Elementary Education and Special Education (BSEd)

Location(s): Northern State University Campus

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Double major in Elementary Education and Special Education.

Candidates fulfill requirements in general education and pass the PRAXIS Core Academic Skills for Educators (CORE) exam in their freshman year; they begin professional education coursework in their sophomore/junior year. Candidates must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.70 and a 2.70 GPA in the major.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Graduates draw on knowledge of child development, learning differences, and the ways exceptionalities influence learning to design instruction that supports growth for every student, from those on grade level to those needing intensive intervention. (Cross-curricular Skills: Inquiry and Analysis; Ethical Reasoning; Access and Opportunity)
Graduates create classroom communities where all learners, including those with exceptionalities, feel safe, valued, and empowered, while also implementing specialized supports that promote independence, self-advocacy, and emotional well-being. (Cross-curricular Skills: Teamwork; Access and Opportunity)
Graduates blend deep knowledge of core academic subjects with evidence-based instructional approaches to make content accessible, meaningful, and appropriately challenging for all learners. (Cross-curricular Skills: Inquiry and Analysis; Critical and Creative Thinking; Problem Solving; Access and Opportunity)
Graduates gather, interpret, and act on data from multiple assessment sources to inform both whole-class instruction and individualized education plans, ensuring instruction remains responsive to student progress. (Cross-curricular Skills: Problem Solving; Inquiry and Analysis)
Graduates adjust curriculum materials, learning tasks, and teaching methods to remove barriers, provide multiple entry points to learning, and extend opportunities for advanced achievement. (Cross-curricular Skills: Inquiry and Analysis; Information Literacy; Access and Opportunity)
Graduates commit to ongoing professional learning, reflection, and ethical decision-making to enhance their teaching, uphold high expectations for all learners, and contribute positively to the educational community. (Cross-curricular Skills: Ethical Reasoning; Foundational Lifelong Learning Skills)
Graduates partner with families, colleagues, related service providers, and community agencies to coordinate supports and ensure each learner’s needs are met across all learning settings. (Cross-curricular Skills: Teamwork; Access and Opportunity)

Coursework Required:

FYS 101 - First Year Seminar 2-3 credits (2 credits)
EDFN 102 - Introduction to Education 3 credits
ELED 303 - Earth and Physical Science for Elementary Teachers 3 credits
ELRN 435 - Principles of Instructional Design 3 credits
EPSY 302 - Educational Psychology 3 credits
EPSY 296 - Field Experience 0-1 credits (0 credits)
INED 211 - SD American Indian Culture/Ed 3 credits OR
INED 411 - South Dakota Indian Studies 3 credits
MATH 341 - Math Concepts for Teachers I 3 credits
MATH 342 - Math Concepts for Teachers II 3 credits
SPED 100 - Introduction to Persons with Exceptionalities 3 credits
ELED 396 - Field Experience 1 credit (1 credit) OR
SPED 396 - Field Experience 1 credit (1 credit)
ELED 440 - K-8 Language Arts Methods 3 credits
ELED 450 - K-8 Reading Methods 3 credits
ELRN 485 - Classroom Technology 3 credits
EDFN 455 - Research-Based Literacy Instruction and Assessment 3 credits
MLED 480 - Middle Level Methods 2 credits
PE 330 - PK-8 Health/Safety/PE Methods 1-2 credits
ELED 320 - K-8 Science Methods 3 credits
ELED 330 - K-8 Math Methods 3 credits
ELED 360 - K-8 Social Science Methods 3 credits
ELED 420 - Social Science Content and Curricular Knowledge for Teachers 2 credits
ELED 395 - Practicum 1-2 credits (1 credit)
ELED 495 - Practicum 1-12 credits (1 credit)
ELED 496 - Field Experience 1-12 credits (2 credits) OR
SPED 496 - Field Experience 1-12 credits (2 credits)
EDFN 440 - Classroom Management 3 credits
EDFN 445 - Methods of Teaching English and Academic Content to English Learners 3 credits
ELED 488 - K-8 Student Teaching 2-16 credits (6 credits)
ELED 341 - K-8 Integrated Art and Music Methods 1 credit
SPED 210 - Teaching Students with Significant Disabilities 3 credits
SPED 410 - Behavior Management of Exceptional Children 3 credits
SPED 417 - Vocational-Transitional Programming 2-3 credits
SPED 420 - K-12 Curriculum and Instructional Strategies 2-3 credits
SPED 431 - Identification and Assessment in Special Education 3 credits
SPED 432 - Methods and Materials for LD K-12 2 credits
SPED 460 - Family Systems and Professional Collaboration 2-3 credits
SPED 470 - Individual Education Programs and Assistive Technology 2 credits
SPED 485 - Special Education Law 2 credits
SPED 488 - Student Teaching in Special Education 1-16 credits (6 credits)

