Interdisciplinary Studies Major for Elementary Teacher Certification

Kristin Rainville, EdD

Director of Teacher Preparation

Office Phone: [phone]

E-mail: [e-mail]

The Interdisciplinary Studies (IS) major is the major for students who wish to teach in elementary school.  It provides students with a balanced set of courses in the arts and sciences—English, history, political science, geography, mathematics, biology, chemistry, and physics—as well as the opportunity to explore one of the aforementioned areas in depth. The IS major consists of 42-43 credits; the variation in the number of credits required for the major is dependent on the area of concentration that students select (those concentrating in math or science take more credits). Designed for students seeking certification in elementary education, this major is open to all.

The IS major is a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree, with a minimum of 120 credits required for graduation. Students with a major concentration in English/language arts or social studies earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. Students with a major concentration in mathematics or science earn a Bachelor of Science degree. The Farrington College of Education collaborates closely with the academic departments in the College of Arts and Sciences which provides most of the courses within this major. 

The IS major consists of foundational core courses of 30-32 credits, as well as a concentration of 6–8 credits. Coursework in one of the following areas of concentration is required: English/arts, social studies, mathematics, or science. Coursework for concentrations in English/arts and social studies must be at the 300 level or higher.

• For English/arts, students choose one course in the Department of English and one course in the Department of Art and Design or in the Minor in Performing Arts (6 credits).
• For social studies, the two courses must be in the same department—students choose courses in foreign languages and culture, history, political science, psychology, or sociology. For history, one of the two courses must be HI 301 Historical Method & Criticism (6 credits).
• For math, two semesters of calculus are required: MA 151 and MA 152—Calculus I and II—4 credits each (8 credits).
• For science, students choose all courses in the Department of Biology or the Department of Chemistry and Physics. For those seeking a concentration in science/biology, take BI 111 and BI 114 instead of BI 109. For those seeking a concentration in chemistry or physics, concentration must include the 3-credit CH 117 General Organic & Biochemistry: An Overview or the 4-credit PY 100 Elements of Physics (6–7 credits).

Scholarships

The Farrington College of Education awards three endowed and one termed scholarships to undergraduates. For further information, contact the Dean’s Office at 203-365-4791.

Endowed Scholarships

Isabelle T. Farrington Award—Available to students in the junior or senior class who demonstrate superior academic performance and potential and have a sincere interest in and practice of the principles of citizenship and religion for which Sacred Heart University has been established.

Sandra Lynn Nobili Award—Given to a Catholic student entering senior year and planning a career in elementary education. The recipient must have a cumulative average of 3.0 or better.

Robert M. Paul Award—Available to full-time undergraduate students. Preference is given to a Bridgeport Catholic high school graduate who has demonstrated financial need.

Termed Scholarship

Noyce Scholarship Award - Available to students in the junior or senior class who seek certification in Secondary Biology or Mathematics and agree to teach in a high-needs school upon completion of the five-year program.  Scholarship extends to the graduate year (3 years).

Certification Requirements

Students admitted to the elementary teacher certification programs must complete the courses listed below for Connecticut state certification. For students following the 5+ MAT/Certification program, an additional 24 credits of graduate study in education is required to complete the MAT degree. The terms of study of the certification courses are indicated here. The additional course schedule is provided on the plan of study developed with your Education faculty advisor on admission to the college and program. Candidates must complete all 10 prerequisite certification courses before entering student teaching. Candidates must complete the courses with an average grade of B or better. For students accepted into the elementary teacher certification program, the sequence of those courses required for certification is as follows:

Fall Junior Year

ED 300	Educational Psychology	3.00 Credit(s)
ED 302	Education in the U.S.	3.00 Credit(s)

Spring Junior Year

ED 301	Introduction to Exceptionalities	3.00 Credit(s)
ED 304	Multicultural Education	3.00 Credit(s)

Fall Senior Year

ED 403	Children's Literature	3.00 Credit(s)
ED 404	Classroom Management: Elementary	3.00 Credit(s)

Spring Senior Year

ED 401

Educational Technologies

3.00 Credit(s)

Summer 1 Fifth Year

ED 554

Elementary Curriculum & Methods: Reading, Writing & Language Arts

3.00 Credit(s)

Summer 2 Fifth Year

ED 556

Elementary Curriculum & Methods: Mathematics & Science

3.00 Credit(s)

Fall Fifth Year

ED 555

Elementary Curriculum & Methods: Social Studies, Health & Physical Education

3.00 Credit(s)

Spring Fifth Year

ED 589

Student Teaching Seminar: Elementary

6.00 Credit(s)

During the fifth year, candidates are expected to complete 24 additional credits of graduate education courses to complete the MAT degree.

For further specifics about the Teacher Education programs or about advanced teaching degrees and certification programs for those who have already earned a bachelor’s degree, contact the faculty of the Director of Teacher Preparation at [phone].