Elementary Education

After you’ve completed Level 1 coursework and been formally admitted to the Teacher Education Program, you’ll move on to your specialized certification in elementary education. As an elementary education teacher candidate, you will:

1. Complete Level 2 and 3 coursework and clinical experiences for the Teacher Education Program.
2. Complete coursework in one of five majors:
   • English Language Arts
   • Integrated Science
   • Mathematics
   • Social Studies
   • Comprehensive
     If you choose the Comprehensive major, you’ll specialize in one of four areas:
     • Early Childhood
     • Spanish
     • Special Education – Emotional Impairments
     • Special Education – Learning Disabilities
3. Pursue any additional minors or endorsements.

Major Subject Areas

Click the links below to download PDF course requirement worksheets for each major program of study. These worksheets can be used to plan your schedule in Degree Works. You can learn more about using the Degree Works planning tools by visiting the Registrar Office's Degree Works Information Page.

• Comprehensive
  In addition, choose one of the specializations below:
  • Early Childhood
  • Spanish (K–12)
  • Special Education – Emotional Impairments (K–12)
  • Special Education – Learning Disabilities (K–12)
  • Freshman Fall 2019 Special Education Emotional Impairments (K-12)
  • Freshman Fall 2019 Special Education Learning Disabilities (K-12)
  • Freshman Fall 2019 Special Education E.I. and L.D. (K-12)
• English Language Arts
• Integrated Science
• Mathematics
• Social Studies

You can also pursue a K–12 endorsement to teach dance, music, kinesiology/physical education or visual arts. These programs prepare you to teach at the elementary or secondary level and are offered through the Secondary Education track.

Additional Minors & Endorsements

Minors

In addition to your major area of study and required coursework, you may choose to pursue an additional endorsement in a minor area of study. Elementary track students can choose from:

• Dance
  Please note: A dance education minor cannot be declared after January 1, 2018
• Kinesiology (physical education) – cannot declare after Spring 2019 
  Please note: The Michigan Department of Education is changing the endorsement options, so Spring 2019 was the last semester individuals could declare a Physical Education minor. The new endorsement includes both Health and Physical Education.  A new combined Health and Physical Education major is being offered through the Secondary Education Track. 
• Mathematics

English as a Second Language Endorsement

Hope College offers a K–12 endorsement in teaching English as a Second Language to all elementary and secondary track students. Earning this 24 credit-hour endorsement and completing MTTC Test 086 certifies you to teach in an ESL classroom setting, enhancing your marketability. Coursework is in addition to requirements for your major and minor and cannot be declared as a stand-alone minor.  Use the course worksheet and sample 4 year plans provided at the links below to learn how to add the English as a Second Language Endorsement.

• English as a Second Language Course Requirement Worksheet

Sample 4 Year Plans with an English as a Second Language Endorsement:

• Comprehensive Major with an Early Childhood Minor
• Comprehensive Major with a Spanish K-12 Major
• English Language Arts Major

Teacher Certification

All program requirements must be completed for students to be recommended for a teaching certificate in the State of Michigan. Learn more about certification requirements.