Overview

The elementary education program will prepare you for certification in all subjects for grades K-5 and in your major or minors in grades 6-8. Plan on choosing either a major or two minors in subject areas such as language arts or science. To graduate within four years, choose core courses that are recommended for elementary education.

Careers in Education - Elementary

As a graduate of this program, you might find work as a:

• Teacher
• Educational Researcher
• School Superintendent
• Curriculum Supervisor

See job placement rates for Calvin grads.

Student involvement

Volunteer at local elementary schools; work with churches in Grand Rapids to coordinate youth-centered events; become a Big Brother or Big Sister; lead on-campus children's programs through the Ecosystem Preserve, chemistry department, English department and more.

Course Requirements 2011-12

Education - Elementary

The undergraduate teacher education program is described in detail in the Teacher Education Program Guidebook, which is available from the Education Department. The Guidebook includes specialized core requirements, criteria for admission to the teacher education program, criteria for admission to directed teaching (the full-time student teaching semester) and requirements for teacher certification. Normally, students apply to be admitted into the teacher education program during their sophomore year.

(84-85 semester hours)

• CAS-214 Creating Comm Arts in the Classroom
• GEOG-241 Geography of USA and Canada
• One from:
  • HIST-151 History of the West & World I
  • HIST-152 History of the West & World II
• ENGL-101 Written Rhetoric
• One from:
  • ENGL-340 Children's Literature
  • ENGL-341 Adolescent Literature
• EDUC-102 Introduction to Education
• EDUC-202 The Learner in the Educational Context: Development and Diversity
• EDUC-210 Music and Art in the Elementary Classroom
• EDUC-302 Curriculum and Instruction for Diverse Learners
• EDUC-303 Curriculum and Instruction: Practicum
• EDUC-305 Teaching Social Studies in the Elementary and Middle School
• EDUC-309 Teaching Religion to Children and Adolescents
• EDUC-322 Introduction to Methods of Teaching Reading: Elementary
• EDUC-326 Reading/Language Arts in the Elementary School
• EDUC-345 Directed Teaching: Elementary
• EDUC-398 Integrative Seminar: Intellectual Foundations of Education
• IDIS-110 Foundations of Information Technology
• IDIS-205 Societal Structures and Education
• KIN-223 Movement and Health Education in the Elementary Classroom
• SCES-121 Content & Nature of Science
• SCES-122 Science Content & Skills for Elementary Teachers
• One from:
  • SCES-312 Teaching Sci in Elem School
  • SCES-313 Teaching Science in El. School
• MATH-221 The Real Number System and Methods for Elementary School Teachers
• MATH-222 Geometry, Probability, Statistics, and Methods for Elementary School Teachers
• MATH-323 Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary and Middle School
• One from:
  • PER-101 Jogging and Road Racing
  • PER-112 Special Topics in Personal Fitness
• PER-150 Educational Dance

Scholarships

Dollar amounts reflect awards given for the 2010-11 academic year.

Rose M. Bloem Scholarship

• award amount: $2,500
• junior or senior or post BA
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Edgar G. Boeve' Art Scholarship

• award amount: $2,100
• junior or senior
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need required; preference to those with an interest in pursuing a career in art
• apply through the art and art history department

Maurice and Eunice Bolt Scholarship

• award amount: $1,500
• senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; preference to those who wish to teach music or art within a public school system
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Helen Bonzelaar Art Education Scholarship

• award amount: $2,300
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need not required; major in art education
• apply through the< a href="http://www.calvin.edu/academic/art/scholarships/">art and art history department

Bette and John Bosma Teacher Education Scholarship

• award amount: $1,600
• junior, senior or post BA
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; preference will be given to those who are returning to college after some time away from campus or because of a change in career choice
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Katherine and Annette Bratt Scholarship

• award amount: $2,00
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; elementary education; preference to those wanting to teach in a Christian school
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Virginia and Edward L. Brock Scholarship

• award amount: $2,000
• any class level
• GPA 2.8+
• financial need required, preference to African American, Native American or Hispanic students
• automatic consideration

