Education
The education program at OLC gives students the skills to become qualified, motivated teachers and teach Lakota virtues.
The Education program at OLC aims to graduate highly qualified, professional, motivated, and reflective teachers who possess, teach, and practice Wolakolkiciyapi in a multicultural, changing world. The professional teacher education program views Wolakolkiciyapi as reflection and conduct of the Lakota Virtues as a means of improving yourself and others.
Graduates from our programs will be proficient as competent, reflective teachers of content, theory, and application with an emphasis on Lakota virtues (character education) while emphasizing community empowerment through reflection of traditional Lakota perspectives.
Oglala Lakota College is proud to be the leading producer of Native American teachers in South Dakota. Our program is nationally recognized as a top Native American degree producer of associate and bachelor degrees in early childhood and elementary education. We consistently rank in the top 20 of all colleges and universities in the US who offer teaching degrees.
A.A. Early Childhood Education
An Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education gives you the skills and experience needed to pursue a variety of different paths. This degree prepares you to work as paraprofessionals with infants and young children from birth to 5 years of age in early childhood and preschool settings. This degree tracks into the B.A. in Early Childhood degree.
B.A. Early Childhood Education
This degree was developed based on the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) initial licensure standards for teacher preparation programs. This degree has two emphasis options: 1) Birth to Preschool, to earn a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education as required by Head Start and 2) Birth to Grade 3, to earn a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education and South Dakota Department of Education teacher licensure. Candidates pursuing this option must pass the required Praxis Series content and pedagogy area exams to be eligible for graduation and state licensure. Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education degree must meet the entrance requirements of the Teacher Preparation Program
A.A. Elementary Education
This degree prepares individuals to work as paraprofessionals in K-12 educational settings. This degree tracks into the B.S. in K-8 Elementary Education.
B.S. K-8 Elementary Education
Successful completion of this degree prepares the student to teach grades K-8 with Middle Level endorsements in the state of South Dakota. This program is aligned to the Council for the Accreditation of Education Preparation (CAEP) Elementary Teacher Preparation Standards for initial teacher licensure. Candidates need to meet entrance requirements and pass the required Praxis Series exam to be admitted to the Teacher Preparation Program. Candidates also need a passing score on the required Praxis Series pedagogy examination prior to student teaching and to meet graduation and licensure requirements.
B.S. 7-12 Secondary Physical Science
This degree, offered in conjunction with the Mathematics and Science Department, leads to a Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education. Students are offered a strong background in Mathematics, Physics, Earth Science, and Chemistry. This program is aligned with the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Science Standards for Teacher Preparation. Candidates need to meet entrance requirements and pass the SD DOE required content knowledge credit hours or Praxis Series content exams relevant to this degree to be admitted to the Teacher Preparation Program. Candidates also need to pass the required Praxis Series pedagogy exam prior to student teaching and to meet graduation and licensure requirements.
B.S. K-12 Lakota Studies Education
This degree, in cooperation with the Lakota Studies Department, gives graduates the South Dakota Indian Studies credential which allows them to teach Lakota Studies and related subjects in K-12 Education. This program is aligned with the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC) standards adopted by the South Dakota Board of Education as the South Dakota Teacher Competencies. Candidates need to meet entrance requirements and pass the required Praxis Series exam to be admitted to the Teacher Preparation Program. Candidates also need to pass the required Praxis Series pedagogy exam prior to student teaching and to meet graduation and licensure requirements.
B.S. K-12 Special Education Preparation
This preparation program leads to an endorsement in K-12 Special Education that may be added to a professional or advanced South Dakota educator certificate. Coursework is offered for both undergraduate teacher candidates and certified teachers. The program is aligned to the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) performance- based standards for initial special education teacher licensure. Candidates complete required coursework, complete a special education practicum and, if working towards alternative certification, must pass the Praxis Series special education exam required for licensure.
