Program options

Early Childhood Education – 131 hours

1. General Education 44 hours

2. Professional Education Core 22 hours
   • Educ-101 Teaching as a Profession 1
   • Educ-201 Introduction to Education 3
   • Psy-210 Educational Psychology and General Methods 2
   • *Theo-241/242/251/252 Interpretation Course 3
   • +Psy-324 Psychology of Exceptionality 3
   • Educ-424 Teaching Diverse Learners 2
   • *Theo-361 Christian Doctrine I 3
   • *Theo-362 Christian Doctrine II 3
   • +Theo-381 Christian Teacher’s Ministry 2

3. Elementary Education Endorsement 35 hours
   • Psy-211 Child Development and Psychology 2
   • +Art-301 Methods in Art Education 1
   • +Math-301 Concepts of Mathematics II 3
   • +Educ-361 Literacy Instruction, Assessment & Intervention 6
   • *Educ-362 Teaching the Christian Faith 2
   • Educ-425A Foreign Language Instruction, Curriculum, Assessment 3
   • +HHP-363 Health Methods in the Elementary School 1
   • +HHP-364 PE Methods in the Elementary School 1

     Professional Semester :

   • +Educ-363 Teacher Laboratory-Elementary Methods 6
   • +Educ-381-384 Elementary Student Teaching 10

4. Early Childhood Endorsement 30 hours
   • HHP-182 First Aid and CPR 2
   • Psy-212 Child Development & Psychology/EC 1
   • Educ-330 Early Childhood Educ. Foundations & Programs 3
   • Educ-333 Primary Education and Literacy Development 3
   • Eng-391 Children’s Literature 3
   • +Educ-430 School, Community, and Parent Involvement 2

     Professional Semester (ECE requires two professional semesters):

   • +Educ-332 Early Childhood Curriculum & Methodology 3
   • +Educ-452 Early Childhood Prog. Organization & Mgmt. 3
   • +Educ-380 Student Teaching in Pre-Primary 10
   +Students must be admitted to the teacher education program prior to enrolling in these courses.

   *Public school candidates may select from the courses below to substitute for Educ-362 and Theo-361 and Theo-362 and the Interpretation course. These substitute courses may not be used to meet general education requirements. These substitute courses may be used elsewhere in the students’ education program or in a minor, concentration, subject or field endorsement, or comprehensive subject major.

   The substitute pool consists of Art-260; Bio-217; Bus-400; Educ-483; Eng-391, 491; Geog-315; HHP-281, 282, 283, 284, 285; Hist-313, 334, 335; Phil-201, 202, 301; Soc-221, 331, 335; Theo-371, 375, 390, 465, 483. Additional courses may be substituted with the approval of the Dean of Education.

Concordia maintains an office to assist graduates in securing a teaching certificate. The Dean of the College of Education is authorized to recommend qualified candidates for any of the teaching certificates for which they are eligible. That office provides applications, institutional recommendations and transcripts, and initiates the transactions with the various state education departments.

Nondegree certification and endorsement programs

There is a nondegree certification program and a nondegree added endorsement program for persons who have already earned a bachelor’s degree. Concordia’s alternative certification program follows the principles and regulations established by the State of Nebraska.

College or university graduates with B.A. or B.S. degrees who are interested in becoming teachers may complete a teacher certification program that does not include the complete earning of another degree. This is best described as an added program to the existing college or university credits. Likewise, teachers who are already certified (and already have a license) and wish to add additional endorsements to increase their placement possibilities and/or job acquisitions may add endorsements without completing an additional degree. Persons desiring further information should contact the Dean of the College of Education, Concordia’s teacher certification officer.

The Lutheran Teacher Diploma

This diploma is granted to students who have met all requirements for the Lutheran teacher education program, have a teaching degree, are eligible for a teaching license in the State of Nebraska, and have been certified by the faculty as qualified to begin service as called members of the Lutheran teaching ministry. Students wishing to receive the LTD must apply to the program and complete its requirements as a part of the baccalaureate degree. This diploma qualifies the student for minister of religion status in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

All students receiving the Lutheran Teachers Diploma are required to take a minimum of six hours of upper-level (300 or 400 level) theology courses on campus.

Students desiring the Lutheran Teacher Diploma must include the following in their coursework: Rel-121, 131; Theo-241 or 242 or 251 or 252, 361, 362, 381; Educ-362 (except secondary education). These requirements are included in the general education or professional education requirements.

See also: Please check the course catalog for other information about programs in which you are interested.