Undergraduate
Evening & Online
At Drury, we seek to prepare teachers who go beyond just technical understanding of what works. Studying education at Drury is grounded partnerships with public schools. You’ll participate in a series of clinical experiences like reading practicum and student teaching that begin as early as your first year of study. You’ll become a reflective educator with a strong vision of schools as energetic, creative places.
Advising Worksheets
The Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education requires a minimum of 58 credit hours.
Foundations (15 hrs.)
This is an introductory course in educational technology. Candidates will learn how educational technologies can be applied to enhance teacher effectiveness and assist students in reaching learning objectives. Candidates will develop foundational skills in the evaluation, selection and use of technologies according to best practices and educational theories.
This course focuses on issues of diversity, oppression and social justice. It is designed to prepare pre-service teachers to be knowledgeable of biases based on race, ethnicity, culture, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, social and economic status, political ideology, disability and how these contribute to discrimination and oppression. Students will learn about diverse cultures, family structures, roles, immigration and assimilation experiences of marginalized groups. Students will also learn about the influence of dominant culture on these diverse and marginalized groups. Additionally, this course will examine the adaptive capabilities and strengths of these marginalized groups and how such capabilities and strengths can be used in effective educational settings. The course will assist pre-service teachers in understanding the complex nature and dynamics of social oppression, diversity and social functioning. Students will explore their own personal beliefs, and behaviors that may limit their ability to effectively interact in educational settings with people of diverse backgrounds, in particular, disadvantaged and oppressed persons. Themes included justice, suffering, the role of the government, poverty, and society’s response to them. Initiatives and response of both secular and faith-based groups to injustices in the past (e.g. Civil Rights, abolitionism), will be examined.
A study of the process of human development from conception through adolescence with particular emphasis on development during the elementary school, middle school and high school age periods of growth and development. The course will emphasize the contemporary research, theory and findings in the areas of cognitive, emotional and physical development with a focus on psychological processes and structures and their implications for the education process.
Prerequisites: Behavioral Science majors: PSYC 230; Education majors: EDUC 205 and EDUC 207. This course is designed to introduce different theories and principles of development, learning, motivation and assessment of student learning. The major emphasis in this course is on how to apply these principles in classroom practice in both typical and multicultural settings. Normally taken in the second semester of the sophomore or junior year.
Prerequisite: EDUC 205. This course surveys all areas of exceptionality. It is designed to help the prospective teacher identify and understand the problems of students with atypical learning patterns.
Methods (28 hrs.)
Prerequisites: EDUC 205, EDUC 207, EDUC 302. This course will include strategies for teaching subject matter to utilize and further develop functional reading. Methodology of teaching reading skills, vocabulary development in specific subject areas and study skills will be included.
Prerequisites: EDUC 205, EDUC 207, EDUC 302, and formal admission to the teacher education program. A course that provides the elementary school teacher with methods to integrate the humanities (art and music), physical education and health, and social sciences. Lesson planning, effective teaching techniques and evaluation of instructional outcomes are studied in a unified approach to curriculum development.
Prerequisites: EDUC 205, EDUC 207, EDUC 302, and formal admission to the teacher education program. A study of historical and current trends with opportunity to both read extensively and explore strategies for enriching the elementary school curriculum through the use of children’s literature.
Prerequisite: EDUC 205, EDUC 207, EDUC 302, formal admission to teacher education program. This course is designed to maintain positive classroom environments by acquainting students with concepts and techniques of behavioral interventions; practical applications of behavior management techniques is emphasized. Students will learn how to design learning environments that are inclusive for all students.
Prerequisite: Formal admission to the teacher education program.
Use of formative and summative assessment strategies to assess learner progress in the classroom are essential to plan ongoing instruction. This course will prepare future teachers to use assessment data to improve teaching and learning in the classroom.
Prerequisites: EDUC 205, EDUC 207, EDUC 302 and formal admission to the teacher education program. Basic principles of instruction and curriculum development in elementary school mathematics. Learning centers, games and diagnostic/prescriptive treatment are explored.
