Elementary Education
Mission Statement
The School of Education uses rigorous, authentic, and integrated learning experiences to foster student learning in content, skills and attributes critical to success in each program. We emphasize the joining of theory and practice, through meaningful inquiry, exploration, and critical reflection. We strive to grow students’ abilities to build on student and community assets, reduce structural and societal inequalities, and strengthen democratic processes. These holistic and integrated approaches are designed to enable all students to succeed as effective teacher and practitioners in educational and community settings.
School of Education Standards
The School of Education has adopted the Utah Effective Teaching Standards for the teacher education program, effective with students beginning the program in the fall of 2015. Students must satisfy these ten standards to complete one of our programs and be recommended for a teaching license. These standards are education-specific manifestations of the college-wide learning goals.
Utah Effective Teaching Standards
Standard 1: Learner Development
The teacher understands cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas of student development.
Standard 2: Learning Differences
The teacher understands individual learner differences and cultural linguistic diversity.
Standard 3: Learning Environments
The teacher works with learners to create environments that support individual and collaborative learning, positive social interactions, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation.
Standard 4: Content Knowledge
The teacher understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline.
Standard 5: Assessment
The teachers uses multiple methods of assessment to engage learners in their own growth, monitor learner progress, guide planning and instruction, and determine whether the outcomes described in content standards have been met.
Standard 6: Instructional Planning
The teacher plans instruction to support students in meeting rigorous learning goals by drawing upon knowledge of content areas, Utah Core Standards, instructional best practices, and the community context.
Standard 7: Instructional Strategies
The teacher uses various instructional strategies to ensure that all learners develop a deep understanding of content areas and their connections and build skills to apply and extend knowledge in meaningful ways.
Standard 8: Reflection and Continuous Growth
The teacher is a reflective practitioner who uses evidence to continually evaluate and adapt practice to meet the needs of each learner.
Standard 9: Leadership and Collaboration
The teacher is a leader who engages collaboratively with learners, families, colleagues, and community members to build a shared vision and supportive professional culture focused on student growth and success.
Standard 10: Professional and Ethical Behavior
The teacher demonstrates the highest standard of legal, moral, and ethical conduct as specified in Utah State Board Rule R277-515.
Admission to the Program
All students who wish to pursue an undergraduate education licensure program must make formal application for admission to the Teacher Education Programs. EDUC 252 is the course where students apply for admission to the program.
Students who enter Westminster as freshmen are encouraged to meet the Program Director before registering for EDUC 252. Students who apply for admission to the School of Education as transfer students are encouraged to contact the Westminster College Office of Admissions at least a semester before they plan to transfer. The admissions process includes the following steps:
- While enrolled in EDUC 252, students complete an admissions packet for the School
of Education, which includes:
- Declaration of Intent form and letter
- Background Check form and fingerprints
- A transcript demonstrating a 3.0 cumulative GPA (insert) Submission of SAT scores (composite minimum 1000, reading minimum 450, mathminimum 450) or ACT scores (composite minimum 21, verbal minimum 20, math minimum 19) from the past 6 years
- Three letters of recommendation
- Undergraduate applicants to the teacher education program will take the Elementary Education Praxis II exams during the semester they are enrolled in EDUC 252. Students who are accepted to the program but do not pass all sections of the Praxis II exam will be allowed to continue taking Education courses as long as they retake the needed Praxis sub- tests each semester they are enrolled in courses. Students will not be allowed to apply for student teaching until they have passed all sections of the Elementary Education Praxis II exam.
- While enrolled in EDUC 252, students will meet with an education advisor and appropriate advisor in the minor to complete a program plan.
Students are admitted Fall/Spring semesters and acceptance or denial to the program
is based upon the review of applications by the Program Directors.
The following courses may be taken prior to formal admission to the Education Programs: EDUC 201, 220, 221, 252, 300, 302, 311, 312, and SPED 303.
Students may not enroll in other education classes without being admitted to the program.Note: All upper division, education transfer courses must be approved by the Dean or Program Director. Transfer courses in content areas (i.e., academic and/or teaching majors and minors) will be reviewed by content area advisor to assure that they meet Westminster degree requirements and State of Utah teacher licensure requirements.
Student Teaching
To student teach, students must have been admitted to the Teacher Education Program and must complete the requirements listed below.
- Submit the completed Request for Student Teaching form in early March to student teach in the fall or by early October to student teach in the spring.
- Submit the Major/Minor/Education Advisor Recommendation and audit forms.
- Be approved to student teach by the SOE Program Directors. Obtain a Student Teaching License on the USOE website.
- Must have a passing score on the appropriate Praxis II test(s).
Appeal Process: A student has the right to appeal a decision denying admission to
the Teacher Education Programs or denying the opportunity to student teach. The student
has four weeks after receiving a denial letter to petition the Dean, in writing, for
reconsideration.
Note: Formal admission to the Teacher Education Program does not guarantee a recommendation for licensure. Recommendation for licensure is made upon development of teaching competence in designated areas after successful completion of the student’s specific teacher education program and completion of state approved licensure tests.
Program Requirements
All students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA and a 3.0 cumulative GPA in education courses and have a minimum grade of C in all education courses. In credit/no credit education courses, students must perform work at the level of C or higher to receive credit. Education courses may only be repeated once.
