The elementary education concentration prepares you with in-depth knowledge across elementary school curriculum and exemplary teaching and classroom-management skills.

Students interested in teaching on the elementary level should choose a major from the College of Arts and Sciences or School of Health Sciences for better preparation in a subject you will teach.

After completing your senior year, you receive a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science in your chosen major. Your graduate work begins the summer semester immediately following graduation.

The program is a mix of course work and hands-on experience in local elementary schools.

Field Study
First, you do 80 hours of field study to observe teachers in classrooms. You learn by watching veteran teachers lead a class, respond to individual needs, adapt to cultural differences and problem solve. Candidates are required to complete a field study course in each semester of their junior and senior year. As part of the course requirements, each candidate must complete a minimum of 20 hours per semester in her/his assigned classroom, under the guidance of the classroom teacher who serves as the field study adviser. Candidates are assigned to one school during their junior year and a different school during their senior year.

Internship
Next, you complete a full-time internship with some teaching responsibilities, while continuing to learn by observing experienced educators. Quinnipiac has developed collaborative partnerships with school districts throughout central and southern Connecticut to provide interns with guided, hands-on professional practice, and to defray a significant portion of the graduate year tuition.

Interns serve in area schools in a variety of capacities and as substitute teachers with guidance from an on-site adviser and from a Quinnipiac faculty member. Each intern has the opportunity to participate in staff meetings and take part in all school operations, becoming a valued member of the school faculty.

Student Teaching
The final field experience is 10 weeks of student teaching. You’re responsible for your own classroom. You will demonstrate the teaching skills and methods you’ve learned and design and teach your own lessons.

The School of Education places students in local elementary schools to complete the internship and student teaching. A teacher at the school site and a faculty adviser from the School of Education will guide you through these experiences.

General Requirements
These courses meet Quinnipiac’s core curriculum requirements for the bachelor’s degree and the Connecticut Department of Education’s general education requirements. A grade of C or better is required in these courses.

English 101
English 102
English at 200 level or higher
History 131 or History 132
Math 110 (or higher)
World Language—Level 101
World Language—Level 102
Psychology 101
Psychology 236
Psychology 358
Fine Arts—6 credits
Science—7-8 credits
Physical Education—1 credit

Master of Arts in Teaching Elementary Education - Professional Component
ED 301 Elementary Field Study I
ED 302 Elementary Field Study II
ED 315 Diversity, Dispositions & Multiculturalism
ED 320 Social & Philosophical Foundations of Education
ED 401 Elementary Field Study III
ED 402 Elementary Field Study IV
ED 436 Teaching Literacy in the Primary Grades
ED 440 Learning & Teaching in the Elementary Classroom
ED 441 The Design & Management of the Elementary Classroom
ED 468 Teaching Mathematics in the Primary Grades
ED 550 Issues & Research in Education
ED 552 Teaching in the Inclusive Classroom
ED 554 Internship & Seminar I
ED 555 Internship & Seminar II
ED 556 Teaching Literacy in Grades 4–6
ED 558 Elementary School Science: Content & Pedagogy
ED 562 Facilitating the Arts in the Classroom
ED 566 Elementary School Social Studies: Content & Pedagogy
ED 569 Teaching Mathematics in Grades 4–6
ED 575 Teacher Discourse: Language & Communication Issues in the Elementary Classroom
ED 601 Student Teaching & Seminar
ED 693 Research I
ED 694 Research II