Elementary Education, MA

Requirements

To be awarded the MA in Elementary Education, students must successfully complete a 36 semester hour program of study. Students must maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.0 while enrolled in the MA degree program. Should a student fall below these minimum requirements, the program's faculty will review the student's eligibility to continue moving forward in the degree and licensure program.

One semester prior to student teaching, traditional students must submit proof of passing the appropriate Elementary Education content exam that meets the state's criterion.

Student Teaching for students in the traditional program must be passed with a minimum of C or higher.  With the permission of the department chair, traditional students may substitute ELED 471 TEACHER RESIDENCY AND SEMINAR IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 1 and ELED 472 TEACHER RESIDENCY AND SEMINAR IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 2 for ELED 448 IND. COACH & FIELD EXP III, ELED 470 STUDENT TEACHING AND SEMINAR IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, and ELED 480.

Core Courses
EDUC 402CHILD & ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT, LEARNING AND MOTIVATION3
ELED 400CURRICULUM, INSTRUCTION, AND ASSESSMENT3
ELED 401FOUNDATIONS & COMMUNITY3
ELED 403IND. COACH & FIELD EXP I1
EDUC 421INTEGRATED, HEALTH, ARTS, AND PE CURRICULUM3
ELED 428IND. COACHING & FIELD EXP. 21
ELED 441METHODS OF TEACHING MATHEMATICS IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL3
ELED 448IND. COACH & FIELD EXP III1
READ 420METHODS OF TEACHING READING IN K-8 EDUCATION3
READ 433STRAT/MAT LITERACY & SOCIAL STUDIES K-83
SPED 419EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN & YOUTH3
Student Teaching
ELED 470STUDENT TEACHING AND SEMINAR IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL6
Additional Course Required for the MA Only
EDUC 480INQUIRY IN THE CLASSROOM3
Total Credit Hours36

ALTERNATIVE LICENSURE PROGRAM

Students accepted into the alternative licensure program must maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.0 and successfully complete all required key assessments in the program, which include substantial evaluation as a practicing classroom teacher. Should a student fall below a 3.0 GPA or fail to meet expectations on key assessments, Roosevelt faculty and school partners will review the eligibility of the student to continue moving forward in the program. 

During the first year of study, alternative licensure students take core courses in the MA degree program. All students must successfully pass a Mid-Program review in order to advance to the second year. 

In the second year, alternative licensure students do not take these core courses: ELED 448 IND. COACH & FIELD EXP III, EDUC 480 INQUIRY IN THE CLASSROOM, and student teaching. Instead, students enroll in the two courses listed below. The Educator Teacher Performance Assessment Portfolio ( edTPA) is completed during the first semester of the second year. The alternative licensure pathway is 38 credit hours.   

ELED 471TEACHER RESIDENCY AND SEMINAR IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 16
ELED 472TEACHER RESIDENCY AND SEMINAR IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 26
Total Credit Hours12
 

Field Experience & Student teaching

Pedagogical and real-world training is at the center of graduate degree coursework. Consequently, all traditional students are required to enroll in one credit hour "Individualized Coaching and Field Experiences" courses in each of three semesters prior to their practicum or student teaching. A minimum of 100-150 hours of field experiences is required prior to student teaching.

In their Individualized Coaching courses, students will complete the field experiences needed to develop professional knowledge, skills, and dispositions in alignment with Roosevelt's social justice mission. As students progress from one Individualized Coaching course to another, they will take on tasks and responsibilities that are increasingly complex and challenging. These experiences will prepare students for success in the student teaching experiences that culminate the Elementary Education major and facilitate the awarding of an Illinois Professional Educator License.

Students who successfully complete a full year of paid tutoring (500 hours minimum) through Roosevelt’s Metropolitan Chicago Tutoring Corps can substitute their tutoring experience for enrollment in ELED 403 IND. COACH & FIELD EXP I and ELED 428 IND. COACHING & FIELD EXP. 2. Consequently, MCTC tutors are eligible to earn the MA degree with 34 credit hours of core courses. MCTC tutors who do not successfully complete the full year of tutoring (500 hours minimum) will be required to complete the traditional 36 credit hour degree program.

Placement in student teaching sites is planned with consideration of professional standards and partnership schools and agencies. Student teaching placements are open only to students who have successfully completed the appropriate general education and professional education courses, content tests, and other Department of Education student teaching requirements. Placements in sites with diverse student populations are required. Students must submit a formal application two semesters prior to the semester in which they plan to do their student teaching. Applicants are expected to be in good academic standing and must provide evidence of competency with regard to professional dispositions, including the passage of a criminal background check. Students should consult regularly with their advisor about the specific requirements for licensure and student teaching in Illinois.

In addition to the requirements outlined in this academic catalog, students in the Elementary Education program are obligated to become familiar with and comply with, all requirements outlined in the Initial Licensure Field Experience & Student Teaching Handbook in order to receive a passing grade for field experience and student teaching courses proceeding to licensure. Students enrolled in field experience and student teaching courses will receive the handbook from the Director of Field Placement.

Licensure Requirements

Students who complete the Elementary Education program earn a State of Illinois Professional Education License with an elementary education endorsement. With careful planning, students can add on an additional endorsement in Early Childhood education, Bilingual/ESL education, Middle School education, Special Education (LBS1), and Reading Teacher.

In order to qualify for Roosevelt University’s recommendation for the Illinois teaching license in Elementary Education, students must meet all general education requirements that are in effect at the time of their application.

Students must consult with their education advisor to determine which general education courses are acceptable toward fulfillment of licensure requirements. Because requirements for licensure, graduation, and continuing enrollment are subject to change, graduates must consult frequently with their education advisors. The advising plan developed at program admission provides the most up-to-date and authoritative information with respect to all program and licensure requirements.

One semester prior to student teaching, traditional students must submit proof of passing the Elementary Education content exam that meets the state's criterion and have a minimum 3.0 GPA in all graduate courses. All courses must be passed with grades of C - or higher and a minimum  C or higher in Student Teaching. Please contact the Department of Education for more information regarding the Elementary Education content exam criteria.

Before issuing a license, the Illinois State Board of Education also requires satisfactory scores on the Educator Teacher Performance Assessment Portfolio (edTPA).

 Your degree map is a general guide suggesting courses to complete each term on the academic pathway to your degree. It is based on the most current scheduling information from your academic program. Your program’s degree map is reviewed annually and updated as schedules change (although you retain the same course requirements as long as you are continuously enrolled in your degree program).

Always work closely with your academic advisor to understand curriculum requirements and scheduling, as each student’s academic plan can look slightly different.

Year 1
FallCredit HoursSpringCredit Hours
EDUC 4023READ 4203
ELED 4003ELED 4281
ELED 4013ELED 4413
ELED 4031SPED 4193
 10 10
Year 2
FallCredit HoursSpringCredit Hours
ELED 4481ELED 4706
READ 4333EDUC 4803
EDUC 4213EDUC 0030
 7 9
Total Credit Hours 36