Western Kentucky University
Here is a personalized summary of the current course requirements and recommendations for undergraduate elementary teacher candidates at Western Kentucky University, and a detailed analysis of the content covered by those requirements. This tool also offers a recommended set of courses providing the most content coverage for any candidate.
Catalog Year: 2021-2022
Western Kentucky University
This tool provides individual preparation programs with a customized analysis of the courses required by the undergraduate elementary teacher preparation program and by the institution’s undergraduate general education courses to determine how well these requirements cover essential content in science. This tool also uses information about existing coursework on their campuses to provide guidance on a recommended course sequence.
This is a summary of the coverage of science content for undergraduate elementary candidates at your institution.
To determine if an elementary teacher preparation program provides adequate coverage¹ in the primary subject area of science through its own requirements or the institution’s requirements, we ask three sequential questions exploring:
- Evidence of any science coverage;
- Evidence of coverage of the three science themes; and
- Evidence coursework encompasses the nine topics of science knowledge required of elementary teachers.
Western Kentucky University's Coverage
Coverage of Subject
Does the institution or teacher preparation program require elementary candidates complete any courses in science?
The institution/program recommends or requires candidates to complete at least one course classified under the broad domain known as science.
The institution/program does not require or recommend candidates to complete at least one course classified under the broad domain known as science.
Theme Coverage
Within science, there are five themes. Does the institution or teacher preparation program require or recommend courses to ensure each of the themes classified under science are covered?
The coursework required or recommended for elementary candidates at this institution covers all five themes in science: 1. Life Science, 2. Physical Science, 3. Earth and Space Science, 4. Engineering, and 5. Pedagogy.
The coursework required or recommended for of elementary candidates at this institution does not cover all five themes in science: 1. Life Science, 2. Physical Science, 3. Earth and Space Science, 4. Engineering, and 5. Pedagogy.
Topic Coverage
Within the five themes of science are nine topics common to teaching elementary students. Does this institution or preparation program require or recommend courses to ensure each of the nine topics classified under science are covered?
Elementary education candidates at this institution must complete at least one course covering each of the nine topics.
Elementary education candidates at this institution are not required to take courses covering each of the nine topics.
What are the nine topics of Science content?
References
- For these purposes, credit for “coverage” is awarded to the program whether the course is mandated through general education requirements for the institution at large or the specific requirements of the educator preparation program.
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See a detailed course analysis for your institution.
This tool illuminates:
- What course options are available to satisfy general education or teacher preparation Requirement Categories;
- What courses are required or recommended, either through general education requirements or the teacher preparation program; and
- Whether courses cover the themes and topics of science content knowledge.
The aim of this tool is to provide an understanding of which courses are most likely to yield the most coverage possible of the content critical for elementary teachers. Because candidates can often choose from a list of courses to meet a Requirement Category, this table provides insight into which of those courses will be most relevant to elementary teaching.
How are Requirements Determined?
Analysts identify both the general education and program graduation requirements found in public-facing materials.
By reviewing each Requirement Category and available course options, analysts identify courses addressing science and social studies content relevant to elementary teachers. The course analysis table indicates what themes and topics each course covers.
Western Kentucky University's Content Coverage Analysis
Filter Course Options By Requirement Category
| Themes: | Pedagogy | Life Science | Physical Science | Earth & Space Sciences | Engineering | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topics (hover to see name): |
ACross-cutting Concepts |
BScientific and Engineering Practices |
CInterdependent Relationships in Ecosystems |
DInheritance and Variation of Traits |
EForces, Waves, and Energy |
FStructure and Properties of Matter |
GSpace Systems |
HEarth's Systems and Processes |
IEngineering Design |
Extensive ListInstitution offers ten or more course options to fulfill requirement. Courses shown cover at least one applicable topic. |
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BIOL 113/114General Biology |
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BIOL 122/123Biological Concepts: Evolution, Diversity, and Ecology |
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CHEM 101Introduction to Chemistry |
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GEOG 103Our Dynamic Planet |
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PHYS 101Concepts of Motion |
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PHYS 103Light, Color and Vision |
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CHEM 106/106Fundamentals of General Chemistry/Lab |
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GEOG 280Environmental Science and Sustainability |
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GEOL 112/114Earth's Past and Future/Lab |
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GEOL 111/113The Earth/Lab |
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ASTR 104Astronomy of the Solar System |
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Continue Reading
See the recommended course sequence for your institution.
Here NCTQ outlines (1) the set of courses providing candidates with the content most aligned with what elementary teachers need within current institution and program requirements, and (2) suggestions for courses to fill in gaps where candidates still lack coverage.
