Elementary Education Major Program 

The Elementary Education major offered by the Department of Education, Development, Teaching & Learning (EDTL) prepares teacher candidates to be outstanding K-8 educational leaders and facilitators of learning.
 

Program Highlights

• Eligibility for a Washington State teaching certificate/initial endorsement in Elementary Education.
• Major specializes in kindergarten to grade 8 education 
• Seven (7) quarters including student teaching (80 course credits/16 credits student teaching) 
• Elementary school field experiences every quarter
• Thematic quarters to fully explore concepts and deepen learning
• Knowledgeable and experienced faculty who focus on teaching in elementary grades
• Practical classroom management, instructional, and assessment needed by beginning educators.
• Focus on diverse learners and whole child development and learning.
• High standards are set and manifest in observable ways, such as:
  • The integration of authentic materials and technology
  • Best practices in pedagogy and assessment
  • The blending of standards-based instruction and creative expression
  • The accentuation of a positive classroom environment through classroom management techniques that empower students to be intrinsically motivated to learn

Do I need a Dual or Second Endorsement?  What is an endorsement?

An endorsement is a Washington state teaching certificate area.  Any education major may add a second endorsement.

Reasons for Adding a Second/Dual Endorsement

The Department of Education, Development, Teaching & Learning (EDTL) strongly recommends teacher candidates to obtain a second/dual endorsement in available minors programs.  

1. Elementary Education is not a shortage area for educators in Washington State. Due to this, it may be difficult to secure a position, in a district where you would like to work, without an additional endorsement.  At Central Washington University, we have many endorsable minor programs that can be combined with your Elementary Education major. 

2. Imagine looking for your dream job: Where do you want to work?  Who do you want to work with?  Put yourself into the shoes of a principal or hiring committee - Who would you want to hire?  What skill sets do you need?  Principals and other hiring personnel look for candidates who can serve in more than one role within their schools.  It is a good idea to speak with teachers, principals, and/or individuals working in Human Resources in the district you hope to be hired - specifically inquiring upon their needed areas of endorsement.

3. Having a second/dual endorsement allows you to specialize and become more knowledgeable in areas such as Bilingual Education, Early Childhood Education, Highly Capable Learners (Gifted Ed), Literacy, Middle-Level Humanities, Special Education and Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL)

4. Most teacher education programs in the State of Washington require dual endorsements.  This means other educators with whom you will be competing for entry-level teaching positions, will have both an elementary education major and a second/dual endorsement.

The EDTL Department has structured the Elementary Education major so that you may graduate as quickly as possible. This requires students to have all of their General Education Requirements and prerequisites completed prior to beginning the program.
 

Admissions Phase 1: Elementary Education Program Prerequisites

• Visit with a pre-program advisor in the EDTL Department, Black Hall 204-30, or at your Center location.

Admissions Phase 2: Admission to the Teacher Certification Program

Requirements for Teacher Certification Program

• Declare a major. Discuss minor and/or second major options with your advisor.
   
• Complete MATH 164—Foundations of Arithmetic (5) and MATH 226—Mathematics for Teachers: Geometry & Measurement (4) with a “C” or higher.

• Obtain proof you have purchased a minimum of $1 million liability insurance. Insurance can be purchased through CWU by completing the Professional Liability Insurance Enrollment form.
   
• Obtain valid WSPI/FBI fingerprint clearance and maintain it throughout the program.  Fingerprints are valid for 2 years only.
  • You may obtain WSPI/FBI fingerprints at the Office of Field Experiences, located in Black Hall 228, or from your local Educational Service District (ESD).

To schedule an appointment with the Office of Field Experiences, please call Traci Pantano at 509-963-2661.  The fingerprinting process takes approximately 15-20 minutes. Please schedule an appointment when you have enough time to complete the process.  Fingerprinting appointments fill quickly, therefore, if you are unable to keep your fingerprinting appointment, you must notify OFE immediately to cancel.  Please do not bring children with you. 

Prior to Your Appointment

Each individual must complete the Individual Information Form for Electronic Fingerprinting prior to the appointment. If you cannot complete the form prior to your appointment, arrive ten (10) minutes early to complete it. All the information on the form is required. Failure to complete the form will result in no prints being taken.

During your Appointment

You must present a government-issued form of identification (i.e., driver's license, military id or passport). Your CWU Connection Card is NOT an acceptable form of government-issued identification.

The fee associated with the fingerprint process is $80.39. You may use your CWU ID to pay for the fee (you must present your CWU ID card before your account can be charged), or you may pay by check for the exact amount. If you do not have a CWU student account, the CWU Certification Office can only accept a check for the exact amount of the fingerprinting fee. We do not accept cash or debit/credit cards.

PLEASE NOTE: Non-traditional candidates and/or candidates who have had specific past careers/hobbies may experience difficulty with fingerprint clearance. You may be asked to return to have your fingers scanned one or more times if the CWU Certification Office is unable to process your prints the first time. Please allow enough time for clearance should this be the case.

Clearance

If you believe the results of your background check from the FBI are not complete or are wrong, you have an opportunity to complete or challenge the accuracy of the information by sending a written challenge request to the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division to the following address

FBI CJIS Division

Attn: Correspondence Group

1000 Custer Hollow Road

Clarksburg, WV 26306
 

Your written request to the FBI should clearly identify the information that you feel is inaccurate or incomplete and should include copies of any available proof or documents that support your claim. The correspondence group will contact appropriate agencies to try to verify or correct challenged entries for you. When the FBI receives official communication from the agency with jurisdiction over the matter, the FBI will make appropriate changes and notify you of the outcome. (This process is described in 28 C.F.R.)