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.

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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:

Evidence of any social studies coverage;
Evidence of coverage of the six social studies themes; and
Evidence coursework encompasses the thirteen topics of social studies 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 social studies?

YES

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?

YES

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?

YES

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

While higher education institutions do not use the term “social studies,” the terminology is used in this analysis to represent any alignment between content covered in higher education with what is found in elementary content standards and assessments.
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 social studies 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 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.

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Western Kentucky University's Content Coverage Analysis

Filter Course Options By Requirement Category

How we define these courses

Themes:	Civics	Economics		History						Geography		Culture & Identity	Pedagogy
Themes:	Civics	Economics		US History				World History		Geography		Culture & Identity	Pedagogy
Topics (hover to see name):	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

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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

Social Studies Requirement 01
HIST 102 - World History II
Social Studies Requirement 02
PS 110 - American National Government
Social Studies Requirement 03
GEOG 330 - Introduction to Cultural Geography
Social Studies Requirement 04
HIST 304 - Ancient Identities
Social Studies Requirement 05
ELED 407 - Materials and Methods in Social Studies
Social Studies Requirement 06
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:

Geographic Representations
Economic Principles and Exchange
The Economy
US History - 20th Century and Beyond

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:

Geographic Representations: GEOG 352
Economic Principles and Exchange: ECON 150
Economic Principles and Exchange: ECON 202
The Economy: ECON 203
US History - 20th Century and Beyond: HIST 241
US History - 20th Century and Beyond: HIST 390

Analysis of Content Covered with "Most Aligned" Set of Courses

= Course is Currently Recommended or Required by Program

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Themes:	Civics	Economics		History						Geography		Culture & Identity	Pedagogy
Themes:	Civics	Economics		US History				World History		Geography		Culture & Identity	Pedagogy
Topics (hover to see name):	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
Total Content Covered: 69.23%
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 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.