credits
• One of the following creative arts courses: MUS 463 Methods and Materials of Elementary Music 3 credits THR 421 Creative Dramatics 3 credits THR 422 Children’s Theatre 3 credits TE 430 Introduction to Arts in the Classroom 3 credits TE 431 Learning Through Drama 3 credits TE 432 Learning Through Movement 3 credits
• The following Kinesiology course:KIN 355 Physical Activity and Health Education for Elementary Teachers 3 credits

Elementary Certification Teaching Majors

In Michigan, elementary teachers are qualified to teach all subjects in grades K-5 (and all subjects in grades K-8 in self-contained classrooms) and the subject area corresponding to their teaching major in grades K-8.

All candidates must choose an elementary teaching major. Teaching minors can be added to the teaching major, but they are considered extra and optional. Four elementary teaching majors are available for prospective elementary school teachers:  Integrated Science, Language Arts, Mathematics and Social Studies. These majors allow prospective elementary teachers to focus on subject areas central to the core curriculum taught in elementary and middle schools. To enroll in one of these teaching majors, students must be admitted to the College of Education’s Elementary Teacher Preparation Program.

– Integrated Science Teaching Major

Degree Planning Grid

Suggested Five-Year Plan

All of the following biology courses (17 credits):

Course Number	Title	Credits
BS 161	Cell and Molecular Biology	3
BS 171	Cell and Molecular Biology Lab	2
BS 162	Organismal and Population Biology	3
BS 172	Organismal and Population Biology Lab	2
PSL 250	Physiology	4
IBIO 355	Ecology	3

NOTE: Students may use BS 161 to satisfy the Integrated Studies requirement in the Biological Sciences and BS 171 to satifsy the laboratory component of the University’s Integrated Studies requirement.

All of the following chemistry courses (8 credits)

CEM	141	General Chemistry	4
CEM	142	General and Inorganic Chemistry	3
CEM	161	General Chemistry Laboratory	1

NOTE: Students may use 3 credits of Chemistry 141 to satisfy the Integrated Studies requirement in Physical Science.

All of the following earth science courses (10 credits)

GLG	201	The Dynamic Earth	4
GEO	203	Introduction to Meteorology	3
AST	207	The Science of Astronomy	3

One of the following mathematics courses (3-5 credits)

MTH	114	Trigonometry	3
MTH	116	College Algebra and Trigonometry	5

All of the following natural science courses (7 credits)

ISE	120	Integrated Science Seminar (Spring)	1
ISE	320	Integrated Science for K-8 Schools (Spring)	3
ISE	420	Integrated Science Research for K-8 (Fall)	3

Integrated Science majors are waived out of ISE 301 on the Elementary Education Planned Program.

All the following physics courses (8 credits)

PHY	231	Introductory Physics I	3
PHY	232	Introductory Physics II	3
PHY	251	Introductory Physics Lab I	1
PHY	252	Introductory Physics Lab II	1

One of the following statistics courses (3-4 credits):

STT	200	Statistical Methods	3
or
STT	201	Statistical Methods	4

 TOTAL Credits: 56-59

– Language Arts Teaching Major

Degree Planning Grid

Suggested Five-Year Plan

Must complete at least 36 Credits with a minimum of 17 to 18 credits at the 300-400 level

1. Language, Literacy, and Culture (11 to 15 credits):

Course Number	Title	Credits
*a.  One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits)

ENG	302	Introduction to English Language Studies	3
LIN	200	Introduction to Language	3
LIN	401	Introduction to Linguistics	4
NOTE: One course from this category is also required for the Elementary Planned Program but the credits will count on Language Arts. Therefore, the course must be passed with a minimum grade of 2.0.

b.  One of the following courses (3 credits)

ANP	420	Language and Culture	3
CSD	333	Oral Language Development	3
ENG	406	Topics in English Language Studies	3
LIN	424	Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology	3
LIN	434	Introduction to Syntax	3
LIN	437	Semantics and Pragmatics	3
LIN	441	Historical Linguistics	3
LIN	450	Child Language Acquisition	3
LLT	346	Pedagogical English Grammar for English Teachers	3
PHL	360	Philosophy of Language	3

c.  Two of the following courses (5 to 8 credits)

COM	391	Topics in Verbal, Intercultural, or Gender Communication	4
ENG	404	English Dialects	3
ENG	405	Language Use in the African-American Community	3
IAH	231C	Themes and Issues: Roles of Language in Society	4
LIN	471	Sociolinguistics	3
LLT	307	Methods of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages	3
LLT	361	Second and Foreign Language Learning	3
LLT	362	Child Second Language Learning	3