Gysbert and Marie Bron Scholarship

• award amount: $2,000
• junior or senior
• GPA of 2.5+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

John L. De Beer Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $700
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need reqiured
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Roy De Boer Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $500
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Otto J. and Adeline De Bruyn Family Scholarship

• award amount: $1,750 to $3,500
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.3+
• financial need required
• physical education students apply through the Kinesiology Department; education students apply through the Calvin Portal

Kevin Dale De Rose Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $3,500
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Bruce and Joanne Deckinga/Compassion International Scholarship

• award amount: $3,100
• sophomore, junior, or senior pursuing elementary education or a pre-med program
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need required; preference to students who worked on a garbage truck or play the organ
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Louis (Luke) and Helen DeJonge Scholarship

• award amount: $1,500
• sophomore, junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need is considered
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Eugene and Joan Deur Scholarship

• award amount: $2,400
• sophomore or junior education major, pursuing a pre-ministry program or missions
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

DeVries-Post Teacher Education Scholarship

• award amount: $1,700
• junior or senior
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need required; preference to ethnic minorities or students with physical disabilities
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Brian E. Dyk Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $1,500
• first-year
• financial need required; first preference West Side Christian School graduate
• submit a letter to the Financial Aid Office (finaid@calvin.edu) describing your qualifications by February 1

Find Us Faithful - Lester and Gladys DeVries Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,600
• sophomore, junior or senior
• GPA 2.5+
• financial need considered; preference to graduates of Kalamazoo Chr. HS or Illiana Chr. HS
• apply through the Calvin Portal

John and Mary Gideon Family Scholarship

• award amout: $1,500
• junior or senior
• GPA 2.5+
• financial need required; must demonstrate strong Christian character and the ability to deal with and connect with their students
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Beulah B. Goodenough Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $1,600
• senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; pursuing elementary education; preference to those who have attended a public school themselves
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Marsha Greenwood Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $1,700
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Arthur J. and Laura Jean Gritter Family Scholarship

• award amount: $1,900
• junior or senior
• GPA of 2.5+
• financial need required; preference given to those whose character development has been influenced through their own disability or to those who have a strong record of volunteerism or extracurricular activities
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Mae Groeneveld Scholarship

• award amount: $1,950
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need considered; pursuing a K-8 education program; preference to students from Western Michigan
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Carl and Sandra Gronsman Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,100
• junior or senior
• GPA 2.75+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

James and Catherine Haveman Family Scholarship

• award amount: $1,700
• first-year
• HS GPA 2.5+
• financial need required
• automatic consideration

Reverend Bernard Haven Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $3,200
• first-year
• HS GPA 3.0+
• financial need considered; child of missionary
• submit a letter to the Financial Aid Office (finaid@calvin.edu) describing your qualifications by February 1

Donna T. and Louis H. Hekman Scholarship

• award amount: $2,700
• junior or senior
• financial need required; pursuing elementary education; exemplify a passion for teaching, think creatively and focus on the ability of each child to succeed
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Dwight and Sally Fox Hillard Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $1,500
• sophomore, junior, or senior
• GPA 3.00+
• financial need not required; preference to students wanting to pursue a public school teaching career
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Honderd Family Special Education Scholarship

• award amount: $2,000
• junior or senior
• GPA of 2.75+
• financial need considered; preference to those who have participated in Friendship Ministries
• scholarship application available through the Calvin Portal
• apply through the Calvin Portal

David and Shirley Hubers Scholarship

• award amount: $2,500
• junior or senior pursuing a program in nursing or education
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Paul W. Johnson Education Scholarship

• award amount: $2,200
• junior or senior
• GPA of 2.5+
• financial need required; interest in teaching English or language arts
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Gerald L. Klein Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $2,500
• junior or senior
• GPA of 2.75+
• financial need considered; preference to those who demonstrate Christian character and concern for others through active involvement in church and community activities
• apply through the Calvin Portal

John A. Kuiper Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,250
• junior, senior or post-BA
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; interest in teaching in a Christian school in an urban setting
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Hazel Lawson Teacher Education Scholarship

• award amount: $1,900
• junior, senior or post-BA
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

