Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education (Online)

This course is an overview of Christian theology intended to acquaint the student with key theological concepts as they relate to everyday life. This introductory course satisfies the core curriculum requirement for Christian doctrine for students who are not in a program that requires the enhanced church-work core.

This course is an overview of the Old Testament intended to acquaint the student with its background, content, and messages. This introductory course satisfies the core curriculum requirement for Bible content, but students who take it must also take REL 2020 New Testament elsewhere in their programs. It is required for students in a church-work program.

This interdisciplinary course promotes scientific literacy by developing student understanding of how the natural sciences, social sciences, and technology are practiced, while at the same time providing the foundation for the required lab sciences and social sciences courses. By focusing on both the natural and social sciences, students will learn the types of questions asked by each, the ways knowledge is acquired in each, and how to evaluate the claims made by each. The increased impact of computer science (modelling, algorithms, big data) on science and society will also be covered. Ethical considerations of the uses of scientific knowledge form a key part of this course.

This course is a beginning college-level composition course designed to provide a variety of challenging writing tasks addressing a number of vital ideas and issues. Through critical reading and discussion of essays written by influential thinkers such as Niccolo Machiavelli, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Virginia Woolf, students learn to write thoughtful, logical, creative essays incorporating research when appropriate.

This course explores the importance that physical activity and nutrition play in maintaining wellness in our lives.

This course is an interaction laboratory course designed to help candidates improve their interpersonal relationship skills and acquire competence in facilitating human relations activities in the classroom. Candidates will examine their attitudes and values toward and improve their techniques in working with learners, parents, colleagues, and community and minority groups. This course serves as an introduction of human relations' components to education majors.

This course presents an overview of texts for children - early childhood through the early adolescent years - along with criteria for making appropriate literature selections. Attention is also given to authors and illustrators and the awards presented by various committees. Practical strategies for stimulating children’s interest in books will also be discussed. Additionally, students will also explore social issues as related to literature and develop an understanding of critical literary theories.

This course is the capstone course of the education program, ideally taken just prior to student teaching. This course emphasizes key tenets of the profession: school law; ethics and judgment of educators, including conflict mediation and resolution; legal responsibilities of teachers; finding and securing a meaningful job, including the Call process to a Lutheran school; and ongoing professional development.
Prerequisite: minimum score of 01 in 'Upper Division Status'.

This course examines the science, research, and methodology behind literacy instruction. Effective literacy instruction involves an acute understanding of the reading process, which includes oral language development, concepts of print, phonological awareness, phonics/decoding, vocabulary, word knowledge, fluency, and comprehension. Pre-service teachers will assume responsibility for understanding this complex process and delivering an effective instruction using varied instructional approaches, curricular materials, and assessment tools. The results of successful instruction are readers who possess not only basic reading skills but also the ability to read for multiple purposes, including other curricular areas. This course will also consider how to support the reading development of English Language Learners, students with disabilities, students from low socioeconomic status, and students from diverse backgrounds. The practicum component of this course enables students to put some of these strategies and skills into teaching practice. ED 2204 and ED 2358 meet the requirements for Wisconsin Act 20 Reading and Language Arts compliance.

This course is the second course in a two-course sequence that presents an integrated approach to mathematics content and methods appropriate for early childhood, elementary, and middle school pre-service teachers. Emphasis is on constructing knowledge through problem solving, communication, reasoning, connecting mathematical ideas, representation, and generalization. Pre-service teachers will develop their conceptual understanding of ‘‘uncertainty’’ and ‘‘geometry’’. Topics include collecting, representing and analyzing data; concepts of chance; strategies for determining probability of events; functions; properties of 2-D and 3-D figures; transformations, similarity and symmetries; measurement systems; perimeter, area, volume, and surface area; and topology.

This course examines the development of children as writers from ages birth to grade 3. This course includes a study of children’s language development, specifically the relationship between language and writing, stages of writing development, supporting the child as a writer through Writer's Workshops and Writing Conferences. The course explores the use of writing as a way to communicate to a variety of audiences for multiple, authentic purposes. A deep understanding of the process writing approach is developed through course work. The course will examine current research and instructional strategies. ED 2204 and ED 2358 meet the requirements for Wisconsin Act 20 Reading and Language Arts compliance.

This course ​provides students with multiple reading and learning strategies to use across the curriculum. Theoretical models of reading and instructional approaches to the teaching of reading are reviewed, including developmentally appropriate instructional methods for teaching phonics and spelling, and assessments for instruction and accountability. Students will learn evidence-based instructional methods for: concepts of print, phonological awareness, phonics, word recognition, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.
Prerequisites: minimum score of 01 in 'Upper Division Status' and ED 204^* or ED 2204^*.
^* May be taken concurrently.