2. Writing, Rhetoric, and Design (6 to 8 credits)

Course Number

Title

Credits

a.  One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits)

ENG	223	Introduction to Creative Nonfiction Writing	3
ENG	226	Introduction to Creative Writing	3
ENG	228	Introduction to Fiction Writing	3
ENG	229	Introduction to Poetry Writing	3
ENG	232	Writing as Exploration	3
ENG	327	Introduction to Playwriting	3
JRN	200	Gathering and Writing News	3
TE	458	Reading, Writing, and Teaching Poetry	3
WRA	260	Rhetoric, Persuasion, and Culture	3
WRA	308	Invention in Writing	3
WRA	320	Technical Writing	3

b.  One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits)

CEP	416	Teaching and Learning with Technology	3
JRN	310	Photojournalism I	3
JRN	336	Designing for Print and Online	3
JRN	409	Topics in Advising Student Publications	3
JRN	445	Images and Messages	3
JRN	491	Special Topics Laboratory in Covering News	3
STA	110	Drawing I	3
STA	113	Color and Design	3
STA	114	Three-Dimensional Form	3
STA	371	Art, Education and Society	3
WRA	210	Introduction to Web Authoring	3
WRA	360	Visual Rhetoric	3
WRA	417	Multimedia Writing	3

3. Text, Media, and Interpretation (12 to 16 credits)

NOTE: Two courses must be at the 300-400 level.

Course Number

Title

Credits

a.  One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits)

ENG	126	Introduction to Literary Genres	4
ENG	129	Introduction to Poetry	4
ENG	204	Topics in North American Literatures	3
ENG	205	Topics in British Literatures	3
ENG	206	Topics in Global Literatures	3
ENG	210	Introduction to the Study of English	3
ENG	314	Readings in American Literature	3
ENG	315	Readings in British Literature	3
ENG	316	Readings in Irish Literature	3

b.  One or two of the following courses (3 or 8 credits)

AMS	210	American Popular Culture	4
COM	275	Effects of Mass Communication	3
ENG	130	Film and Society	3/4
ENG	140	Literature and Society	4
ENG	142	Introduction to Popular Literary Genres	4
ENG	230	Introduction to Film	4
ENG	231	Film and Literature	4
ENG	330	Classical Film and Media Theory	4
ENG	331	Contemporary Film and Media Theory	3
ENG	332	Historical Approaches to Film	3
ENG	333	Studies in Film Genres	3
ENG	342	Readings in Popular Literary Genres	3
ENG	478A	Literature, Technology, and Representation	3
ENG	478B	Literature and Visual Culture	3
JRN	108	The World of Media	3
WRA	260	Rhetorical Analysis of American Cultures for Professional Writing	3
WRA	415	Digital Rhetoric	3

One or two of the following courses (3 or 8 credits)

ASN	464	Studies in the Literature of Asia and the Asian Diaspora (W)	3
CLA	360	Ancient Novel in English Translation (W)	3
ENG	153	Introduction to Women Authors	4
ENG	218	Introduction to Shakespeare	3
ENG	265	Classical Myths and Literature	3
ENG	318	Readings in Shakespeare	3
ENG	320A	Methodologies of Literary History: Genre	4
ENG	320B	Methodologies of Literary History: Region, School, or Movement	4
ENG	320C	Methodologies of Literary History: Canon Formation	4
ENG	323	Readings in Nonfiction	3
ENG	324	Readings in Epic	3
ENG	326	Readings in Drama and Performance Studies	3
ENG	328	Readings in Novel and Narrative	3
ENG	329	Readings in Poetry and Poetics	3
ENG	350	Readings in African, African Amer., or African Diaspora Lit	3
ENG	351	Readings in Chicano/a/Latino/a Literature	3
ENG	353	Readings in Women Writers	3
ENG	354	Readings in Native American Literature	3
ENG	355	Readings in Sexuality and Literature	3
RUS	231	19th-Century Russian Literature in Translation	3
RUS	232	20th-Century Russian Literature in Translation	3
TE	448	Issues of Diversity in Children’s and Adolescent Literature	3

4. Speech, Performance, and Communication (3 to 4 credits)

Course Number

Title

Credits

One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits)

CEP	460	Communication Skill Training for the Helping Professional	3
COM	100	Human Communication	3
COM	225	An Introduction to Interpersonal Communication	3
COM	240	Introduction to Organizational Communication	4
THR	101	Acting 1	3
THR	421	Creative Dramatics	3
THR	422	Children’s Theatre	3

5. Children’s literature

Course Number

Title

Credits

The following course

*TE

348

Reading and Responding to Children’s Literature

3

This course is also required for the Elementary Planned Program. See notes below.