Total: 98 credits

Teacher Education Information (Undergraduate)

A major focus for Northern State University is the preparation of professional educators. The Millicent Atkins School of Education Teacher Education Program prepares teachers whose instructional decision making is based on current theory, research, and experience. The School of Education offers bachelor’s degree programs in elementary education, K-12 education, and secondary education.

Any student who plans to major in education at Northern State University must complete the system-wide core, institutional graduation, and degree requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Education, including professional education courses and major and minor requirements as established for the appropriate discipline. Students who successfully complete a teacher education program will be recommended for a teaching certificate issued by the state of South Dakota.

All teacher education programs comply with certification requirements and have been approved by the SD Department of Education. Students will complete content and pedagogy examinations at the achievement level set by the SD Department of Education.

Accreditation

Northern State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and the Teacher Education Program in the Millicent Atkins School of Education is accredited by CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation). The BME in Music Education is also accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.

General Education Requirements - Baccalaureate (30 credits)

Please see General Education & Degree Requirements for specific information about each SGR.

SGR #1 - 6 credits

ENGL 101 - Composition I 3 credits
ENGL 201 - Composition II 3 credits

SGR #2 - 3 credits

CMST 101 - Foundations of Communication 3 credits
CMST 215 - Public Speaking 3 credits
CMST 222 - Argumentation and Debate 3 credits

SGR #3 - 6 credits in two disciplines

Elementary and Special Education majors must take GEOG 210 , POLS 100 , and HIST 151 or HIST 152 .

Civics Requirement: one course must be completed to fulfill the civics requirement. Courses that satisfy this requirement are marked with [CIV].

ANTH 210 - Cultural Anthropology 3 credits
CIV 100 - American Civics 3 credits [CIV]
CJUS 201 - Introduction to Criminal Justice 3 credits
CMST 201 - Interpersonal Communication 3 credits
ECON 201 - Principles of Microeconomics 3 credits
ECON 202 - Principles of Macroeconomics 3 credits
GEOG 200 - Introduction to Human Geography 3 credits
GEOG 210 - World Regional Geography 3 credits
GEOG 212 - Geography of North America 3 credits
HIST 151 - United States History I 3 credits [CIV]
HIST 152 - United States History II 3 credits [CIV]
HIST 256 - World History 3 credits
POLS 100 - American Government 3 credits [CIV]
POLS 210 - State and Local Government 3 credits [CIV]
POLS 250 - Introduction to International Relations 3 credits
PSYC 101 - General Psychology 3 credits
SOC 100 - Introduction to Sociology 3 credits
SOC 150 - Social Problems 3 credits
SOC 250 - Courtship and Marriage 3 credits

Degree Requirements (BSEd and BME)

EPSY 302 - Educational Psychology 3 credits
EPSY 428 - Child and Adolescent Development 3 credits
INED 411 - South Dakota Indian Studies 3 credits
In addition to fulfilling all General Education Requirements, candidates for the Bachelor of Science in Education or Bachelor of Music Education degrees must take the professional education course work required for certification in the state of South Dakota. See specific requirements for Elementary Education; K-12 Certification requirements for majors including Art, Health/Physical Education, Music, World Languages, and Special Education; and secondary education requirements for BSEd majors in Biology, Chemistry, English, History, Mathematics, and Social Sciences.

Human Values (3 credits)

ARTH 311 - History of World Art III 3 credits
BADM 457 - Business Ethics 3 credits
BIOL 383 - Bioethics 3 credits
BIOL 454 - Environmental Ethics 3 credits
EDFN 102 - Introduction to Education 3 credits
MUS 102 - Introduction to Music Education 3 credits
MUS 332 - History of Music I (World Music) 2 credits
POLS 208 - Politics of Science and Technology 3 credits
NURS 239 - Foundations in Nursing 2 credits and
NURS 239L - Foundations in Nursing Lab 1 credit
NURS 369 - Professional Principles in Nursing 3 credits
PE 334 - Behavioral and Social Issues in HPER/A 3 credits
POLS 308 - Citizenship and Democracy 3 credits
THEA 435 - History of American Musical Theatre 3 credits