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Elementary Education

(grades K-6 with optional 5-8 or K-8 endorsements)

Why elementary education K-6 with concentrations in grades 5-8?
The School of Education is an integral and integrated part of the university, defining itself within the Lasallian mission of the university and sharing responsibility with every unit of the university for preparing effective and qualified teachers.

Students seeking elementary certification may also complete an endorsement (5-8) in one of the following disciplines:

Why Saint Mary's?

  • Our students benefit from small class sizes and personal attention from faculty and staff.
  • All of our Education faculty have taught at the elementary, middle or secondary school level.
  • We offer early and ongoing field experiences, where professors accompany students in their classrooms, a model not usually found at other schools.
  • Our students spend three weeks observing elementary, middle and high school classrooms to find the perfect age and concentration fit.
  • All majors have a strong international component required or available, allowing our students to gain global perspectives.
  • Through the Master of Arts in Instruction program, students can complete a certification program with a master’s degree at Saint Mary’s in five years.
  • The Saint Mary’s Alumni Association works hard to maintain relationships with our graduates.

Career Options
A majority of our graduates pursue classroom teaching in public or private k-12 schools; others go on to seek advanced degrees in special education, literacy, educational administration, curriculum and instruction, school counseling or school psychology.

High School Preparation
English literature and writing; mathematics; sciences; social sciences; world language

Sample First Year Schedule
(Majors or English, Math, Social Science, French & Spanish endorsements)*
Fall Semester
Course #
Title Credits
ED100 Introduction to Education (optional) (1)
M109 Mathematical Concepts II 3
PY111 General Psychology 3
LCT140 First Year Seminar 3
E120 English Composition 3
TA101 Oral Communications 3
  15-16 total
Spring Semester
Course #
Title Credits
ED156 First Aid and CPR 1
ED250 Human Relations, Cultural Diversity
& Indian Cultures K-12 
2
M108 Mathematical Concepts I 3
ID160 Artscore 2
B120 & B121,
or P111,
or P155
Botany & Lab II,
or The Earth and the Solar System,
or Foundations of Physics
3
PS102 or H150 American National Government or
The American Experience
3
  General Education course 3
    17 total
 
 *Advising note to students taking a science endorsement; please see substitution courses.


For more information contact:
Undergraduate Education Chair
Scott Sorvaag, Ed.D.
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
700 Terrace Heights #23
Winona, MN 55987
(800) 635-5987, Ext. 6612
ssorvaag@smumn.edu

 Course Information

    (From the 09-11 Catalog)

    A. All of the following:
        B120    Botany & Zoology II
        B121    Botany & Zoology II Lab
        H150    The American Experience    
        M108    Mathematical Concepts I: Systems
        M109    Mathematical Concepts II: Geometry
        P111    Earth and the Solar System
        P155    Foundations of Physics
        PS102    American National Government
        PY111    General Psychology

    B. Either TA101 and LCT140 or LH105 and LH455:
        LCT140    First Year Seminar
        LH105    Origins of Human Thought and Culture
        LH455    Lasallian Honors Capstone
        TA101    Oral Communications

    C. The following education courses to be completed freshman and sophomore years:
        ED250    Human Relations, Cultural Diversity and Indian Cultures
        ED301    School and Society
        ED302    Substance Abuse Prevention and Community Health
        ED306    Learning, Development, & Exceptionality
        ED307    Educational Technology

    D. The following education courses to be completed during junior year:
        ED310    Music Methods K-8
        ED316    Science Methods K-8
        ED317    Social Science Methods K-8
        ED320    Art Methods K-8
        ED325    Mathematics Methods K-8
        ED330    Reading, Language Arts Methods & Children’s Literature K-8
        ED335    Health, Physical Education Methods K-8
        ED370    Educational Measurement & Assessment K-8
        ED380    Middle Level Education
        ED445    Advance Literacy Methods for Diverse Learners

    E. The following education courses to be completed during senior year:
        ED450    Nature of the Exceptional Child K-8
        ED470    Student Teaching: Elementary
        ED490    Professional Capstone Experience: Portfolio Assessment

    Click on courses below for descriptions

  • B120 Botany and Zoology II (3 credits)
  • B121 Botany and Zoology II Laboratory (1 credit)
  • ED250 Human Relations, Cultural Diversity and Indian Cultures (2 credits)
  • ED301 School, Society and Media in Education (5 credits)
  • ED302 Substance Abuse Prevention and Community Health (1 credit)
  • ED306 Learning, Development and Exceptionality (5 credits)
  • ED307 Educational Technology (1 credit)
  • ED310 Music Methods: K-8 (1 credit)
  • ED316 Science Methods: K-8 (2 credits)
  • ED317 Social Studies Methods: K-8 (2 credits)
  • ED320 Art Methods: K-8 (1 credit)
  • ED325 Math Methods: K-8 (2 credits)
  • ED330 Reading, Language Arts Methods & Children's Literature: K-8 (6 credits)
  • ED335 Health, Physical Education Methods: K-8 (1 credit)
  • ED370 Educational Measurement and Assessment (2 credits)
  • ED380 Middle Level Education (2 credits)
  • ED445 Advanced Literacy Methods for Diverse Learners K-8 (3 credits)
  • ED450 Nature of the Exceptional Child K-8 (2 credits)
  • ED470 Student Teaching: K-8 (13 credits)
  • ED490 Professional Capstone Experience: Portfolio Assessment (1 credit)
  • H150 The American Experience (4 credits)
  • LCT140 First-Year Seminar (3 credits)
  • LH105 Origins of Human Thought and Culture (4 credits)
  • LH455 Lasallian Honors Capstone (4 credits)
  • M108 Mathematical Concepts I: Systems (3 credits)
  • M109 Mathematical Concepts II: Geometry (3 credits)
  • P111 The Earth and the Solar System (3 credits)
  • P155 Foundations of Physics (3 credits)
  • PS102 American National Government (3 credits)
  • PY111 General Psychology (3 credits)
  • TA101 Oral Communication (3 credits)