• Welcome
• Programs
• Academic Resources
  • Academic Planning Guide
  • Honors
  • Degree Completion Programs
  • Internship
  • Off Campus & Online
  • Research
  • Study Abroad
  • Information Technologies & Services
• Academic Services
  • Academic Success
  • Athlete Support
  • Disability Services
  • Learning Center
  • MLK Program
  • Placement Testing
  • Undeclared Students
• Accreditation
• Advising
• Catalogs
• Colleges
• Courses
• Provost
• Registrar
• Contact Us

Elementary Education

Effective teachers are vitally important to the future of our communities and nation.

What is elementary education?

Simply put—teaching children is highly challenging and rewarding work.

Completing the basic program in elementary education qualifies you for a variety of professional employment possibilities. Qualified to apply for an elementary teacher certificate, you are eligible for employment at any elementary level from kindergarten through sixth grade. All certified elementary education teachers, due to their preparation in reading, are qualified to teach developmental reading at any grade level kindergarten through 12th. Those students choosing the early childhood minor receive additional certification for nursery school.

Why study elementary education at Shippensburg?

Founded in 1871 as a teachers college, Shippensburg University has a rich heritage of preparing some of the finest teachers in the region. Our outstanding faculty is devoted to designing and teaching a demanding, relevant, philosophical, and clinical curriculum. Our graduates have one of the highest pass rates on the Praxis teacher certification exams among the 14 Pennsylvania state universities. Our program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education which verifies our programs meet high national standards of excellence.

What is the curriculum at Shippensburg University?

The Teacher Edcuation Program is an expression of a body of collaborative decision-makers who perform within a conceptual framework of assessing, planning and reflecting. As such, faculty and candidates are committed to the following institutional standards:

1. Promote supportive educational environments that are respectful of and responsive to individual differences.

2. Reflect continuously upon one's own performance and demonstrate progress in the development of the knowledge, skills and dispositions required for effective professional performance.

3. Demonstrate the use of best practices and technologies in order to positively impact the achievement of all learners.

4. Demonstrate the use of appropriate authentic assessments and analytical data to make informed decisions that impact learner achievement.

5. Collaborate with critical others in making informed decisions within educational contexts.

The elementary education curriculum is fourfold:

1. General education requirements, including courses in the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences;

2.  Professional elementary education courses which include basic courses such as Mathematics in the Elementary School, Elements of Instruction, Language and Reading in the Elementary School, Child Development, etc.;

3.  An elected minor or area of concentration for in-depth study; and

4.  Clinical field experiences which include observation and participation in teaching in a variety of elementary school settings.

What is an area of concentration?

The elementary education major requires a minimum of 120 credit hours. Each student is required to elect a concentration or minor in an academic field which requires at least 15 credit hours.

A minor is selected from university-recognized minors which have direct applicability to elementary education. They include: anthropology, art, coaching, communication/journalism, criminal justice, early childhood education, economics, English (literature or writing emphasis), ethnic studies, geography/earth science, history, international studies, modern languages (French, German, Spanish), music literature, philosophy, political science, psychology, public administration, sociology, reading, speech, theater, and women’s studies.

A concentration is an in-depth area of study jointly identified by the issuing department and the teacher education department. Selection can be made from the following: biology, chemistry, and mathematics.

What is clinical field experience?

In addition to the regular coursework, our students have substantial field experience. They are required to complete at least 60 hours of clinical field experience, 30 of which are course related and 30 are self-initiated. The self-initiated experience includes actual classroom contact at Grace B. Luhrs University Elementary School and other public schools as well as less formal situations in which our students have leadership responsibility for children and use educational strategies and techniques, such as church classes, tutoring, children’s camp or playground, and coaching. Field experiences must include urban, suburban, and rural settings.

For two semesters in the junior and senior years, our elementary education students undergo intense clinical field experience. The professional semester is a prerequisite and preparation for student teaching. It includes a block of in-depth courses along with a clinical field experience.

Student teaching occurs for one semester during the senior year. It involves a 16-week assignment at elementary grade levels in schools in southcentral Pennsylvania.

How is Grace B. Luhrs University Elementary School used?

Grace B. Luhrs University Elementary School is an alternative elementary school operated on the SU campus through cooperation between the university and the Shippensburg Area School District. It includes kindergarten through fifth grade and is taught by Shippensburg University College of Education faculty and Shippensburg Area School District teachers. The curriculum is designed to reflect sound developmental and educational practices to meet the unique needs of the children and families served. Demonstration lessons are regularly taught which focus on the application and implementation of current research-based educational techniques. Our students have frequent opportunities to observe and to participate in the teaching process at Grace B. Luhrs University Elementary School.

What is the job outlook?

Our elementary education majors do well in the job market. Representatives from 37 school districts from Pennsylvania and four neighboring states recruit our graduates on campus. In addition, other districts call our job hotline as vacancies occur.