This course will focus on the broader function of the school within the community. The course highlights successful approaches for developing partnerships with community stakeholders, including the parents of students. Additionally, research and innovative partnership models will be explored.
Prerequisite: minimum score of 01 in 'Upper Division Status'.

This course prepares candidates to design and deliver effective social studies instruction in the elementary classroom. Through the integration of literacy strategies, candidates will explore how to foster critical thinking, inquiry, and communication skills within the context of social studies content. The course emphasizes curriculum planning, innovative teaching methods, and the use of digital tools to engage students and make social studies relevant to their lives. Practical applications will focus on developing a deep understanding of social studies standards and creating interdisciplinary connections.

This course focuses on the methods and curriculum necessary for teaching science in the elementary classroom. Candidates will explore how to engage students in scientific inquiry, using evidence-based practices to investigate real-world phenomena. Emphasis is placed on helping learners develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills through hands-on exploration and experimentation. The course also examines the integration of technology and engineering concepts to foster a deeper understanding of science content and its applications.

This course is the first fieldwork adventure in the online teacher licensure program, designed to immerse candidates in real-world educational environments. This course offers a unique opportunity to observe and participate across diverse classroom settings, where candidates gain hands-on experience and insights into the teaching profession. Candidates connect theory to practice as they engage with students, educators, and the day-to-day life of schools.

ED 4503 Field Experience 2 offers the candidate the opportunity to continue their journey in the online teacher licensure program by observing classrooms in an educational setting of their choice. This course provides candidates with immersive experiences in diverse teaching environments, allowing them to witness a variety of instructional methods and strategies firsthand. Through reflective analysis of their observations, candidates deepen their understanding of effective teaching practices, enhancing their skills as future educators.

In this field experience course, candidates immerse themselves in a classroom environment of their choosing, observing and reflecting on diverse teaching practices within the online teacher licensure program. This course encourages candidates to explore instructional strategies and classroom dynamics, fostering a deeper understanding of effective educational methods. Through these reflections, candidates strengthen the foundational skills needed for impactful teaching.

ED 4507 Pre-Student Teaching Clinical Experience 2 is the final pre-student teaching course in the online licensure program, designed to further prepare candidates for their upcoming student teaching semester. Building on prior fieldwork, candidates will refine their skills in planning, delivering, assessing, and adjusting instruction within a classroom aligned to their licensure area. Depending on their licensure requirements, some candidates may complete more than one clinical experience during this course, allowing for a broader range of teaching practice. This capstone experience fulfills the remaining pre-student teaching requirements, equipping candidates with the hands-on expertise essential for a successful transition to student teaching.

This course includes the culminating portfolio presentation that provides verification that the teacher candidate has completed all Elementary Education program and Wisconsin licensure requirements. The final portfolio presentation provides evidence of the teacher candidate’s proficiency in and application of the Wisconsin Teaching Standards with artifacts from student teaching. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction can change licensure requirements at any time, so students should consider applying for the license shortly after receiving endorsement. Students will enroll concurrently in ED 4421 and/or ED 4422.
Prerequisite: minimum score of 01 in 'Upper Division Status'.

This course is an overview of the historical background and major teachings of the documents of The Book of Concord, the confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Students will explore the confessional heritage of the Lutheran tradition as expressed in the ancient creeds and in confessions of the Lutheran Reformation, which serve as norm for contemporary teaching and practice among Lutherans and as a model for confessing the faith today.
Prerequisites: (REL 100, 1000, 201, 2010, 203 or 2020) and (REL 110, 204, 1100 or 2030).

This course helps the student develop knowledge of resources and skills necessary to teach religion in the elementary or secondary classroom. This course is required for Lutheran education majors. Students will explore theological, relational, social, and educational issues related to teaching the faith. While focusing upon topics and issues related to a Lutheran school setting, much of what is explored will be useful as one considers present and future vocations in parish, family or other educational settings. Note: Completion of Core theology courses is a requirement prior to taking this class.

A Survey of Christian Thought examines how Christians have probed and presented the mystery and majesty of God's interaction with human beings, from early Christian writers to modern theologians. With a focus on close reading of primary sources, discussion, and writing, this course familiarizes students with some of the most influential thinkers of Christianity, allowing them to explore themes that have fascinated generations of Christians through the centuries.
Prerequisites: (REL 100, 1000, 201, 2010, 203 or 2020) and (REL 110, 204, 1100 or 2030).

This course is an overview of the historical background and major teachings of the documents of The Book of Concord, the confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Students will explore the confessional heritage of the Lutheran tradition as expressed in the ancient creeds and in confessions of the Lutheran Reformation, which serve as norm for contemporary teaching and practice among Lutherans and as a model for confessing the faith today.
Prerequisites: (REL 100, 1000, 201, 2010, 203 or 2020) and (REL 110, 204, 1100 or 2030).

