Program options

Elementary Education Program

The elementary teacher education program consists of the general education component, the professional education core, the elementary education endorsement, a school subject concentration and electives.

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. Elementary School Subject Concentration

   A maximum of six hours of required general education courses may be included in some subject concentrations. The Early Childhood Endorsement fills the subject concentration requirement for students in that program.

5. Electives, if needed, to meet the minimum 128-hour requirement.

   +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 student’s 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.

   NOTE: Students desiring certification endorsement at the elementary level must earn a minimum of 15 hours in the professional sequence and student teaching on Concordia’s campus.

   All students receiving the Lutheran Teachers Diploma must complete a minimum of six hours of upper level theology (300 or 400 level) courses on Concordia’s campus.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SUBJECT CONCENTRATIONS

Art - 26 hours

Art-103, 203, 205, 243, 301 (2 hours), 325, 345, two courses from Art-271, 272, 273.

English - 24 hours

Eng-221, 326 or 327 or 328, 231, 341 or 342 or 343, 362 or 363 or 364, 366 or 381 or 382 or 384, 383 or 385, and 391 or 491. [Eng-324 - The Nebraska Story or The New England Study Tour may be substituted for any English course, preferably American Literature. Eng-361-The London Literary Tour may be substituted for any English course, preferably British Literature or Shakespeare. Eng-387 - Modern and Postmodern Drama may be substituted for the Modern Literature requirement (Eng-383 or 385).]

English Language Learners - 24 hours

Eng-231, 391, Educ-425a, 425b, 426, also six semester hours of Modern Foreign Language. Educ-399, Student Teaching in English as a Second Language, is required. It is offered in January or May each academic year.

General Science - 24 hours

Courses approved by department chair. Concentrations must include at least six hours of upper level course work.

Geography - 25 hours

Geog-101 and/or 102, 281, and 15-18 hours of geography electives. Students can supplement on-campus courses with Summer Term study tours (three hours). Some hours may have to be taken by independent study. See the department chair.

Health Education - 25 hours

HHP-181,182,366,389,481, Bio-243. Three to five hours of health topics classes: HHP-281, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288. Select four to six hours from the following to bring hours to 24: HHP-480, 484, 486, 494, Bio/HHP-465.

History - 24 hours

Hist-115, 131, 132; and upper level electives from U.S. and non-U.S. history, including at least nine hours of U.S. history.

Life Science (Biology) - 24 hours

Bio-110, 122, 217 or 317, 243, and 10 hours of electives in biology. Note: students may choose to take Bio-343 and 344 in place of Bio-243, with only 6 additional hours of biology electives needed.

Mathematics - 18 hours

Math-182, 222, 252, 301, 335, and CS-121.

Music - 22–25 hours

Mu-100, 101, 102, 103, 213, 331 (students may test out of Mu-100) ChMu-313

Applied Music: four hours (students without a piano background must take MuAp-171)

Ensembles: four hours (ensembles may not be audited)

Physical Education - 25–26 hours

• One dance class (153,155)
• One aquatics class (171–177)
• One individual/dual activity class (134, 135, 152, 154, 156, 157, 158)
• One team activity class (111, 112, 116, 117, 118, 132)
• One fitness activity (162, 164, 166, 168)
• One leisure activity (142, 144, 146, 147, 148, 149)

HHP-182, 238, 268, 291, 365, 383, 399, 471, Bio-243, two of the following: HHP-218, 248, 258.

One elective from the following: HHP-321, 322, 323, 325, 326, 327, 385, 395, 463, 491, 492, 493, 494.

Physical Science - 24 hours

Eight hours of general chemistry, Phys 111, 112, Chem-231 and Phys-381, and one hour elective.

Social Science (Geography Emphasis) - 25 hours

Geog-101 or 102, 281, and nine hours of geography electives; three courses from the following, representing at least two disciplines: Hist-131, 132, 421, and 455; Soc-201 and 331; and PS-111.

Social Science (History Emphasis) - 24 hours

Hist-115, 132 and nine hours of history electives, including at least one upper level U.S. history and one upper level non-U.S. history courses; and three courses selected from the following, representing at least two disciplines: Geog-311, 331 and 341; Soc-201; PS-111.

Social Science (Sociology Emphasis) - 24 hours

Soc-101, 331, and nine hours of sociology electives; and three courses selected from the following, representing at least two disciplines: Geog-102, 315, and 391; Hist-132, 309, 410, 417, 421, and 455; and PS-111.

