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Elementary Education Major

Bethany Lutheran College | www.blc.edu

Perhaps one of the most challenging and rewarding careers is that of teaching. In addition to instructing children in all the basic subjects of reading, writing, arithmetic, science, social studies, and physical education, elementary teachers are also responsible for tracking students' progress through tests and grade reports, providing guidance and discipline, and working well with staff members and parents.

Bethany's Elementary Education Major prepares men and women to integrate their faith while teaching in a variety of settings with the belief that future teachers educated from a Christ-centered perspective will be better prepared to meet the needs of children in a multi-cultural society whether in public, private or Lutheran schools. Bethany's elementary education major offers Minnesota state-approved teaching licensure for K-8 with specialties in: Communication Arts and Literature, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies

Students desiring to teach in Lutheran elementary schools take additional coursework for certification by the Evangelical Lutheran Synod.

The education department feels it is very important that college students preparing to be teachers should have as many opportunities as possible to gain experience in the classroom. Therefore as a future teacher, you will participate in extensive classroom clinicals:

  • 16 hours of early field experience in a classroom working under the direction of an experienced teacher.
  • 25 hours in the classroom at the middle or junior high school assisting an experienced teacher.
  • Approximately 18 weeks of clinicals during which you will plan and teach lessons in specific subject areas (language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, health, physical education, music and art) on consecutive days to children in the elementary school.
  • A three-week clinical during which you will teach children with special needs under the direction and supervision of a special education teacher.
  • The final classroom experience is the semester-long teaching internship during which you will complete the full-time student teaching requirement. Student teaching may be done in either a public or private school. Recently, students have done their teaching internships in Mankato and the surrounding communities of Nicollet, Janesville, Mapleton, Jordan, Glenville, Good Thunder, and Waterville.

Elementary Education Scope

Bethany's elementary education major offers Minnesota state-approved teaching licensure for K-6 with 5-8 specialties in Communication Arts and Literature, Science, Mathematics, and Social Studies

Students desiring to teach in Lutheran elementary schools take additional coursework for certification by the Evangelical Lutheran Synod.

Secondary Education Teaching Licensure Scope

Bethany's secondary education teacher preparation program offers Minnesota stateapproved teaching licensure in:

  • English (5-12) *See English, Teaching
  • Social Studies (5-12) *See Social Studies, Teaching
  • Visual Arts (K-12) *See Studio Art, Teaching

Students major and take required licensure courses in Studio Art, Broad Field Social Studies, or English AND fulfill specified Education major requirements, including all "Entry into the Education Major" requirements below.

Entry into the Education Major

The liberal arts serve as a foundation on which students build their professional education sequence.

  1. Successful completion of 55 credits of general education core courses including EDUC200
  2. An application to the education major
  3. A one-page autobiographical essay
  4. A transcript that verifies a 2.75 GPA in the core education major classes
  5. A preliminary plan for matriculation through the major
  6. Submission of the portfolio begun in EDUC200 with additional entries from HIST207 and PSYC220
  7. Interview with a three-member committee from the education department
  8. A positive clinical experience report from EDUC200
  9. Scores on the Praxis I

General Education (Pre-Major) Requirements

Additional Requirements:

The following courses must be taken PRIOR to taking any upper level education courses

Professional Education Core Requirements

Lutheran Elementary School Certification Courses

(Consult with Director of Christian Education regarding course selection.)

Minnesota Licensure Requirements

  • Complete all education courses with a C+ or above
  • Maintain 2.75 GPA
  • Pass the following tests:
    • Praxis I: Academic Skills Assessments
    • Praxis II: Principles of Learning and Teaching K-6; Subject matter/content K-6; 5-8 specialty content

Important requirements of all students completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education at Bethany Lutheran College:

  1. Complete the Human Relations/Diversity Component
  2. Complete all courses required for Minnesota State Licensure
  3. Complete a minimum of one Middle School Specialty (5-8) OR major in an area of interest
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