This course is an overview of Christian theology intended to acquaint the student with key theological concepts as they relate to everyday life. This introductory course satisfies the core curriculum requirement for Christian doctrine for students who are not in a program that requires the enhanced church-work core.

This course is an overview of the Old Testament intended to acquaint the student with its background, content, and messages. This introductory course satisfies the core curriculum requirement for Bible content, but students who take it must also take REL 2020 New Testament elsewhere in their programs. It is required for students in a church-work program.

This interdisciplinary course promotes scientific literacy by developing student understanding of how the natural sciences, social sciences, and technology are practiced, while at the same time providing the foundation for the required lab sciences and social sciences courses. By focusing on both the natural and social sciences, students will learn the types of questions asked by each, the ways knowledge is acquired in each, and how to evaluate the claims made by each. The increased impact of computer science (modelling, algorithms, big data) on science and society will also be covered. Ethical considerations of the uses of scientific knowledge form a key part of this course.

This course is a beginning college-level composition course designed to provide a variety of challenging writing tasks addressing a number of vital ideas and issues. Through critical reading and discussion of essays written by influential thinkers such as Niccolo Machiavelli, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Virginia Woolf, students learn to write thoughtful, logical, creative essays incorporating research when appropriate.

This course explores the importance that physical activity and nutrition play in maintaining wellness in our lives.

This course is an interaction laboratory course designed to help candidates improve their interpersonal relationship skills and acquire competence in facilitating human relations activities in the classroom. Candidates will examine their attitudes and values toward and improve their techniques in working with learners, parents, colleagues, and community and minority groups. This course serves as an introduction of human relations' components to education majors.

This course presents an overview of texts for children - early childhood through the early adolescent years - along with criteria for making appropriate literature selections. Attention is also given to authors and illustrators and the awards presented by various committees. Practical strategies for stimulating children’s interest in books will also be discussed. Additionally, students will also explore social issues as related to literature and develop an understanding of critical literary theories.

This course is the capstone course of the education program, ideally taken just prior to student teaching. This course emphasizes key tenets of the profession: school law; ethics and judgment of educators, including conflict mediation and resolution; legal responsibilities of teachers; finding and securing a meaningful job, including the Call process to a Lutheran school; and ongoing professional development.
Prerequisite: minimum score of 01 in 'Upper Division Status'.

This course examines the science, research, and methodology behind literacy instruction. Effective literacy instruction involves an acute understanding of the reading process, which includes oral language development, concepts of print, phonological awareness, phonics/decoding, vocabulary, word knowledge, fluency, and comprehension. Pre-service teachers will assume responsibility for understanding this complex process and delivering an effective instruction using varied instructional approaches, curricular materials, and assessment tools. The results of successful instruction are readers who possess not only basic reading skills but also the ability to read for multiple purposes, including other curricular areas. This course will also consider how to support the reading development of English Language Learners, students with disabilities, students from low socioeconomic status, and students from diverse backgrounds. The practicum component of this course enables students to put some of these strategies and skills into teaching practice. ED 2204 and ED 2358 meet the requirements for Wisconsin Act 20 Reading and Language Arts compliance.

This course is the second course in a two-course sequence that presents an integrated approach to mathematics content and methods appropriate for early childhood, elementary, and middle school pre-service teachers. Emphasis is on constructing knowledge through problem solving, communication, reasoning, connecting mathematical ideas, representation, and generalization. Pre-service teachers will develop their conceptual understanding of ‘‘uncertainty’’ and ‘‘geometry’’. Topics include collecting, representing and analyzing data; concepts of chance; strategies for determining probability of events; functions; properties of 2-D and 3-D figures; transformations, similarity and symmetries; measurement systems; perimeter, area, volume, and surface area; and topology.

This course examines the development of children as writers from ages birth to grade 3. This course includes a study of children’s language development, specifically the relationship between language and writing, stages of writing development, supporting the child as a writer through Writer's Workshops and Writing Conferences. The course explores the use of writing as a way to communicate to a variety of audiences for multiple, authentic purposes. A deep understanding of the process writing approach is developed through course work. The course will examine current research and instructional strategies. ED 2204 and ED 2358 meet the requirements for Wisconsin Act 20 Reading and Language Arts compliance.

This course ​provides students with multiple reading and learning strategies to use across the curriculum. Theoretical models of reading and instructional approaches to the teaching of reading are reviewed, including developmentally appropriate instructional methods for teaching phonics and spelling, and assessments for instruction and accountability. Students will learn evidence-based instructional methods for: concepts of print, phonological awareness, phonics, word recognition, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.
Prerequisites: minimum score of 01 in 'Upper Division Status' and ED 204^* or ED 2204^*.
^* May be taken concurrently.