Prerequisites: EDUC 205, EDUC 207, EDUC 302 and formal admission to the teacher education program. Basic principles and new trends of instruction and curriculum development in elementary school science. Unit planning, laboratory activities, evaluation strategies and science learning centers are emphasized.
Prerequisites: EDUC 205, EDUC 207, EDUC 302 and formal admission to the teacher education program. Principles and strategies for teaching elementary school literacy. Introduction to emerging concepts for meeting individual differences through diagnosing differences. Foundations of literacy instruction will be discussed as well as varying approaches. Application of current research findings will be included. Taken concurrently with EDUC 401.
Prerequisites: EDUC 205, EDUC 207, EDUC 302 and formal admission to the teacher education program. Basic principles and new trends of instruction for development of oral language, writing and spelling skills at the elementary school level.
Prerequisites: EDUC 205, EDUC 207, EDUC 302 and formal admission to the teacher education program. A presentation of remedial methods of teaching literacy to elementary and secondary school students who exhibit literacy difficulty with emphasis on recent research, on diagnosis and prescriptive teaching strategies. Taken concurrently with with EDUC 402.
Prerequisites: EDUC 205, EDUC 207, EDUC 302 and formal admission to the teacher education program. Correction of Disabilities in Mathematics will focus on the causes of, diagnosis of, and treatment for difficulties in mathematics. A presentation of methods of teaching remedial mathematics to elementary and secondary school students who exhibit difficulty with mathematics with emphasis on recent research, diagnosis and prescriptive teaching strategies.
Prerequisite: Formal admission to the teacher education program. A course designed to review and synthesize the skills and content knowledge related to the various fields of teacher certification including analysis and techniques for solving problems on teacher certification examinations. Attempting the appropriate state-determined content exam(s) is required for approval to student teach, so only those students who do not pass the state-determined content exam(s) will be administratively enrolled in the course. Offered each semester and summer session. S/U Grading. Taken concurrently with EDUC 476 or EDUC 478.
Clinical & Field Experiences (15 hrs)
Introductory Practicum is a field-based course that provides students principles of effective teaching practices. Students in the course work under the joint direction and supervision of a practicing teacher with knowledge of elementary, middle, or secondary education. Participation in four seminars is required. S/U Grading.
This course provides students with the essential information necessary to pursue admission to the teacher education program at Drury University. In addition, the course focuses on the general expectations of the program in terms of professional dispositions, background checks, electronic portfolio and other candidate assessments, design of lesson plans and the three levels of clinical and internship experiences. Students learn how to access university resources and supports and develop an understanding of the roles of faculty, staff, advisors and administrators. This course must be taken concurrently with EDUC 208 or in the first semester of the education program. S/U Grading.
This course provides transfer students with the essential information necessary to pursue admission into the teacher education program at Drury University. In addition, the course focuses on the general expectations of the program in terms of professional dispositions, background checks, electronic portfolio and other candidate assessments, design of lesson plans, and clinical and internship experiences. Students learn how to access university resources and supports and develop an understanding of the roles of faculty, staff, advisors, and administrators. This course must be taken in the first semester of the education program. S/U grading.
Prerequisites: Formal admission to the teacher education program. Provides the student with the opportunity to integrate literacy theory and practice by working with learners in classrooms or other field settings. S/U Grading. Taken concurrently with EDUC 407.
Prerequisites: formal admission to the teacher education program. A clinical experience that provides the student with the opportunity to utilize remedial literacy teaching methods with learners experiencing difficulty with literacy. S/U Grading. Taken concurrently with EDUC 452.
Prerequisite: Completion of all appropriate methods courses and approval of the Teacher Education Council. Observation and supervised practice teaching at the elementary school level (grades 1-6). Taken concurrently with EDUC 475, if a passing state content assessment score is not obtained. Course fee required.
