Education, Elementary
Admissions and Records
- Email: admissions@svcc.edu
- Phone: (815) 835-6273
- Fax: (815) 456-4240
- Visit Admissions to view Hours
Associate in Arts Degree with a Concentration in
Education, Elementary (680)
The elementary education concentration will prepare students to transfer to a four-year institution to earn a bachelor's degree in elementary education and teacher licensure (Grades 1-6) in the state of Illinois.
Follow this link for career information.
Transfer Considerations
General education and major field requirements vary significantly by intended transfer institution. Students who have already chosen the university to which they plan to transfer should consult that institution's catalog or department advisor and an SVCC academic advisor in planning their program. Transfer guides for some universities are available at svcc.edu/transfer.
- IMPORTANT NOTE ON GENERAL EDUCATION RECOMMENDATIONS: The courses recommended in the suggested program are beyond the minimum requirements necessary for completion of general education courses for an Associate of Arts degree. The general education recommendations listed below are for a student's full licensure requirements. Some of these additional courses may be completed after a student transfers, even with an Associate of Arts degree. Licensure information is based on the Illinois State Board of Education's administrative rules for teacher education preparation.
Competitive Admissions
Since admission is competitive, completing the recommended courses does not by itself guarantee admission.
- A minimum grade point average of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale), dependent on the transfer school requirements, is required for program admission.
- Students will also need to achieve a C or better grade in all general education coursework.
Special Considerations
- To teach in Illinois public schools (grades 1-6), teachers must be licensed by the state of Illinois. Information regarding Illinois standards for Professional Educator License is available on the Illinois State Board of Education Website at isbe.net.
- Criminal History Check Policy: Illinois law requires Illinois school boards to conduct a criminal background investigation on applicants for employment. This law also prohibits the employment of a person who has been convicted of committing or attempting to commit any one or more of a number of offenses. At present, offenses include first degree murder; any Class X felony; juvenile pimping; soliciting for a juvenile prostitute; exploitation of a child; obscenity; child pornography; harmful material; criminal sexual assault; aggravated criminal sexual assault; offenses set forth in the Cannabis Control Act; and crimes defined in the Illinois Controlled Substance Act. Employment must be denied whether the offenses and/or conviction occurred inside or outside the state of Illinois.
Students who perform classroom observations through coursework at Sauk Valley Community College may be required by the selected school/site to undergo a criminal background check prior to placement. Students may be denied at any observation site based on the results of that check.
Students who feel their criminal background may exclude them from observation or employment should seek counseling with SVCC faculty or advising staff early in their program to determine how it may affect their participation and eligibility.
Program Contacts at Sauk Valley Community College
- Academic Advising, 815/835-6354
- Amanda Eichman, Professor of Education and English, 815/835-6319
Minimum Total Credit Hours - 64-66 Hours
Suggested Course Sequence
First Semester - 18 Hours
Second Semester - 15-16 Hours
Third Semester - 16-17 Hours
Fourth Semester - 15 Hours
Footnotes
* Suggested electives include: EDU 176, 221, 275, PED 220, PSY 103