J.C. Lobbes Scholarship

• award amount: $1,450
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Arthur and Kathryn Mervenne Education Scholarship

• award amount: $2,700
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

MJB Educational Scholarship

• award amount: $1,900
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need considered
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Jay and Lois Mol Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,500
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+ (typically)
• financial need required; preference to those wanting to pursue a career in Christian education
• apply through the Calvin Portal

William and Matilda Monsma Scholarship

• award amount: $2,500
• sophomore, junior, or senior
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need required; preference to students from the South Chicago area
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Patti J. Morren Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $1,800
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; exhibit qualities such as compassion, love and care-giving
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Tom and Marcia Nobel Education Scholarship

• award amount: $3,000
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; pursuing an elementary education program
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Jacob and Jeannette Nyenhuis Scholarship

• award amount: $1,800
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; interest in teaching at the middle or upper school levels
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Kenneth and Katherine Olthoff Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,250
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need considered
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Mike and Bette Oostendorp Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,600
• junior or senior
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need required; participation in volunteer activities
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Bernard and Jane Pekelder Special Education Scholarship

• award amount: $2,000
• junior, senior or graduate student
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Lori Powell Central Ohio Scholarship

• award amount: $600
• first-year
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need not required; resident of the central OH area
• submit a letter to the Financial Aid Office (finaid@calvin.edu) describing your academic qualifications and career goals by February 1

Prince Family Scholarship

• award amount: $1,000; $2,000
• junior or senior
• GPA of 2.5+
• financial need required; demonstrate evidence of a great love for children by involvement in volunteer activities
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Pauline Roskam Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $1,900
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.3+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Owen and Bonnie Rottschafer Scholarship

• award amount: $3,000
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required
• automatic consideration for prospective students; returning students apply through the Calvin Portal

Roland and Ellen Schroder Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,700
• sophomore
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need required; at least one parent who graduated from Calvin College
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Schultze-Weemhoff Family Christian Education Scholarship

• award amount: $2,100
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need not required; pursuing a career in teaching in a Christian school
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Marion and Nella Snapper Family Scholarship

• award amount: $1,950
• senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need considered; preference to those from the State of Washington
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Angeline Nydam Spoelhof Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $2,200
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.3+
• financial need required; planning to teach at the elementary or secondary level
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Dr. Barney Steen Scholarship for Physical Education

• award amount: $2,050
• senior
• GPA of 2.0+
• financial need considered
• apply through the kinesiology department

Norma Weiden Sterk Teaching Scholarship

• award amount: $2,000
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Jennie and Sylvia Stielstra Scholarship

• award amount: $2,500
• any class level
• HS GPA 3.0+; Calvin GPA 2.7+
• financial need required; preference given to children of missionaries
• prospective students submit a letter to the Financial Aid Office (finaid@calvin.edu) describing your qualifications by February 1; returning students apply through the Calvin Portal

James and Dolly (Hofman) Strikwerda Family Scholarship

• award amount: $1,900
• junior or senior
• GPA 2.5+
• evidence that the scholarship is needed to help meet educational expenses
• apply through the Calvin Portal

John R. and Annie Struyk Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,000
• junior or senior
• financial need required;demonstrate Christian character and involvement in extracurricular activities in the community and college
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Bernard and Harriet Te Velde Family Scholarship

• award amount: $3,000
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; planning to work with persons with disabilities; preference to those from California
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Kenneth and Phyllis Timmer Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,000
• junior
• GPA 2.5+
• financial need considered; Michigan resident
• automatic consideration

Van Til Family Special Education Scholarship

• award amount: $2,600
• junior
• GPA of 3.3+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

George J. Van Wesep Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $2,600
• junior or senior
• GPA 2.5+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Henry Van Andel Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $2,200
• sophomore, junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; first preference to those majoring in art history, then to those majoring in art education
• apply through the art and art history department

John and Marian Vanden Berg Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,100
• any class level
• GPA 2.5+
• financial need required; participation and leadership out of the classroom
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Vander Ark Family Scholarship

• award amount: $1,900
• junior or senior
• GPA of 2.75+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Vander Haagen Family Scholarship for 5th Year Education Students