6. Electives

Additional credits in courses in English, linguistics, language learning and teaching, communications, journalism, theatre, or writing, rhetoric, and American cultures as needed to satisfy the requirement of at least 36 credits in this integrated teaching major.

Notes

• For Special Education and Child Development majors, the three credits for TE 348 are counted toward the Language Arts teaching major.
• For Elementary Education majors, the three credits from TE 348 will count on the Language Arts teaching major if the Elementary Planned Program category totals at least 20 credits without counting TE 348.
• If you have already taken a course that has been discontinued, it will still count toward the Language Arts major.

*Courses in these areas are also required in the Elementary Planned Program and therefore must be passed with a minimum grade of 2.0.

– Mathematics Teaching Major

Degree Planning Grid

Suggested Five-Year Plan

Admission to this teaching major is limited and requires a supplemental application. Examples of factors that may be considered in admission decisions related specifically to this teaching major include:

• Overall GPA at MSU
• ACT or SAT scores in Mathematics
• AP credits in Calculus 1 and Calculus 2
• GPA and individual grades in Mathematics courses taken at MSU and other post-secondary institutions, with grades in transfer courses treated as equivalent to grades in MSU courses
• Number of higher level Mathematics courses taken (MTH 132, 133, 201, 202 or higher); applicants are expected to successfully complete four such courses by the end of the sophomore year

Courses

Course Number	Title	Credits
All of the following:

MTH	132	Calculus I	3
MTH	133	Calculus II	4
MTH	201*	Elementary Mathematics for Teachers I	3
MTH	202*	Elementary Mathematics for Teachers II	3
MTH	301	Foundations of Higher Mathematics	3
MTH	304	Algebra for K-8 Teachers	3
MTH	305	Functions and Calculus for K-8 (Prereq MTH 330)	3
MTH	330	Higher Geometry	3
MTHE	430	History of Mathematics	3
*MTH 201 and MTH 202 must be passed with a grade of 2.0 or higher before a student is eligible to take TE 406. One course from the following:
STT	250	Statistics and Probability for K-8 Teachers	4
STT	201	Statistical Methods	4
		Total	32

– Social Studies Teaching Major

Degree Planning Grid

Suggested Five-Year Plan

Courses

Course Number	Title	Credits
All of the following courses (46 credits)

EC	201	Introduction to Microeconomics	3
EC	202	Introduction to Macroeconomics	3
GEO	204*	World Regional Geography	3
GEO	221	Intro Geographic Information	3
GEO	330	Geography of the U.S. & Canada	3
GEO	333	Geography of Michigan	3
HST	140	World History to 1500	4
HST	150	World History since 1500	4
HST	201	Historical Methods and Skills	3
HST	202*	U.S. History to 1876	4
HST	203	U.S. History Since 1876	4
HST	320	History of Michigan	3
PLS	100	Intro to American National Government	3
PLS	140	Government & Politics of the World	3
One of the following courses (3 credits)
HST	310	African American History to 1876	3
HST	311	African American History since 1876	3
HST	312	African American Women	3
HST	313	Women in the U.S. to 1869	3
HST	314	Women in the U.S. since 1869	3
HST	327	History of Mexican Americans in U.S.	3
HST	378	Native Americans in North America to 1830	3
HST	379	Native Americans in North America from 1830	3

*GEO 204 & HST 202 are also required in the Planned Program and therefore must be passed with a minimum grade of 2.0.

Additional (Optional) Teaching Majors or Minors

Students who wish to add one or more approved disciplinary teaching majors or disciplinary teaching minors to their required teaching major may do so, but this is optional.

A given course may not be counted toward requirements for both the teaching major and the Planned Program for Elementary Education. However, because disciplinary majors and minors are considered extra, courses can be double counted.

Other Degree Options

In addition to the Elementary Education degree major, the Special Education degree major in the College of Education and the Child Development degree major in the College of Social Science are available to students seeking elementary certification. The Child Development major (with teacher certification emphasis) leads to elementary certification and the Early Childhood Education (“ZS”) endorsement to teach at the PreK-K level. Students interested in earning elementary certification and a degree in Child Development should see an advisor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies [HDFS] and the HDFS section in Academic Programs for more information. The Special Education major leads to elementary certification and a K-12 endorsement to teach children with special needs (e.g., Learning Disabilities).

Disciplinary Minors for Elementary Teacher Certification

Fall 2010 freshmen (and beyond) must choose an integrated elementary teaching major. Minors can be added to the major but they are considered extra and optional. This curricular change is based on changes mandated by the Michigan Department of Education. Students can apply to add optional minors on the Reply Form they submit after being admitted to the Teacher Preparation Program. To become certified in the minor area, students must complete all required coursework and pass the corresponding MTTC.

