Recommended GUR for Elementary Education

Recommended General University Requirements for Elementary Education Students

Note: course designations can change at any time. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure the class they are taking meets General University Requirements (GURs) 

The following General University Requirements (GURs) meet Western Washington University requirements as well as Washington State endorsement competencies.

  • The Science Education sequence in section 3 was developed primarily for potential teachers and is the preferred choice. Some community colleges offer a similar sequence.

  • Students at community colleges should consult with their advisors to ensure that their course selections match the WWU GUR requirements.

     

1. Communication (8 credits minimum)

  • ENG 101 Writing & Critical Inquiry (5 credits)
    and
    one of the following
  • COMM 101  Fundamentals of Speech (4 credits)
  • EDUC 309 Storytelling: Oral Narrative in History, Culture & Society (4 credits)
  • A modern language (e.g., Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Russian, Spanish) (4-5 credits)
     

2. Quantitative & Symbolic Reasoning (8 credits minimum)

  • MATH 112 Functions & Algebraic Methods (5 credits) with a minimum grade of C
    OR
  • MATH 111 Algebraic Methods for Teachers (5 credits) with a minimum grade of C
    and
  • MATH 381 & 382  Teaching K-8 Mathematics (4 credits) taken after admission to the Elementary Education program
     

3. Natural Sciences

  • SCED 201 (4) – Matter and Energy in Physical Systems (Elementary Education Program Prerequisite)
  • and, any two of the following
  • SCED 202 (4) – Matter and Energy in Early Systems
  • SCED 203 (4) – Matter and Energy in Life Systems
  • SCED 204 (4) - Matter and Energy in Chemical Systems

4. Humanities (12 credits minimum)

  • ART 109    Visual Dialogue (3)
  • DNC 230    Making Movement Art (3)
  • ENG 214    Introduction to Shakespeare (5)
  • ENG 215    Introduction to British Literature (5)
  • ENG 216    Introduction to American Literature (5)
  • HIST 199    Thinking Historically (4)
  • REL 231    Introduction to Study of Religion (5)
  • REL 232    Myth and Folklore (5)
  • HUMA 243    Art and Ideas (5)
  • REL 333    Religion in America (5)
  • MUS 104    Art of Listening to Music (3)
  • MUS 105    Music in Western World (3)
  • PHIL 112    Introduction to Philosophy: Moral Issues (3)
  • PHIL 113    Introduction to Philosophy: Religion (3)
  • PHIL 355    Aesthetics and the Philosophy of Art (3)
  • THTR 101    Introduction to the Art of Theatre (3)
  • Modern Language at 200 level or above (French, German, Russian, Spanish)
    AND
  • HIST 103    American History to 1865 (4) OR
  • HIST 104    American History since 1865 (4)
     

5. Social Sciences (12 credits minimum)

  • ANTH 201 (5) - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
  • ANTH 247 (5) - Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology
  • DRR 109 (4) - Scholarship of Teaching and Learning *Freshman only
  • ENVS 204 (4) - Human Geography
  • HLED 202 (3) - Perspectives of Health and Wellness
  • JOUR 190 (5) - Introduction to Mass Media
  • LING 201 (5) - Introduction to Language and Linguistics
  • PLSC 101 (5) - Government & Politics in the Modern World
  • PLSC 250 (5) - The American Political System
  • PSY 101 (5) - Introduction to Psychology
  • SOC 260 (5) - The Family in Society

6. Comparative, Gender, and Multicultural Studies – Block A

No specific recommendations

7. Comparative, Gender, and Multicultural Studies – Block B – Met with Elementary Education Program Requirements

  • ELED 310 (5) Education, Culture and Equity