Why Choose Interdisciplinary Elementary Education at Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ?
The years between kindergarten and fifth grade shape how children see learning for the rest of their lives, and this degree prepares you to be the teacher who makes those years count. Built for future K-5 educators, the program blends real content knowledge across reading, math, science, and social studies with the teaching methods to bring each subject to life for young learners. It is the required major for anyone pursuing Elementary Education (K-5) licensure at Bethel.
What makes this program distinct is how much time you spend in real classrooms. Through multiple field experiences in assigned K-12 settings, you observe, practice, and grow well before your clinical teaching semester, so you step into your own classroom already comfortable in front of students. You also learn to teach every child, with focused coursework in working with exceptional learners and differentiating instruction for diverse needs.
What You’ll Learn
In this program, you will learn:
- A grasp of the historical, philosophical, and sociological foundations of American education
- An understanding of educational psychology, including development, learning, motivation, and classroom management
- Content knowledge across the four major elementary areas of science, social studies, math, and reading
- A comprehensive foundation in reading, including phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, comprehension, and the science of reading
- Effective strategies for teaching reading, math, science, and social studies in elementary classrooms
- The ability to identify and support exceptional learners across the IDEA disability categories
- Skill in differentiating instruction for diverse, inclusive classrooms
- Familiarity with children's and adolescent literature for the elementary years
- The use of art and music as tools for learning and creativity in the classroom
- Real classroom experience through multiple supervised field placements
Courses You'll Take
These are the core education courses that define the major:
EDU 212C, Foundations of Education
EDU 323, Educational Psychology
EDU 214, Elementary Content Knowledge
EDU 336, Foundations of Reading
EDU 349, Teaching Reading in Elementary Schools
EDU 337, Teaching Science and Social Studies in Elementary Schools
EDU 338, Teaching Math in Elementary Schools
ELD 314, Survey of Children with Exceptionalities
ELD 438, Differentiated Instruction
ELD 453, Reading for Exceptional Learners
ENG 302, Advanced Grammar
ENG 305, Child and Adolescent Literature
SOC 214, The Family
ART 401 or MUS 407, Art or Music for the Classroom
EDU 221B, Field Experience I
EDU 321B, Field Experience II
Career Possibilities
Elementary School Teacher (K-5)
Leads a classroom of young learners, planning and teaching lessons across core subjects and supporting each child's growth.
Reading Interventionist
Works with students who need extra literacy support, using research-based strategies to build reading skills.
Special Education Teacher
Supports students with exceptionalities through individualized instruction and accommodations, with appropriate additional licensure.
Instructional Aide
Assists a lead teacher with instruction, classroom management, and small-group support.
Curriculum Support Specialist
Helps develop and organize instructional materials and lessons that align with learning standards.
Education Program Coordinator
Designs and leads learning programs for schools, museums, libraries, or community organizations.
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