Elementary Education

Overview

Whether you want to finish your bachelor’s degree, change your career, or expand your knowledge and earnings horizon, the University of Saint Mary has the Kansas City area’s most flexible and accelerated undergraduate degree-completion program.

If you’re thinking about returning to the classroom, make no mistake: now is the time. In this competitive job market, a college degree is more important than ever.

USM’s adult degree-completion program in elementary education offers the same high level of academic excellence as our traditional day classes.

Our elementary education program is interactive, integrative, and meaningful. When you complete your degree, you’ll be prepared to be a critical and reflective teacher, well-versed in the latest trends in teaching.

You’ll have the knowledge and insight to create a values-based learning environment. And our caring instructors will give you a solid foundation in the political and moral nature of teaching today.

You’ll benefit from small classes, and your advisors are committed to your success. They’ll work diligently with you to arrange a schedule that fits your life.

Is it for you?

• The University of Saint Mary undergraduate degree-completion program is conveniently located in Overland Park near 115th and Pflumm
• It’s a perfect option for anyone with an associate’s degree looking to take the next step, a student with a variety of college under their belt wanting to focus on a major, or a professional looking to continue their education and return to the classroom
• You do not have to take courses in a particular order. That means if you have a particularly heavy work schedule or personal scheduling issue, you may choose the courses that best fits your schedule
• It’s flexible. You can opt to go full-time, taking more than one course; or part-time, taking once course at a time
• USM offers affordable tuition and financial aid. Our undergraduate degree- completion program is an excellent value

Flexible Scheduling

USM’s accelerated degree-completion program is designed to meet the needs of busy individuals balancing work and family commitments.
We offer:

• Evening classes that primarily meet one night a week
• Terms begin five times a year. Start at any term

We recommend that you submit your application materials at least three weeks prior to the start of the term.

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All USM education programs are accredited by the Kansas State Department of Education and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the standard of excellence in teacher preparation.

The Education Department at University of Saint Mary is hosting an accreditation visit by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) in November 2011. Interested parties are invited to submit third-party comments to the visiting team. Please note that comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of professional education programs offered, and should specify the party’s relationship to the institution (i.e., graduate, present or former faculty member, employer of graduates).
We invite you to submit written comments to: 

Board of Examiners
NCATE
2010 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20036-1023

Or by e-mail to: callforcomments@ncate.org

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Curriculum

USM’s adult degree-completion program offers you the same high quality education of as the university’s traditional undergraduate program in a more convenient and flexible accelerated evening format.

Elementary Education is a requirement for those who want to teach in elementary school, grades K-6.

Visit our Course Descriptions tab for more information on what classes you’ll be taking and how many credit hours you’ll need.

Core Courses

General Education Courses

IDEA Seminar I
IDEA Seminar II

History — six credit hours from the following areas

• U.S. History
• European History
• Electives

English — nine credit hours, comprised of two electives and a literature course

Oral Communications — three credit hours

Art — three credit hours

Social and Behavioral Science — six credit hours from the following areas:

• Psychology of Childhood & Adolescence (required)
• Sociology
• Psychology
• Government
• Political Science
• Geology

Science and Math — nine credit hours from the following areas:

• Natural Science with Lab
• Physical Science with Lab
• Math

Elementary Education Core Classes
 

Professional Educational: Foundation Core

• ED 402 — Foundations of Education: Social, Cultural, Philosophical, and Historical (includes field Experience)
• ED 428 — Psychological Foundations
• ED 430 — Educating Exceptional Children & Youth

Professional Educational: Curriculum Core

• ED 411 — Teaching Social Studies in Diverse Settings
• ED 412 — Seminar I: Curriculum & Assessment in Diverse Settings (includes field experience)
• ED 466  — Teaching Mathematics in Elementary School
• ED 460 — Aesthetic Experience in Elementary School
• ED 522 — Methods of Teaching Diverse Learners
• ED 467 — Teaching Science and Health in Elementary School
• ED 573 — Integrated Reading and Language Arts Methods
• ED 579 — Supervised Reading Instruction (includes field experience)

Final Semester

• ED 590 — Seminar III: Professional Collaborations
• ED 594 — Classroom Management and Student Motivation
• ED 595 — Student Teaching 

Admission Requirements

The USM adult degree-completion program is ideally suited for students who have completed roughly two years of college (approximately 60 credit hours), although those with fewer credit hours are accepted.