"Most Aligned" Set of Courses
-
Science Requirement 01
BIOL 113/114 - General Biology
-
Science Requirement 02
CHEM 106/106 - Fundamentals of General Chemistry/Lab
-
Science Requirement 03
GEOL 112/114 - Earth's Past and Future/Lab
-
Science Requirement 04
ELED 406 - Teaching Science in the Elementary School
How to Improve Content Coverage
Using the “Most Aligned” Set of Courses, current course requirements can address up to 55.56% coverage of science topics.
The topics still lacking coverage include:
- Inheritance and Variation of Traits
- Forces, Waves, and Energy
- Space Systems
- Engineering Design
To improve content coverage, the institution or teacher preparation program may need to require additional courses for their candidates to achieve coverage across all topics. Our analysts identified the following courses to cover these topics:
- Inheritance and Variation of Traits: ARGO 110/111
- Forces, Waves, and Energy: PHYS 101
- Forces, Waves, and Energy: PHYS 103
- Space Systems: ASTR 104
- Engineering Design: No applicable courses found in NCTQ's analysis
Analysis of Content Covered by "Most Aligned" Set of Courses
= Course is Currently Recommended or Required by Program
Download Recommendations| Themes: | Pedagogy | Life Science | Physical Science | Earth & Space Sciences | Engineering | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topics (hover to see name): |
ACross-cutting Concepts |
BScientific and Engineering Practices |
CInterdependent Relationships in Ecosystems |
DInheritance and Variation of Traits |
EForces, Waves, and Energy |
FStructure and Properties of Matter |
GSpace Systems |
HEarth's Systems and Processes |
IEngineering Design |
||||
BIOL 113/114General Biology |
|||||||||||||
CHEM 106/106Fundamentals of General Chemistry/Lab |
|||||||||||||
GEOL 112/114Earth's Past and Future/Lab |
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ELED 406Teaching Science in the Elementary School |
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| Total Content Covered: 55.56% | |||||||||||||
If a candidate takes the above courses, this is the topic coverage they would experience overall: |
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Catalog Year: 2021-2022
Western Kentucky University
This tool provides individual preparation programs with a customized analysis of the courses required by the undergraduate elementary teacher preparation program and by the institution’s undergraduate general education courses to determine how well these requirements cover essential content in social studies. This tool also uses information about existing coursework on their campuses to provide guidance on a recommended course sequence.
This is a summary of the coverage of social studies¹ content for undergraduate elementary candidates at your institution.
To determine if an elementary teacher preparation program provides adequate coverage² in the primary subject area of social studies through its own requirements or the institution’s requirements, we ask three sequential questions exploring:
Western Kentucky University's Coverage
Coverage of Subject
Does the institution or teacher preparation program require elementary candidates complete any courses in social studies?
The institution/program recommends or requires candidates to complete at least one course classified under the broad domain known as social studies.
The institution/program does not require or recommend candidates to complete at least one course classified under the broad domain known as social studies.
Theme Coverage
Within social studies, there are six themes. Does the institution or teacher preparation program require or recommend courses to ensure each of the themes classified under social studies are covered?
The coursework required of elementary candidates at this institution covers all six themes in social studies: 1. Civics, 2. Economics, 3. History, 4. Geography, 5. Culture & Identity, and 6. Pedagogy.
The coursework required of elementary candidates at this institution does not cover all six themes in social studies: 1. Civics, 2. Economics, 3. History, 4. Geography, 5. Culture & Identity, and 6. Pedagogy.
Topic Coverage
Within the six themes of social studies are thirteen topics common to teaching elementary students. Does this institution or preparation program require or recommend courses to ensure each of the thirteen topics classified under social studies are covered?
Elementary education candidates at this institution must complete at least one course covering each of the thirteen topics.
Elementary education candidates at this institution are not required to take courses covering each of the thirteen topics.
What are the thirteen topics of Social Studies content?
References
Continue Reading
See a detailed course analysis for your institution.
This tool illuminates:
The aim of this tool is to provide an understanding of which courses are most likely to yield the most coverage possible of the content critical for elementary teachers. Because candidates can often choose from a list of courses to meet a Requirement Category, this table provides insight into which of those courses will be most relevant to elementary teaching.
How are Requirements Categories Determined?
Analysts identify both the general education and program graduation requirements found in public-facing materials.
By reviewing each Requirement Category and available course options, analysts identify courses addressing science and social studies content relevant to elementary teachers. The course analysis table indicates what themes and topics each course covers.
View the Course Catalog
Western Kentucky University's Content Coverage Analysis
Filter Course Options By Requirement Category
Identity
A
Political institutions, Participation, Rules, and Laws
B
Economic Principles and Exchange
C
The Economy
D
European Exploration and Colonization (up to 1700)
E
The American Revolution and Founding (1700s)
F
Growth and Expansion of the American Republic (up to 1900)
G
Twentieth Century and Beyond
H
Pre-Columbian and/or Ancient Civilizations
I
Twentieth Century and Beyond
J
Geographic Representations
K
Human-Environment Interactions
L
Diverse Perspectives
M
Cross-cutting Concepts
Extensive List
Institution offers ten or more course options to fulfill requirement. Courses shown cover at least one applicable topic.
