Education

Elementary Education

Details

Our elementary education program prepares you to teach effectively in the many content areas required for elementary education and also provides you with an essential understanding of child development and learner behavior. Our curriculum is carefully designed to set you up for success in the K-8 classroom setting.

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About the Program

Our mission is to prepare students for lifelong learning, developing future educators’ intellect, imagination, self-confidence, and motivation, while preparing them for the teaching profession. As an elementary education major, you will learn to investigate, reflect, analyze, and judge reality and truth through inquiry and discussion. You’ll develop values about teaching, society, health behaviors, moral issues, education, and political influences. We ask our students to think boldly and live Carroll College’s mission by participating in community service and by interacting with children and adults from diverse cultural, religious, economic, and intellectual backgrounds.

Teacher education advances this mission as it works within Carroll College’s Teacher Education Conceptual Framework. That framework is built upon a liberal arts education, structured by traditional educational philosophies, and embraced by an atmosphere of dignity, which values justice for all persons.

The goal of Carroll College’s Teacher Education Program is to assist students in developing teaching competencies in their chosen fields and to help them become educational leaders capable of responding to their students’ individual needs.

Featured Courses

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ED 245

Diversity Field Experience

This course is designed to expand the range of each student's understanding of the experience of pre-K-12 students who, because of such fundamental components as race, ethnicity, gender, or other characteristics, may have been historically marginalized by society.

ED 221

Arts Integration in Elementary School

This course is designed to equip preservice teachers with knowledge, skills, and appreciation for using the arts (visual, media, drama/theater, music, and dance) as an effective methodology for learning in an integrated curriculum. 

ED 410

Student Teaching

For qualified students pursing professional teacher licensing in a major, or a major and minor endorsement, area of study. A full day, 15-week directed teaching program in the student's major and minor areas.

Courses and Student Learning Objectives

Our curriculum is designed to develop the whole student. Through courses, field experiences, and supervised practicums, students get many opportunities to experience the classroom and develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that will prepare them for a successful career in teaching.

Acceptance Into Teacher Education Program and Student Teaching

Students pursuing a major in any Teacher Education Program must meet certain benchmarks in order to be accepted to the program and to student teach.  See the Academic Catalog for a complete outline of the criteria for Acceptance into the Teacher Education Program and for Acceptance to Student Teaching.

All elementary education students must meet the following requirements: 

  • Earn a grade of “C-” or better in all Major and Professional Education Requirements and Other Program Requirements
  • Earn a minimum 2.75 cumulative grade point average for Admission to the Teacher Education Program
  • Earn a minimum 3.0 grade point average in Major Program Requirements, Professional Program Requirements, and Other Program Requirements for Acceptance to Student Teaching.

Professional Educational Outcomes

Beyond being highly prepared for the elementary-age classroom in both private and public school settings, opportunities are available in the fields of writing, editing, and administration. Carroll will help you develop strong teaching skills that would aid in any profession for which education and training are required.

Program Highlights

The Elementary Education (K-8) major is designed to lead to licensure in the state of Montana.  All Majors leading to licensure in the Carroll College Teacher Education Program are accredited by the Montana Office of Public Instruction. Teacher education graduates will demonstrate competence in the Montana Teaching Standards and the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC) standards.

Frequently Asked Questions

An Elementary Education degree opens doors to various rewarding careers in teaching and beyond. Carroll's Elementary Education degree leads to an Elementary (K-8) teaching license in the state of Montana.  Graduates typically become school teachers, working with children from kindergarten through eighth grade.  Graduates may pursue further education to specialize in areas like special education or educational leadership. 

The Elementary Education bachelor’s degree can be completed in four years and we’ve even laid out a schedule to help you with which classes you need to take—and when: Elementary Education 4-Year Plan

We encourage you to contact the department with any other questions you have about the program!

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