Prerequisite: Formal admission to the teacher education program. This course is designed to provide both professional and personal support during a teacher candidate’s student teaching experience. Teacher candidates will engage in discussion and assignments related to lesson planning, assessment, classroom management, communication, and collaboration in their student teaching environment. Guidance in professional development and career planning will be provided. Taken concurrently with EDUC 476, EDUC 477, or EDUC 478. S/U grading.
Elementary Education Certification Requirements
Any two science courses (6 hrs)
Any two mathematics courses above MATH 100 (6 hrs)
A broad survey of the major political and social developments from the time of Columbus to the Civil War. Offered fall semester.
OR
A broad survey of the major political and social developments from the Civil War to the present. Offered spring semester.
A study of various ways to examine the connection between geography and history-how geography has affected and been shaped by historical developments, including but not limited to physical, political, cultural, and environmental elements. Specific attention will be placed on how the movements of people and human-environmental interactions impact ecosystems and cultures.
Choose one ARTH, ARTZ, MUSC, THTR course (3 hrs)
This introductory survey course provides a broad-based overview of the field of psychology as a scientific discipline. Topics include theoretical perspectives, research methodologies, biological bases of behavior, developmental milestones, learning and memory, motivation and emotion, personality, social psychology, and psychological disorders.
OR
This introductory course provides a broad-based overview of the field of sociology. Attention is given to the ways in which social factors affect how institutions and organizations operate, to include race, ethnicity, gender, age, education, social class, and geographical space.
The Elementary Education Major has free electives remaining to meet the graduation requirement of at least 124 hours.
Recommended Electives
Prerequisite: EDUC 340. This course will include an in-depth study of the form and function of language patterns of typically developing children as compared to those patterns of children with exceptionalities. Students will use analysis of language samples as a basis for developing prescriptive interventions.
Prerequisite: EDUC 302. This course will include an overview of varied assessment methods, procedures, and tools. Students will review administration and interpretation procedures for formal and informal assessments used in the evaluative processed for identifying education disabilities of school-age students. Psychometric principles of assessment will be presented. Emphasis will be placed on developing knowledge and skills related to assessment across domains including social, communication, academic, cognitive, and adaptive. Students will participate in application activities to include the review of case history data and collection of data to apply to the development of evaluation plans. Students will demonstrate professional dispositions related to the ethics of testing and practice using assessment data to design and execute educational programming. Roles of multidisciplinary team members will be discussed including general educators, special educators, administrators, students, and family members. Supporting the assessment needs of diverse learners to include individuals with disabilities and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds will be emphasized.
Prerequisite: EDUC 340. The physical, psychological, social, and educational characteristics of school-age children with mild/moderate disabilities will be reviewed in this course. In addition, Federal and State criteria for identification of categorical disabilities as well as supporting legal mandates will be reviewed. Students will learn strategies for differentiation of instruction, approaches for integrating these students into regular education classrooms, and methods for collaborating with other educators to identify and address the needs of students with disabilities. Course content will also address assessment procedures and practices used to identify children with disabilities and monitor their performance across academic settings. Students will complete applied activities and discussions, case analyses, and literature reviews.
Prerequisite: EDUC 340. Children learn best when close cooperation exists between school and home. For children with learning problems, it is all the more necessary for skills learned in school to be reinforced in the home. This course will include the study of legal aspects specific to working with families of children with exceptionalities including the rights of families. In addition, requirements will include researching and reporting on effective practices and resources to support families and their children. Objectives and assignments will address the effects of exceptionalities on children’s learning and on family dynamics. The impact of primary language, culture, and familial backgrounds on children’s academic and social abilities, their attitudes, values, interests, and career options will be examined. Students will review techniques for advocacy and collaboration with families and others who are involved in students’ educational programs.
Jobs in elementary education are projected to grow 3.3% by the year 2028 nationally. The median annual wage is $58,230. The median wage in Missouri specifically is $49,860.
A Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education prepares you to teach first through sixth grade. You can also obtain special certification or pursue your master’s to increase your career opportunities. Some career paths include: