Why This Program?

Making a difference through education.

This elementary education program will transform you from a college student to a caring teacher. Approved by the Iowa Department of Education, our program's small class sizes, careful student advising and personalized attention is known to produce highly qualified and professional kindergarten to sixth grade (K-6) educators.

Get Early Additional Involvement: As a Charger, you'll be active in actual classrooms from the get-go: observing teachers, working with small groups of students and being part of our unique Professional Development School, based upon the standards of the National Association of Professional Development Schools. Here you will work with real K-6 students in real learning situations to put theory into practice, build relationships with students, all while earning credit for your methods of teaching courses. In the end, you will have over 200 hours of classroom experience that will increase your confidence and ultimately prepare you for your student teaching experience.
Student Teaching Experience: Leveraging our relationship with local Siouxland community public and private schools, Briar Cliff will make sure you're prepared and facilitate your student teaching internship assignment(s). Generally, this will take place in the final year of your college career, with the internship being a full-time responsibility, as you are required to follow the schedule and activities of the cooperating teacher, including after-school meetings and activities. Our graduates say that the student teaching experience for credit is both the most challenging and rewarding part of being an education major.
Become Catholic School Certified: You have the option to complete a certificate program to teach in Catholic schools. This certificate program is a partnership between the four Iowa Catholic Dioceses and BCU's education and theology departments. Although not a full teaching endorsement, this certificate better prepares you to teach religion courses and gives you preferential hiring status in Diocesan schools.
Easily Boost Your Resume: As a part of the elementary education major, you'll complete a K-8 reading endorsement, and if possible, a 5-8 middle school, special education, physical education and/or coaching endorsements. These endorsements supplement an elementary education major, so you'll be qualified to teach more subject areas and more grade levels.

An education degree from Briar Cliff means that you can graduate with more experience, more endorsements, and more certifications than your competition.

More About the Program

Our elementary education program begins with the Educator Preparation Program (EPP). The Educator Preparation Program (EPP) complies with and is accredited by the State of Iowa Department of Education. The EPP starts with "Introduction to Education," a course requiring a minimum of 10 hours of field experience. It is a prerequisite for all other education courses at Briar Cliff, and as such serves as the gateway to the education program. Students who complete the requirements for this course are eligible for admission into the education program of their choice.

Education program graduates leave Briar Cliff with a thorough understanding of the following educational takeaways and are eligible to apply for the licensure needed to teach in both private and public schools.

Learner Development: The teacher understands how learners grow and develop, recognizing that patterns of learning and development vary individually within and across the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas, and designs and implements developmentally appropriate and challenging learning experiences.
Learning Differences: The teacher uses understanding of individual differences and diverse cultures and communities to ensure inclusive learning environments that enable each learner to meet high standards.
Learning Environments: The teacher works with others to create environments that support individual and collaborative learning, and that encourage positive social interaction, active engagement in learning and self-motivation.
Content Knowledge: The teacher understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry and structures of the discipline(s) he or she teaches and creates learning experiences that make the discipline accessible and meaningful for learners to assure mastery of the content.
Application of Content: The teacher understands how to connect concepts and use differing perspectives to engage learners in critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative problem solving related to authentic local and global issues.
Assessment: The teacher understands and uses multiple methods of assessment to engage learners in their own growth, monitor learner progress and guide the teachers and learners decision making.
Planning for Instruction: The teacher plans instruction that supports every student in meeting rigorous learning goals by drawing upon knowledge of content areas, curriculum, cross-disciplinary skills, and pedagogy, as well as knowledge of learners and the community context.
Instructional Strategies: The teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage learners to develop deep understanding of content areas and their connections, and build skills to apply knowledge in meaningful ways.
Professional Learning and Ethical Practice: The teacher engages in ongoing professional learning and uses evidence to continually evaluate their practice, particularly the effects of their choices and actions on others (learners, families, other professionals, and the community), and adapts practice to meet the needs of each learner.
Leadership and Collaboration: The teacher seeks appropriate leadership roles and opportunities to take responsibility for student learning, collaborate with learners, families, colleagues, other school professionals and community members to ensure learner growth, and advance the profession.

In the Franciscan tradition, the Briar Cliff University education program prepares professional educators through community service and learning. These outcomes were adopted and adapted from the Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC).

Education External Advisory Committee

Briar Cliff Education Department’s External Advisory Committee consists of leaders, educators, and administrators from the Siouxland area.

Career Options

Kindergarten - 6th Grade Teacher

Special Reading and Resources Teacher

School Counselor

Behavior Specialist

Career Advisor

Curriculum Developer

Instructional Coordinator/Coach

Teacher Assistant

Teach Abroad

Corporate Trainer

Camp Director

Educational Consultant

Principal/Administration Pathway

Health Educator

Museum Educator

Private Tutor

Elementary Education

Why This Program?

Making a difference through education.

More About the Program

Education External Advisory Committee

Career Options

Cliff Stories

Meet the Faculty