Social Science (Multicultural Studies Emphasis) - 24 hours

Geog-102, Hist-131 and 132, Soc-201, and four courses selected from the following, representing at least two disciplines: Geog-331 and 341; Hist-417, 421, and 455; Soc-221 and 361.

Spanish - 24 hours

Please contact the Spanish instructor or the Dean of Arts and Sciences to construct a specific sequence of courses.

Speech/Drama – 21 hours

ECTA-104 or 200 or CTA-211, 231, 151, 154 and six hours of communication and theatre arts electives.

Vocal Music Endorsement - 60.5 hours*

• 60.5 hours music courses plus general education and professional education. *Includes 1.5 hours music methods from teacher lab (professional education).
  • Mu-102, 103, 104, 105, 206, 207, 211, 212, 213, 303, 331, 333, 334
  • ChMu-313, 411
• Principal Instrument: 10 hours; pass competency
• Keyboard Proficiency: four hours; pass keyboard proficiency exam
• Voice Proficiency: two hours; satisfy level of MuAp-251
• Vocal Ensembles: eight hours; may audit
• Recital Attendance: see music dept. handbook

This leads to an endorsement in the State of Nebraska.

Admission to the music program is on a provisional basis pending successful completion of the first year of music theory, a successful year-end jury including sight-singing and piano proficiency, and a positive evaluation of applied music and ensemble participation. Ensemble participation (vocal or instrumental as appropriate in the individual program of study) is required in each of 8 semesters.

All students who wish to receive a teaching endorsement in music make formal application for admittance into that program during the semester in which they are enrolled in Mu104, Aural Skills II and Mu105, Music Theory II. Transfer students make application no later than one year after arriving at Concordia. See music dept. handbook for admission and retention procedures.

Instrumental Music Endorsement - 62.5 hours*

• 62.5 hours music courses plus general education and professional education. *Includes 1.5 hours music methods from teacher lab (professional education).
  • Mu-102, 103, 104, 105, 206, 207, 211, 212, 213, 303, 331, 332
  • ScMu-262, 263, 264, 265, 317
  • ChMu- 313, 411
• Principal Instrument: (orchestral instrument - wind or percussion) 10 hours; pass competency
• Keyboard Proficiency: zero to four hours; pass keyboard proficiency exam
• Voice Proficiency: zero to one hour; satisfy level of MuAp-151
• Instrumental Ensembles: eight hours; may audit
• Recital Attendance: see music dept. handbook

This leads to an endorsement in the State of Nebraska.

Admission to the music program is on a provisional basis pending successful completion of the first year of music theory, a successful year-end jury including sight-singing and piano proficiency, and a positive evaluation of applied music and ensemble participation. Ensemble participation (vocal or instrumental as appropriate in the individual program of study) is required in each of 8 semesters. All students who wish to receive a teaching endorsement in music make formal application for admittance into that program during the semester in which they are enrolled in Mu104, Aural Skills II and Mu105, Music Theory II. Transfer students make application no later than one year after arriving at Concordia. See music dept. handbook for admission and retention procedures.

OTHER ELEMENTARY ENDORSEMENTS

Early Childhood Education – 131 hours

ELL Supplemental Endorsement - 15 hours

• Eng-231, Educ-425a, Educ-425b, Educ-426, Educ-399; students must also present competence in a foreign language equivalent to two semesters of post-secondary foreign language coursework or two years of high school foreign language.

This option prepares a student to be certified on both the elementary and secondary levels.

Normally, a student will follow the regular pattern of whatever program is chosen initially. In addition to this regular pattern, the following courses must be taken to be certified on both levels. The extra student teaching hours must be done in a full-time experience.

Dual certification will usually require at least one extra semester. Students selecting this option should confer with the Dean of Education early in the planning process.

Elementary Education Students Desiring Secondary Certification - 25–30 hours

• Subject endorsement 6-9 hours
• *Secondary Student Teaching 10 hours
• Secondary Methods 2-4 hours
• Educ-301 2 hours
• Educ-370 3 hours
• Psy-421 2 hours

It is desirable that a second subject endorsement of 30 hours be completed.

Secondary Education Students Desiring Elementary Certification - 35 hours

• Teacher Lab 6 hours
• *Elementary Student Teaching 10 hours
• Psy-211 2 hours
• Art-301 1 hour
• Math-301 3 hours
• Educ-361 6 hours
• Educ-362 2 hours
• Educ-425A 3 hours
• HHP-363 1 hour
• HHP-364 1 hour

*A minimum of ten hours in elementary student teaching and ten hours in secondary student teaching is required for dual certification. Some programs may require additional hours.

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.