• award amount: $1,700
• 5th year senior or post-BA
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Margaret and Donald Vander Haar Scholarship

• award amount: $1,300
• junior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; be pursuing a major or minor in the sciences within the education (elementary or secondary) program
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Arnold and Janice VanderBok Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,700
• first-year
• financial need required; speak Spanish fluently; preference to Hispanic students
• prospective students submit a letter to the Financial Aid Office (finaid@calvin.edu) describing your qualifications by February 1; returning students apply through the Calvin Portal

Judith Vroon Vander Zee Music Education Scholarship

• award amount: $1,400
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the music department

Janet D. Van Dyke Education Scholarship

• award amount: $1,950
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; pursuing an elementary education program
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Frank and Helen Veldhuizen Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $2,300
• sophomore, junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need not required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Rodolfo E. Vilaro Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $2,000
• junior or senior
• GPA 2.5+
• financial need required; preference given to an hispanic student
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Betty Vredevoogd Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $1,600
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.2+
• financial need not required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Theodore C. Wagenaar Scholarship

• award amount: $400
• any class level
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need required; planning to participate in an off-campus interim or semester
• automatic consideration

John and Theresa B. Wierenga Family Scholarship

• award amount: $1,100
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; intending to teach in the sciences
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Jeannette and Menno Wolters Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,300
• first-year
• GPA 2.5+
• financial need required
• automatic consideration

Johanna Kempers Wyngaarden Scholarship

• award amount: $5,100
• any class level
• GPA 2.5+
• financial need required; be pursuing an art studio major or an art education major OR be a music major concentrating in piano performance
• apply through the art and art history departmentor the music department

Wendell and Dorothy Yonker Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,450
• junior or senior
• GPA 2.5+
• financial need required
• automatic consideration

View all scholarship opportunities

Faculty

Ken Bergwerff Assistant Professor Department of Geology Geography & Environmental Studies kbergwer@calvin.edu (616) 526-6371 Albert Boerema Associate Professor Department of Education ajb37@calvin.edu (616) 526-6036 Debra Buursma Assoc Prof, director, graduate program dbuursma@calvin.edu (616) 526-6231 Ann Dimmick Adjunct adimmick@calvin.edu (616) 526-6694 Debra Freeberg Professor Department of Communication Arts & Sciences freede@calvin.edu (616) 526-7011 Jane Genzink Teaching Staff Department of Education jeg3@calvin.edu (616) 526-6204 Nancy Greidanus Student Teacher Supervisor Department of Education njg2@calvin.edu (616) 526-6201 Donald Hettinga Professor Department of English hett@calvin.edu (616) 526-6520 Nancy Hull Assistant Professor Department of English nhull@calvin.edu (616) 526-6728 Clarence Joldersma Professor Department of Education cjolders@calvin.edu (616) 526-6596 Robert Keeley Professor, dept chair Department of Education rkeeley@calvin.edu (616) 526-6816 Johanna Kuyvenhoven Associate Professor, sabbatical int & spr Department of Education jck8@calvin.edu (616) 526-7629

James Rooks Dean of Teacher Education, Assoc Professor, Department of Education jrooks@calvin.edu (616) 526-8694 Gary Schmidt Professor Department of English schg@calvin.edu (616) 526-6540 Kara Sevensma Instructor Department of Education kcs4@calvin.edu (616) 526-6597 Jan Simonson Professor Department of Education jms52@calvin.edu (616) 526-6826 Ronald Sjoerdsma Professor Department of Education sjoero@calvin.edu (616) 526-6213 Timothy Steenstra Teaching Staff Department of Education tjs32@calvin.edu (616) 526-7713 Philip Stegink Assistant Professor Department of Education pstegink@calvin.edu (616) 526-6237 Marj Terpstra Assistant Professor Department of Education mat7@calvin.edu (616) 526-6190 Jill Unema Teaching Staff Department of Education junema67@calvin.edu (616) 526-6028 Susan Verwys Assistant Professor Department of Education skv5@calvin.edu (616) 526-6509 Marji Voetberg Adjunct mvoetb87@calvin.edu (616) 526-8572