Extensive List
Institution offers ten or more course options to fulfill requirement. Courses shown cover at least one applicable topic.
Extensive List
Institution offers ten or more course options to fulfill requirement. Courses shown cover at least one applicable topic.
Extensive List
Institution offers ten or more course options to fulfill requirement. Courses shown cover at least one applicable topic.
Extensive List
Institution offers ten or more course options to fulfill requirement. Courses shown cover at least one applicable topic.
BIOL 113/114
General Biology
BIOL 122/123
Biological Concepts: Evolution, Diversity, and Ecology
CHEM 101
Introduction to Chemistry
GEOG 103
Our Dynamic Planet
PHYS 101
Concepts of Motion
PHYS 103
Light, Color and Vision
CHEM 106/106
Fundamentals of General Chemistry/Lab
GEOG 280
Environmental Science and Sustainability
GEOL 112/114
Earth's Past and Future/Lab
GEOL 111/113
The Earth/Lab
ASTR 104
Astronomy of the Solar System
BIOL 113/114
General Biology
ASTR 104
Astronomy of the Solar System
BIOL 122/123
Biological Concepts: Evolution, Diversity, and Ecology
CHEM 101
Introduction to Chemistry
GEOG 103
Our Dynamic Planet
PHYS 101
Concepts of Motion
PHYS 103
Light, Color and Vision
CHEM 106/106
Fundamentals of General Chemistry/Lab
GEOG 280
Environmental Science and Sustainability
GEOL 112/114
Earth's Past and Future/Lab
GEOL 111/113
The Earth/Lab
ARGO 110/111
Introduction to Plant Science/Lab
CHEM 106/106
Fundamentals of General Chemistry/Lab
GEOG 280
Environmental Science and Sustainability
GEOL 112/114
Earth's Past and Future/Lab
GEOL 111/113
The Earth/Lab
ELED 406
Teaching Science in the Elementary School
HIST 101
World History I
HIST 102
World History II
ECON 150
Introduction to Economics
ECON 202
Principles of Economics (Micro)
ECON 203
Principles of Economics (Macro)
GEOG 110
World Regional Geography
PS 110
American National Government
FLK 280
Cultural Diversity in the U S
GEOG 330
Introduction to Cultural Geography
HIST 325
Blacks in the Civil War and Reconstruction
HIST 390
Blacks in the American South
PS 374
Women and Politics
HIST 304
Ancient Identities
HIST 462
History of the Middle East
PS 365
Government and Politics of the Middle East
PS 367
Government and Politics of Russia and Eastern Europe
ELED 407
Materials and Methods in Social Studies
GEOG 352
Geography of Kentucky
HIST 240
The United States to 1865
HIST 241
The United States Since 1865
Continue Reading
See the recommended courses for elementary candidates at your institution.
Here NCTQ outlines (1) the set of courses providing candidates with the content most aligned with what elementary teachers need within current institution and program requirements, and (2) suggestions for courses to fill in gaps where candidates still lack coverage.
"Most Aligned" Set of Courses
HIST 102 - World History II
PS 110 - American National Government
GEOG 330 - Introduction to Cultural Geography
HIST 304 - Ancient Identities
ELED 407 - Materials and Methods in Social Studies
HIST 240 - The United States to 1865
How to Improve Content Coverage
Using the “Most Aligned” Set of Courses, current course requirements can address up to 69.23% coverage of social studies topics.
The topics still lacking coverage include:
To improve content coverage, the institution or teacher preparation program may need to require additional courses for their candidates to achieve coverage across all topics. Our analysts identified the following courses to cover these topics:
Analysis of Content Covered with "Most Aligned" Set of Courses
= Course is Currently Recommended or Required by Program
Download RecommendationsIdentity
A
Political institutions, Participation, Rules, and Laws
B
Economic Principles and Exchange
C
The Economy
D
European Exploration and Colonization (up to 1700)
E
The American Revolution and Founding (1700s)
F
Growth and Expansion of the American Republic (up to 1900)
G
Twentieth Century and Beyond
H
Pre-Columbian and/or Ancient Civilizations
I
Twentieth Century and Beyond
J
Geographic Representations
K
Human-Environment Interactions
L
Diverse Perspectives
M
Cross-cutting Concepts
HIST 102
World History II
PS 110
American National Government
GEOG 330
Introduction to Cultural Geography
HIST 304
Ancient Identities
ELED 407
Materials and Methods in Social Studies
HIST 240
The United States to 1865
If a candidate takes the above courses, this is the topic coverage they would experience overall:
Continue Reading