All students must complete the appropriate state required content test(s) in order to meet the requirement for an initial Utah Level I teaching license.
Students must meet the college-wide graduation requirements:
- 124 total hours
- 30 upper division hours
- WCore or Honors requirements
Degree-Seeking Students
All degree-seeking students must satisfy general program requirements listed above
and must also satisfy requirements detailed under the specific education program.
Students seeking Secondary Education licensure are encouraged to consider the accelerated
Master of Arts in Teaching program.
Elementary Education (Grades K–6) Program Requirements (ELED)
Students who are seeking their first licensure must take a minimum of 30 credit hours in education at Westminster College and must also meet college residency requirements. All coursework must be planned with the student’s advisor. Elementary education majors must have an academic or teaching content minor.
Acceptable academic or teaching minors and acceptable transfer academic or teaching minors must be approved by the dean or program director.
| Requirement Description | Credit Hours | Prerequisites |
| I. Admission to the Program | 0 | |
| Completion of Teacher Education Program Admission | ||
| II. Cultural Awareness | 0–4 | |
While the themes of diversity and cultural awareness run throughout the program, a
specific cultural awareness requirement is also included to help our students become
better teachers of the diverse student populations in Utah and the U.S. This requirement
may be met by successfully completing one of the following:
|
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| III. Prerequisite Courses | 8 | |
| MATH 144 Functions Modeling Change (4)—offered every semester | MATH 101 or equivalent | |
| PSYC 105 Bust that Psychology Myth (4) | ||
| IV. Required Courses | 56 | |
| EDUC 220† Math for K–6 Teachers I (3) | MATH 141 or MATH 144 | |
| EDUC 221† Math for K–6 Teachers II (3) | MATH 141 or MATH 144 | |
| EDUC 252† Developmentally Appropriate Teaching and Learning (4) | ||
| EDUC 302† Foundations of Education in a Diverse Society (4) | ||
| EDUC 305§ Elementary Classroom Management (3) | EDUC 302 | |
| EDUC 311‡ English Learners (2) | EDUC 302 | |
| EDUC 312†§ Specialized Education Services (3) | ||
| EDUC 342* Science Methods (3) | ||
| EDUC 344* Creative Arts Methods (3) | EDUC 302 | |
| EDUC 346* Social Studies Methods (3) | EDUC 302 | |
| EDUC 359 Using Assessment Data to Improve Teaching (2) | ||
| EDUC 362 Physical Education Methods (1) | EDUC 302 | |
| EDUC 363* Literacy Foundations, Assessment and Instruction (3) | EDUC 252; co-requisite EDUC 369 | |
| EDUC 364* Reading and Language Arts (3) | EDUC 252 or EDUC 302 | |
| EDUC 368* Math Methods for K–6 Teachers (3) | EDUC 220 and EDUC 221 | |
| EDUC 369 Literacy Assessment & Intervention (1) | Co-requisite EDUC 363 | |
| EDUC 418 Student Teaching Seminar (2) | ||
| EDUC 480 Elementary Student Teaching (10) | ||
| † May be taken prior to admission to the program. *Students are required to spend fifteen clock hours in a field placement. ‡ Not required for students completing a minor in English as a Second Language § Not required for students completing a minor in Special Education |
||
| TOTAL HOURS FOR THE ELEMENTARY EDUCATION MAJOR | 50 –68 |
Completion of an approved academic or teaching minor is required (see individual program listings for details). Students must pass the requisite Praxis
Test before applying for student teaching.
Recommended Plan of Study for Elementary Education (K–6)
*The program plan below is a sample plan for students wishing to complete an accelerated 3-year program. Please contact the Undergraduate Program Director for a plan tailored to your specific needs and interests *
| Fall Year 1 | Spring Year 1 | Summer Year 1 |
| WCore Courses MATH 144 EDUC 302 |
WCore Courses PSYC 105 EDUC 252 |
WCore Courses EDUC 305 |
| Fall Year 2 | Spring Year 2 | Summer Year 2 |
| EDUC 220 EDUC 344 EDUC 346 EDUC 359 |
EDUC 311 EDUC 312 EDUC 221 EDUC 362 EDUC 363 & 369 |
WCore Courses EDUC 342 |
| Fall Year 3 | Spring Year 3 | Summer Year 3 |
| EDUC 364 EDUC 368 |
EDUC 418/480 |
Secondary Education (Grades 6–12)
Westminster undergraduates interested in secondary education are encouraged to consider the Accelerated Master of Arts in Teaching Secondary Program, open only to graduates of Westminster College who have completed the following courses as part of their undergraduate studies:
- EDUC 302 Foundations of Education in a Diverse Society (3)
- EDUC 312 Specialized Education Services (3)
This program allows students who have completed a bachelor’s degree in a teaching subject to complete the requirements for a Masters Degree and a secondary teaching license in one year after graduation. Students who choose this program will take only the two Education courses listed above as undergraduates, allowing them to focus on preparation in their teaching discipline. Students who are considering applying for the Accelerated MAT Secondary program should meet with the program director early in their undergraduate career, preferably before their junior year.