You will work one-on-one with a faculty member to integrate your past learning and college credits into our program—or to complete any required courses you’re lacking within the context of the program.

Other admission requirements are:

• Completed application and $25 application fee
• Official transcripts from all previous colleges and universities attended
• Minimum grade point average of 2.0 (on a scale of 4.0)

Prerequisites

You will be best prepared to enter the undergraduate degree-completion program if you have completed the following college courses.

Your advisor will work with you if you’re missing any of these requirements.

Communications (nine credit hours)

• English Composition I
• English Composition II
• Communications

Humanities (six credit hours/two courses). Must include   courses from at least two of these five areas:

• Literature/Theatre
• Foreign Language
• History
• Humanities (Art, Humanities, Religion, Photography)
• Philosophy

Social Sciences/Economics (six credit hours/two courses). Must   include courses from at least two of these five areas:

• Anthropology
• Economics
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Sociology

Science/Mathematics (nine credit hours). Must include one   course from a lab science and one from mathematics.

• Life Sciences (Biology)
• Physical Science (Astronomy, Chemistry, Geology, Physics)
• Mathematics (Equivalent to USM MA185 or above

Graduation Requirements

The USM adult degree-completion program is geared toward students who have completed roughly two years of college (approximately 60 credit hours).

USM requires the successful completion of 128 credit hours to earn a bachelor’s degree.

Faculty

Program Advisor

Pat Howard
Overland Park Campus Director &  Degree-Completion Advisor
(913) 319-3002
HowardP@stmary.edu

Elementary Education

Patricia Carnahan, Instructor in Education
B.S., Kansas State University; M.S., Kansas State University; Ed.D., University of Phoenix

Lee Gruss, Instructor in Education
B.S., Moorhead State University; M.A.T. Webster University

Maureen Hogan, Education
B.S., University of Missouri, Columbia; M.A., University of Missouri-Kansas City

Frances Juiliano, SCL, Associate Professor of Education
B.S., Saint Mary College; M.A., University of Northern Colorado; Ed.D., University of Kansas

Gwen Landever, Department Chair
B.S., University of Kansas; M.S., University of Kansas; Ed.D., Baker University 

Mary Pat Lenahan, SCL, Associate Professor of Education
B.A., Saint Mary College; M.A., University of San Francisco; Ph.D., University Missouri-Kansas City

Colleen Markman, Education
B.S.E., University of Kansas; M.S.Ed., University of Kansas

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Ollie Bogdon, Ph.D., Assistant Professor & Director of Education Programs, Overland Park Campus; B.S. and M.S., Cornell University, Ph.D., University of Missouri—Kansas City

Stuart Phipps, Ph.D., Assistant Professor & Field Experience Coordinator; B.A., Avila College, M.A.T., Emporia State University; Ed.S., Ph.D., University of Missouri—Kansas City

Frequently Asked Questions

• Will all of my credits transfer?
• How long will it take to finish my degree?
• Where will my classes be held?
• Is this an accelerated program?
• What do I need to be admitted?

Will all of my credits transfer?

They generally will, as long as they come from an accredited college or university. You can only have 64 transfer credit hours from a two-year school, so you might have an excessive number of two-year school hours. They will transfer and show up on your transcript, but they will not count toward your degree.

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How long will it take to finish my degree?

There is no firm answer to this. Usually there are several factors to consider:

• How many credit hours you are transferring to USM?
• How many classes you want to take each term?
• The rotation of classes between the sites

To get a better sense of timeframe, speak with a program advisor.

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Where will my classes be held?

You may take classes at any of our sites. The Overland Park Campus will offer all of the classes for all of the degree-completion programs. Our Kansas City, Kansas site will have applied psychology, business administration, and sociology classes. The main campus in Leavenworth will also offer some evening classes.

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Is this an accelerated program?

Yes. Other than elementary education, most of the classes are in an 8-week format. Classes start August (Fall I), October (Fall II), January (Spring I), March (Spring II) and May (Summer Session).

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What do I need to be admitted?

• An application with a $25 application fee
• An official transcript from any other college or university that you have attended
• A 2.0 cumulative grade point average in your previous coursework