Elementary Education Major

2311 Benjamin Building
Phone: 301-405-3324
http://education.umd.edu/academics/departments/tlpl/

Program Co-Directors: Tracy Dunheimer, Sr. Faculty Specialist; Karen Rehder, Sr. Faculty Specialist.

Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership offers an undergraduate curriculum in elementary education that leads to the Bachelor of Science.  Courses offered in this program may be found under the following acronyms: EDCI, and TLPL. Graduates of the Elementary Education program are prepared to teach grades 1 through 6, and meet the requirements for certification in Maryland and additional states that are affiliated with the Interstate Reciprocity Agreement through the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).

Admission to the Major

Admission to the Teacher Education Professional Program is competitive. Admission procedures and criteria are explained on the College of Education, Overview tab.

Placement in Courses

The Elementary Education program includes both pre-professional and professional education course work. Before undergraduates may enroll in courses identified as part of the professional sequence, they must complete the selective admissions requirements and be fully admitted to the College of Education's Teacher Education program. Admission procedures and criteria are explained in the College of Education entry. To be eligible to enroll in professional sequence courses during the fall semester, prospective majors must submit a completed application form by May 1st of the preceding spring semester. Teacher candidates will not be permitted to enroll in professional sequence courses — including the yearlong internship — prior to completion of the selective admissions requirements and full admission to the College of Education.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Elementary Education teacher candidates have in-depth knowledge of the subject matter that they teach as described in professional (Association for Childhood Education International, ACEI), state (MSDE), and institutional standards.
2. Elementary Education teacher candidates can effectively plan classroom-based instruction or activities for their roles as teachers. Candidates' knowledge, skills, and dispositions are applied effectively in practice.
3. Elementary Education teacher candidates practice evidence-based decision-making through the use of assessment as well as the critical interpretation of research and inquiry in order to improve educational practice. They accurately assess and analyze student learning, make appropriate adjustments to instruction, monitor student learning, and have a positive effect on learning for all students.
4. Elementary Education teacher candidates demonstrate understanding of learners and their social and cultural contexts with a global perspective and intentional sensitivity to other cultures. They are able to work with students, families, and communities in ways that reflect the dispositions expected of professional educators as delineated in professional (ACEI), state (MSDE), and institutional standards.
5. Elementary Education teacher candidates competently integrate technology in instruction to support student learning and develop data-driven solutions for instructional and school improvement. They demonstrate proficiency in each of the seven Maryland Teacher Technology Standards.

All Teacher Education Programs have designated pre-professional courses and a specified sequence of professional courses. Before undergraduates may enroll in courses identified as part of the professional sequence, they must complete the selective admission requirements and be fully admitted to the College of Education's Teacher Education Program. An overall grade point average of 2.75 must be maintained after admission to Teacher Education. All teacher candidates are required to obtain satisfactory evaluations on the College of Education Foundational Competencies/Model Code of Ethics for Educators and to attain qualifying scores for the State of Maryland on a test of basic skills and Praxis II assessments.  The test of basic skills is required for admission, and Praxis II is required for the teaching internship and graduation. The culminating experience is the yearlong internship, which takes place in a Professional Development School.

¹

The 14-16 credits of math and science must be completed with a minimum grade of "C-" in each course and an overall GPA of 2.7.

²

Minimum grade, "B-"

³

Courses which may satisfy the university's general education requirements and which are required in the Elementary Education program of studies

⁴

The Student Services Advising Office has detailed information regarding each area of emphasis. All pre-professional course work must be completed with a "C-" or better.

 Notes:    

• All pre-professional and professional courses must be completed with a grade of "C-" or better.
• All courses must be completed before the year-long internship unless an exception has been approved by the Student Services Advising Office.
• A passing score on Praxis II is required before enrollment in the teaching internship.    

Other Requirements for the Major

An overall grade point average of 2.75 must be maintained after admission to Teacher Education. All teacher candidates are required to obtain satisfactory evaluations on the College of Education Foundational Competencies/Technical Standards and to attain qualifying scores for the State of Maryland on a test of basic skills and the Praxis II assessments. The test of basic skills is required for admission, and Praxis II is required for the teaching internship and graduation. The culminating experience of the program is the yearlong internship, which takes place in a Professional Development School (PDS)/collaborating partner school.

Click here for roadmaps for four-year plans in the College of Education.

Additional information on developing a four-year academic plan can be found on the following pages:

• http://4yearplans.umd.edu
• the Student Academic Success-Degree Completion Policy section of this catalog

Curriculum and Instruction - Elementary Education (EDCI)

Fieldwork Opportunities

TLPL251  (Community, Learners, and Classroom Climate) typically is taken during the sophomore year. This course, which is part of the gateway requirements for admission to the Elementary Education Teacher Education Program, provides an exploration of teaching in the public schools. This course includes a three hour per week field component.

Internships

During the senior year of the program, teacher candidates complete a yearlong internship in a network of professional development school settings (PDS Networks). These sites reflect the linguistic, ethnic and economic diversity that is characteristic of the Greater Baltimore-Washington D.C. region. For additional information about the yearlong internship, see the College of Education entry.

Scholarships and Financial Assistance

The Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) administers all types of federal, state and institutional financial assistance programs and, in cooperation with other university offices, participates in the awarding of scholarships to deserving students. For information, visit: http://financialaid.umd.edu.

The College of Education also offers a number of scholarships. For more information, see: http://education.umd.edu/admissions/financial-aid-scholarships/.