Please check footnotes (below) for important information about some minors.

Minors	Credits
Arabic	20
Chinese	24
Early Childhood – General and Special Education 4,5	26
French	21
German	24
Japanese	24
Mathematics – Elementary	20
Spanish – Elementary	21
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) 1,2,3	20-25

1. Admission to this teaching minor may be space-limited.
2. Students should plan to take TE 494 during the senior year (concurrent with senior-level TE courses). Field placement is arranged; course is online. To enroll, the online TESOL Project Agreement Form must be completed.
3. As an alternative to LLT 361(Second and Foreign Language Learning) elementary education students may take LLT 362 (Child Second Language Learning).
4. Completion of the teaching minor leads to the “ZS” endorsement on an elementary teaching certificate and qualifies the certificate holder to teach PreK-K.
5. Coursework for the teaching minor can be completed (1) through a degree in Child Development (following “track one” which leads to elementary teacher certification and requires admission to the teacher preparation program), or (2) through a degree in Education or Special Education with Early Childhood – General and Special Education as an “additional major.” 

Professional Education Requirements for Elementary Certification

The following courses are required for students pursuing elementary certification with a degree major in Education.  Additional courses are required during the 5th year teaching internship (TE 501, TE 801, TE 802, TE 502, TE 803 and TE 804).

TE 150 Reflections on Learning (3 credits)  

• Description:  Students’ experiences as learners in comparison to psychological, sociological, and anthropological theories and assumptions about learning and teaching in and out of school.
• Restrictions:  This course is not restricted and can be taken by students before admission to the teaching preparation program.

TE 250 Human Diversity, Power, and Opportunity in Social Institutions (3 credits)

• Description:  Comparative study of schools and other social institutions. Social construction and maintenance of diversity and inequality. Political, social and economic consequences for individuals and groups.
• Restrictions:  This course is not restricted and can be taken by students before admission to the teaching preparation program.

TE 301 Literacy, Learners, and Learning in Context – Elementary (3 credits)

• Description:  Language and literacy development in sociocultural context at the elementary level (K-8). Natural and socially constructed differences among learners. How to learn about a child. Ten components of literacy. Assessment. Reading or writing related disability.
• Restrictions:  This course is restricted to students who have been admitted to the elementary teacher certification program. The course is most often taken during the junior year.

TE 403 Teaching of Science to Diverse Learners – Elementary (3 credits)

• Description:  Teaching science to diverse learners at the elementary level (K-8). Inquiry into and construction of subject-specific meaning. Science subject matter adapted to learner diversity. Teachers’ roles, including professional, intellectual, and sociopolitical responsibilities.
• Restrictions:   This course is restricted to students who have been admitted to the elementary teacher certification program, and it requires a classroom field placement. The course is most often taken in the senior year during the fall semester.
• Prerequisites:  Grades of at least 2.0 in TE 301 and ISE 301

TE 404 Teaching of Social Studies to Diverse Learners – Elementary (3credits)

• Description:  Teaching social studies to diverse learners at the elementary level (K-8). Inquiry into and construction of subject-specific meaning. Social studies subject matter adapted to learner diversity. Teachers’ roles, including professional, intellectual, and sociopolitical responsibilities.
• Restrictions:  This course is restricted to students who have been admitted to the elementary teacher certification program, and it requires a classroom field placement. The course is most often taken in the senior year during the fall semester
• Prerequisite:  Grade of at least 2.0 in TE 301

TE 405 Teaching of Language and Literacy to Diverse Learners – Elementary (3 credits)

• Description:  Teaching language and literacy to diverse learners at the elementary level (K-8). Inquiry into and construction of subject-specific meaning. Literacy subject matter adapted to learner diversity. Teachers’ roles, including professional, intellectual, and sociopolitical responsibilities.
• Restrictions:  This course is restricted to students who have been admitted to the elementary teacher certification program, and it requires a classroom field placement. The course is most often taken in the senior year during the spring semester.
• Prerequisites:  Grades of at least 2.0 in TE 403, TE 404 and TE 348

TE 406 Teaching of Mathematics to Diverse Learners – Elementary (3 credits)

• Description:  Teaching mathematics to diverse learners at the elementary level (K-8). Inquiry into and construction of subject-specific meaning. Mathematics subject matter adapted to learner diversity. Teachers’ roles, including professional, intellectual, and sociopolitical responsibilities.
• Restrictions:  This course is restricted to students who have been admitted to the elementary teacher certification program, and it requires a classroom field placement. The course is most often taken in the senior year during the spring semester.
• Prerequisites:  Grades of at least 2.0 in TE 403, TE 404, MTH 201 and MTH 202