95%
of our elementary and secondary teacher candidates pass rates on the Basic Skills and Pedagogy licensure exams on the first try.
Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
Elementary educators work with young learners (K-6), teaching basic skills and knowledge that form the foundation of learning. In St. Thomas' Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education program, you'll be inspired to be the kind of ethical, caring teacher children remember for never giving up on them. Teaching at this level requires an ability to connect with learners, their families and their communities. We help you develop a unique combination of content knowledge, pedagogy, understanding of individual development and learning styles.
Why Study Elementary Education at St. Thomas?
Through the elementary education major, you'll become licensed as a K-6 generalist. You also will:
- Gain the knowledge and skills to have a positive impact on students in the K-6 classroom.
- Become part of a supportive network of fellow students, alumni and faculty that will inspire and sustain you throughout your career.
- Learn from expert faculty closely connected with the K-12 classroom who are here to help you shape your path to your own classroom.
Program Overview
Course Requirements
Fieldwork is coupled with wide-ranging coursework from literacy to mathematics, technology and psychology. A concentration or minor is strongly recommended in one or more of the following areas:
- STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)
- Engineering Education
- English as a Second Language
- Exceptionalities
Four-Year Plan
Our faculty are here to develop your four-year plan catered to your personal and professional goals.
Degree Awarded
Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
Mentored Clinical Practice
Your teaching experience begins as early as your first education course. We support you as you develop your teaching skills. Throughout your student teaching, you’ll have regularly scheduled seminars with faculty and peers. The mentorship you receive will ensure your student teaching experience meets your needs and facilitates your growth, both personally and professionally.
Course Requirements
Course Requirements
Fieldwork is coupled with wide-ranging coursework from literacy to mathematics, technology and psychology. A concentration or minor is strongly recommended in one or more of the following areas:
- STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)
- Engineering Education
- English as a Second Language
- Exceptionalities
Four-Year Plan
Four-Year Plan
Our faculty are here to develop your four-year plan catered to your personal and professional goals.
Degree Awarded
Degree Awarded
Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
Mentored Clinical Practice
Mentored Clinical Practice
Your teaching experience begins as early as your first education course. We support you as you develop your teaching skills. Throughout your student teaching, you’ll have regularly scheduled seminars with faculty and peers. The mentorship you receive will ensure your student teaching experience meets your needs and facilitates your growth, both personally and professionally.
A Community of Educators
Anne Howard, Adjunct Faculty
Anne Howard wants her elementary education students, and their students, to see that science is EVERYWHERE – in cooking, criminology, skating, fishing and farming. So she asks her students to look for the science within something they're passionate about. The challenge includes coming up with creative science experiments, interdisciplinary activities, displays and more to draw children in. “The main goal in elementary science is getting kids excited about science,” said Howard.
Jenna Laleman '18, K-5 STEAM teacher at Nativity of Our Lord School in St. Paul.
“Forty-five minutes into my first St. Thomas STEM class, I discovered what an awesome opportunity this learning focus could be for students, and found myself having lots of fun,” said Jenna Laleman. “STEM gets at core math and science concepts while also developing life-long learning skills like collaboration, communication and real-word problem solving.”
Hayley Dunning, ’20
Haley felt like she belonged when she arrived at St. Thomas from Colorado to major in elementary education and step up to the mound as pitcher for the varsity softball team. “I love the community here. Everyone is here to support you,” said Dunning. Case in point, she was about to present her first lesson to fourth graders and was feeling “scattered.” A quick meeting with Associate Professor Amy Smith, and she had her focus, along with a vocabulary worksheet to help her with her lesson. “The professors here really model how to be a teacher,” she said.
Possible Careers
- Elementary School Teacher
- Education coach or consultant
Faculty With Real Experience
Amy Smith, Associate Professor of Teacher Education
April 25th is National Poem in Your Pocket Day – a perfect opportunity for elementary literacy teachers to highlight poetry. Amy Smith has taken the tradition to new heights with a PoeTree and a PoeTea. She selects a poem for each of her education students and places it on a miniature tree. She also serves tea to mark the occasion. “Teachers need to understand that teaching is all relational first. Content and skills come after,” said Smith. Being given a poem chosen just for them is something kids and teachers alike remember.
Debbie Monson, Associate Professor, Math Education, STEM
Making paper airplanes in class is not only guaranteed to capture the imagination of elementary students – teachers get excited, too. Debra Monson uses the activity to teach mathematics as well as engineering concepts and literacy. After an oral reading of the book The Glorious Flight, St. Thomas students made and flew their own paper planes, some nosediving on take-off, others gliding. Monson prompted the future educators to consider what they learned about design and redesign, as well as the many ways they could couple math with the activity - among them, measuring flight distance and speed, and the weight, symmetry and surface area of the planes.
Chientzu Candace Chou, Professor of Learning Technology, Department of Educational Leadership
Dr. C. Candace Chou is passionate about exploring various ways to use emerging technologies to enhance student learning. She has conducted research and published studies in high-quality peer-reviewed journals on the topics of mobile learning, digital badges, digital equity, digital storytelling and virtual reality. Her most recent conference presentation at the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education annual conference received the Outstanding Paper Award. She is a 2015-16 Fulbright Senior Scholar, conducting a year-long research on K-12 learners’ access to technology-enriched learning opportunities in remote and rural areas in Taiwan.
Muffet Trout, Associate Professor of Teacher Education
With a master’s degree from Stanford University and a bachelor’s degree in diplomacy and world affairs, Dr. Muffet Trout provides world-class teacher preparation with a focus on social justice. She has more than 25 years of teaching experience spanning pre-school through doctoral-level classrooms in urban, suburban and rural settings. Although her specialty lies in social studies education, you’ll learn care theory and effective teaching practices that cultivate relationships – preparing you for a lifetime of successful educating, regardless of your teaching field.
Quick Facts
8
Tommies have been named Minnesota Teacher of the year since 2000.
1
St. Thomas offers the only undergraduate elementary full-year, supervised teaching placement in the metro area.
Career Building
Diverse field experiences in public, private, parochial and charter schools where we have deep relationships help you gain confidence in your teaching. Your teaching experience begins as early as your first education course and continues throughout the program. In year four, you’ll have a year-long clinical practice in a single classroom setting.
Interact with national and local awarding-winning authors and illustrators at the annual Hubbs Children's Literature Conference.
Teachers Educating and Creating Hope (T.E.A.C.H.) is a student club that connects future teachers with resources to further their professional development outside of the classroom. The club provides a networking community within the profession and unique opportunities for members to explore the diverse field of education.
Take the Next Step
There is more to learn about St. Thomas; including our ranking as a Best Value School by U.S. News & World Report, the many classroom and extracurricular activities that will be part of your student experience and so much more. Schedule a visit to see our beautiful campus or start your application today.