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Elementary Education
Ready to make a difference in the classroom? Bradley’s Elementary Education program prepares you for the State of Illinois Professional Educator’s License, qualifying you to teach grades 1-6. With an embedded ESL endorsement, you’ll also be certified to teach multilingual learners from PreK-12, making you even more valuable to school districts as they serve one of the fastest-growing student groups in Illinois.
From your first year, you’ll gain hands-on classroom experience, with field opportunities that continue throughout your time at Bradley. This real-world preparation ensures you’re confident and classroom-ready by graduation. Plus, as an Illinois State Board of Education-accredited program, you can trust you’re receiving high-quality training that meets state and industry standards.
The Department of Education is accredited by the Illinois State Board of Education. It also is a member of the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI).
Experiential Learning
Starting first semester, you’ll gain real-world teaching experience through clinical field experience courses, working directly with students in local schools.
Other opportunities include:
- Job fairs, networking events, and meetings with in-service teachers and administrators, helping you build connections early.
- Join student organizations like the Bradley Student Education Association (BSEA) to network with educators from Peoria, across Illinois, and beyond.
- Work with children at interactive events such as:
- Literacy Around the World – Promoting global stories and reading engagement
- PNC Worldwide Day of Play – Encouraging movement and active learning
- Parade of Flags – Celebrating cultural diversity through education
Program Details
Courses for a Balanced Curriculum – 9-12 hrs.
- ETE 260: Children’s Literature (3 hrs.)
- ETE 107: Conceptualizing Math for Teachers I (3 hrs.)
- ETE 108: Conceptualizing Math for Teachers II (3 hrs.)
- Grammar/Linguistics (ENG 311/312) (3 hrs.)
- Geography (HIS 336/337) (3 hrs.)
- MTH 109: College Algebra (3 hrs.)
- THE 335: Children’s Theatre (3 hrs.)
Professional Education Requirements – 77 hrs.
- ETE 100: Technology Applications (1 hr.)
- ETE 107: Conceptualizing Math for Teachers I (3 hrs.)
- ETE 108: Conceptualizing Math for Teachers II (3 hrs.)
- ETE 115: The History of Education in the United States (3 hrs.)
- ETE 116: Field Experience – Schools and Schooling (1 hr.)
- ETE 194: Physical Education in the P-6 Schools (1 hr.)
- ETE 196: Fine Arts in the P-6 Schools (2 hrs.)
- ETE 210: Human Development from Birth to Young Adulthood (3 hrs.)
- ETE 211: Human Development from Birth to Young Adulthood and Effective Teaching Field Experience (1 hr.)
- ETE 215: Strategies for Effective Teaching (3 hrs.)
- ETE 230: Adapting Curriculum to Support Inclusive Environments (3 hrs.)
- ETE 234: Language Development (3 hrs.)
- ETE 235: Methods of Teaching English Language Learners (3 hrs.)
- ETE 236: Assessment of English Language Learners (3 hrs.)
- ETE 237: Practicum for Teaching English Learners I (1 hr.)
- ETE 240: Practicum for Teaching English Learners II (2 hrs.)
- ETE 260: Children’s Literature (3 hrs.)
- ETE 270: Physical Development and Health (1 hr.)
- ETE 280: Exploring Diversity: Learners, Families and Communities (3 hrs.)
- ETE 306: Novice Teaching Experience 1-6 (3 hrs.)
- ETE 310: Teacher Performance Assessment (1 hr.)
- ETE 313: Methods of Teaching Literacy I: Reading, Writing and Language Arts K-2 (3 hrs.)
- ETE 315: Methods of Teaching Literacy II: Reading, Writing and Language Arts 3-8 (3 hrs.)
- ETE 335: Methods of Teaching Social Studies 1-6 (3 hrs.)
- ETE 336: Methods of Teaching Science 1-6 (3 hrs.)
- ETE 339: Methods of Teaching Mathematics 1-6 (3 hrs.)
- ETE 345: Guiding Learners: Creating Safe, Inclusive Learning Environments (3 hrs.)
Student Teaching Courses (choose one) – 12 hrs.
- ETE 494: Student Teaching for LBS I and 1-6 (12 hrs.)
- ETE 495: Student Teaching in Early Childhood and 1-6 (12 hrs.)
- ETE 498: Student Teaching 1-6 (12 hrs.)
Career Opportunities
Bradley’s elementary education completers and graduates boast a 100% pass rate on Illinois licensure tests, including the national edTPA portfolio evaluation. That success means you can enter the teaching profession or graduate school right after graduation. As an educator, you can consider future graduate studies in curriculum and instruction or other fields.
Minor
This minor includes opportunities to step into campus leadership positions to practice what you learn. The program gives you flexibility to explore topics in ethics, government, human relations, organizational management and race and power.
The minor is directed by leaders in the Institute for Principled Leadership in Public Service and the Lewis J. Burger Center for Student Leadership and Public Service.