Purdue University
Here is a personalized summary of the current course requirements and recommendations for undergraduate elementary teacher candidates at Purdue 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
Purdue 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.
Purdue 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.
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.


Purdue 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. |
|||||||||
ASTR 26300Descriptive Astronomy: The Solar System |
|||||||||
CHM 11100General Chemistry |
|||||||||
EAPS 31201Earth Systems Science for Elementary Teachers |
|||||||||
PHYS 21500Physics for Elementary Education |
|||||||||
BIOL 20500Biology for Elementary School Teachers |
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 20500 - Biology for Elementary School Teachers
-
Science Requirement 02
CHM 11100 - General Chemistry
-
Science Requirement 03
EPCS 10100 - First Year Participation In EPICS
-
Science Requirement 04
EDCI 36501 - Teaching Science Through Design In Grades K-2
-
Science Requirement 05
EDCI 36502 - Teaching Science Through Design In Grades 3-6
-
Science Requirement 06
EAPS 31201 - Earth Systems Science for Elementary Teachers
-
Science Requirement 07
PHYS 2300 - Physical Science For Elementary Education
How to Improve Content Coverage
Using the “Most Aligned” Set of Courses, current course requirements can address up to 88.89% coverage of science topics.
The topics still lacking coverage include:
- Space Systems
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:
- Space Systems: ASTR 26300
Analysis of Content Covered by "Most Aligned" Set of Courses
= Course is Currently Recommended or Required by Program
Download RecommendationsThemes: | 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 20500Biology for Elementary School Teachers |
|||||||||||||
CHM 11100General Chemistry |
|||||||||||||
EPCS 10100First Year Participation In EPICS |
|||||||||||||
EDCI 36501Teaching Science Through Design In Grades K-2 |
|||||||||||||
EDCI 36502Teaching Science Through Design In Grades 3-6 |
|||||||||||||
EAPS 31201Earth Systems Science for Elementary Teachers |
|||||||||||||
PHYS 2300Physical Science For Elementary Education |
|||||||||||||
Total Content Covered: 88.89% | |||||||||||||
If a candidate takes the above courses, this is the topic coverage they would experience overall: |
Catalog Year: 2021-2022
Purdue 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:
Purdue 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
Purdue 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.
Extensive List
Institution offers ten or more course options to fulfill requirement. Courses shown cover at least one applicable topic.
ASTR 26300
Descriptive Astronomy: The Solar System
CHM 11100
General Chemistry
EAPS 31201
Earth Systems Science for Elementary Teachers
PHYS 21500
Physics for Elementary Education
BIOL 20500
Biology for Elementary School Teachers
ASTR 26300
Descriptive Astronomy: The Solar System
BIOL 20500
Biology for Elementary School Teachers
CHM 11100
General Chemistry
EAPS 31201
Earth Systems Science for Elementary Teachers
PHYS 21500
Physics for Elementary Education
BIOL 20600
Biology For Elementary School Teachers (satisfies SCI for core)
BIOL 12100
Biology I: Ecology, Diversity, & Behavior
EAPS 10000
Planet Earth
HIST 31405
Science, Technology, Engineering And Mathematics (STEM) And Gender
TECH 12000
Technology and the Individual
EPCS 10100
First Year Participation In EPICS
EPCS 11100
First Year Participation In EPICS I
EDCI 36501
Teaching Science Through Design In Grades K-2
EDCI 36502
Teaching Science Through Design In Grades 3-6
EAPS 31201
Earth Systems Science for Elementary Teachers
PHYS 2300
Physical Science For Elementary Education
ANTH 37900
Native American Culture
ECON 21000
Principles of Economics
POL 10100
American Government and Politics
EDCI 28500
Multiculturalism And Education
HIST 10400
Intro to the Modern World
HIST 10500
Survey of Global World
HIST 15200
United States since 1877
HIST 37500
Women in America since 1870
HIST 39600
The Afro-American to 1865
HIST 39800
The Afro-American since 1865
HIST 15100
American History to 1877
EDCI 36101
Teaching Social Studies In K-2
EDCI 36102
Teaching Social Studies In 3-6
HIST 15100
American History to 1877
POL 12000
American Government and Politics
HIST 15200
United States since 1877
AGEC 21700
Economics
ECON 21000
Principles of Economics
ECON 21900
Economics For Future Elementary Teachers
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
ANTH 37900 - Native American Culture
HIST 15100 - American History to 1877
EDCI 36101 - Teaching Social Studies In K-2
EDCI 36102 - Teaching Social Studies In 3-6
HIST 15200 - United States since 1877
ECON 21900 - Economics For Future Elementary Teachers
How to Improve Content Coverage
Using the “Most Aligned” Set of Courses, current course requirements can address up to 61.54% 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
ANTH 37900
Native American Culture
HIST 15100
American History to 1877
EDCI 36101
Teaching Social Studies In K-2
EDCI 36102
Teaching Social Studies In 3-6
HIST 15200
United States since 1877
ECON 21900
Economics For Future Elementary Teachers
If a candidate takes the above courses, this is the topic coverage they would experience overall:
Continue Reading