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education
| Bachelor of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | |||||
| Fall | Spring | Fall | Spring | Fall | Spring | Fall | Spring | Fall | Spring |
| SpCm 103 | Humanities | ED 213 | ECH 223 | Lit 203 | ED 463 | EDECH 413 | EDECH 433 | ECH 496 or EDLK 489 |
|
| Engl 103 | Engl 113 | ECH 203 | ECH 233 | ECH 323 | ECH 413 | EDECH 402 | EDECH 453 | ||
| MIS 113 | Psy 103 | ED 303E | ECH 253 | ECH 363 | ECH 423 | EDECH 423 | ECH/ED/EDECh Elective | ||
| Math 103/134 | Bio 103/113 | ECH 213 | ExEd 313 | ECH 383 | ECH 403 | EDECH 462 | ED 483 (opt) | ||
| Application to BA Program |
Complete AA Degree |
Application to Student Tchg of Practicum |
Complete BA Degree |
||||||
Bachelor of Science Degree in K-8 Elementary Education with Middle Level
| Bachelor of Science Degree in K-8 Elementary Education with Middle Level | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | |||||
| Fall | Spring | Fall | Spring | Fall | Spring | Fall | Spring | Fall | Spring |
| SpCm 103 | Humanities | ED 213 | English Elective |
Lit 203 | ED 463 (opt) | EDECH 413 | EDECH 433 | EDLK 489 | |
| Engl 103 | Engl 113 | Sci 204 | Sci 214 | ED 303 | ED 313 | EDECH 402 | EDECH 453 | ||
| MIS 113 | Psy 103 | Math 234 | Math 244 | ED 303E | ED 323 | EDECH 423 | ED 443 | ||
| Math 103/134 | Bio 103/113 | Pols 203 | Geo 213 | HISA 363 | ECH 443 | EDECH 462 | ED 483 (opt) | ||
| Application to AA Program |
Complete AA Degree |
Application to Student Tchg of Practicum |
Complete BA Degree |
||||||
Bachelor of Science Degree in K-12 Lakota Studies Education
| Bachelor of Science Degree in K-12 Lakota Studies Education | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | |||||
| Fall | Spring | Fall | Spring | Fall | Spring | Fall | Spring | Fall | Spring |
| SpCm 103 | Engl 113 | Bio 103/113 | Lak 313 | LSoc 313 | ExEd 313 | ED 303E | ED 313 | EDLK 489 | |
| Engl 103 | Math 103/134 | Lit 203 | LLit 103 | LLit 213 | Lak 283 | Ed 283 | EDECH 453 | ScEd 443 | |
| MIS 113 | Psy 103 | Pols 203 | Geo 213 | HISA 363 | LPol 223 | LKED 433 | ED 483 (opt) | ||
| Lak 103 | Lak 233 | Lak 323 | Lak 423 | ED 213 | LPsy 323 | ED 463 (opt) | ED 443 | ||
| Application to Program |
Application to Student Teaching |
||||||||
Bachelor of Science Degree in 7-12 Physical Science Education
| Bachelor of Science Degree in 7-12 Physical Science Education | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | |||||
| Fall | Spring | Fall | Spring | Fall | Spring | Fall | Spring | Fall | Spring |
| SpCm 103 | Engl 113 | BIO 103 or Higher | BIO 153 and 151 | BIO 223 | NSci 443 | Humanities Elective |
ED 313 | ScEd 403 | EDLK 489 |
| Engl 103 | LSoc 103 | Lit 203 | Phys 113 | Phys 214 | Phys 223 and 221 |
ED 303E | ED 323 | ScEd 413 | EDLK 473 |
| MIS 113 | Psy 103 | Chem 233 and 231 |
Chem 243 and 241 |
Chem 253 and 251 |
Chem 263 and 261 |
ED 283 | ED 483 (opt) | ScEd 443 | |
| Lak 103 | Lak 223 | Geol 143 | Geo 153 | Chem 323 | Phys 253 | Phys 434 | Lakota Elective |
Lakota Elective |
|
| Math 103 | Math 134 | Math 154 | Math 163 | Math 194 | ExEd 313 | ED 463 (opt) | |||
| Application to Program |
Application to Student Teaching |
||||||||