This course will focus on the broader function of the school within the community. The course highlights successful approaches for developing partnerships with community stakeholders, including the parents of students. Additionally, research and innovative partnership models will be explored.
Prerequisite: minimum score of 01 in 'Upper Division Status'.

This course prepares candidates to design and deliver effective social studies instruction in the elementary classroom. Through the integration of literacy strategies, candidates will explore how to foster critical thinking, inquiry, and communication skills within the context of social studies content. The course emphasizes curriculum planning, innovative teaching methods, and the use of digital tools to engage students and make social studies relevant to their lives. Practical applications will focus on developing a deep understanding of social studies standards and creating interdisciplinary connections.

This course focuses on the methods and curriculum necessary for teaching science in the elementary classroom. Candidates will explore how to engage students in scientific inquiry, using evidence-based practices to investigate real-world phenomena. Emphasis is placed on helping learners develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills through hands-on exploration and experimentation. The course also examines the integration of technology and engineering concepts to foster a deeper understanding of science content and its applications.

This course is the first fieldwork adventure in the online teacher licensure program, designed to immerse candidates in real-world educational environments. This course offers a unique opportunity to observe and participate across diverse classroom settings, where candidates gain hands-on experience and insights into the teaching profession. Candidates connect theory to practice as they engage with students, educators, and the day-to-day life of schools.

ED 4503 Field Experience 2 offers the candidate the opportunity to continue their journey in the online teacher licensure program by observing classrooms in an educational setting of their choice. This course provides candidates with immersive experiences in diverse teaching environments, allowing them to witness a variety of instructional methods and strategies firsthand. Through reflective analysis of their observations, candidates deepen their understanding of effective teaching practices, enhancing their skills as future educators.

In this field experience course, candidates immerse themselves in a classroom environment of their choosing, observing and reflecting on diverse teaching practices within the online teacher licensure program. This course encourages candidates to explore instructional strategies and classroom dynamics, fostering a deeper understanding of effective educational methods. Through these reflections, candidates strengthen the foundational skills needed for impactful teaching.

ED 4507 Pre-Student Teaching Clinical Experience 2 is the final pre-student teaching course in the online licensure program, designed to further prepare candidates for their upcoming student teaching semester. Building on prior fieldwork, candidates will refine their skills in planning, delivering, assessing, and adjusting instruction within a classroom aligned to their licensure area. Depending on their licensure requirements, some candidates may complete more than one clinical experience during this course, allowing for a broader range of teaching practice. This capstone experience fulfills the remaining pre-student teaching requirements, equipping candidates with the hands-on expertise essential for a successful transition to student teaching.

This course includes the culminating portfolio presentation that provides verification that the teacher candidate has completed all Elementary Education program and Wisconsin licensure requirements. The final portfolio presentation provides evidence of the teacher candidate’s proficiency in and application of the Wisconsin Teaching Standards with artifacts from student teaching. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction can change licensure requirements at any time, so students should consider applying for the license shortly after receiving endorsement. Students will enroll concurrently in ED 4421 and/or ED 4422.
Prerequisite: minimum score of 01 in 'Upper Division Status'.

This course is an overview of the historical background and major teachings of the documents of The Book of Concord, the confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Students will explore the confessional heritage of the Lutheran tradition as expressed in the ancient creeds and in confessions of the Lutheran Reformation, which serve as norm for contemporary teaching and practice among Lutherans and as a model for confessing the faith today.
Prerequisites: (REL 100, 1000, 201, 2010, 203 or 2020) and (REL 110, 204, 1100 or 2030).

This course helps the student develop knowledge of resources and skills necessary to teach religion in the elementary or secondary classroom. This course is required for Lutheran education majors. Students will explore theological, relational, social, and educational issues related to teaching the faith. While focusing upon topics and issues related to a Lutheran school setting, much of what is explored will be useful as one considers present and future vocations in parish, family or other educational settings. Note: Completion of Core theology courses is a requirement prior to taking this class.

A Survey of Christian Thought examines how Christians have probed and presented the mystery and majesty of God's interaction with human beings, from early Christian writers to modern theologians. With a focus on close reading of primary sources, discussion, and writing, this course familiarizes students with some of the most influential thinkers of Christianity, allowing them to explore themes that have fascinated generations of Christians through the centuries.
Prerequisites: (REL 100, 1000, 201, 2010, 203 or 2020) and (REL 110, 204, 1100 or 2030).

This course is an overview of the historical background and major teachings of the documents of The Book of Concord, the confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Students will explore the confessional heritage of the Lutheran tradition as expressed in the ancient creeds and in confessions of the Lutheran Reformation, which serve as norm for contemporary teaching and practice among Lutherans and as a model for confessing the faith today.
Prerequisites: (REL 100, 1000, 201, 2010, 203 or 2020) and (REL 110, 204, 1100 or 2030).