DirecTrack to Teaching

Get on the path to teaching licensure as an undergraduate through DirecTrack to Teaching. The program offers early admission to the College of Education and Human Development’s initial licensure program and gives undergraduates early exposure to the culture of teaching and schools. Enter the profession with confidence and competence.

Take teacher preparation classes normally offered only to graduate students.

Learn as part of a select group of future teachers from multiple disciplines.

Participate in guided experiences (volunteering, observing, tutoring) with youth and in classroom settings.

Focus on the subject area you want to teach.

Receive early admission into the M.Ed./initial licensure program when certain benchmarks are met.

Program areas

You'll find it easiest to fulfill all your major and DirecTrack to Teaching requirements if you choose an undergraduate major that is directly related to your desired teaching field. Review the content-area prerequisites linked below, and consult with your current college adviser, as well as with the initial licensure program adviser for your desired teaching area.

Note: DirecTrack to Teaching is not a stand-alone undergraduate major, and it does not lead to any particular baccalaureate degree. You will maintain your current University of Minnesota undergraduate college and major status (i.e., CLA, history major) while pursuing the DirecTrack to Teaching program.

• Art education (licensure in visual arts education)
  Recommended majors: art, art history, studio art
  prerequisites in art education content areas
• English education (licensure in communication, arts, and literature)
  Recommended major: English
  prerequisites in English education content areas
• Family and consumer sciences education
  Recommended major: family social science
  prerequisites in family and consumer sciences education content areas
• Mathematics education*
  Recommended major: math
  prerequisites in math education content areas
• Science education*
  Recommended majors: astrophysics, biology, chemistry, engineering, environmental sciences, fisheries and wildlife, genetics and cell biology, geology, neuroscience, physics
  prerequisites in science education content areas
• Second languages and cultures (licensure in world languages and English as a second language)
  Recommended majors: language studies (French, German, Japanese, etc.), international relations, linguistics, speech-language-hearing sciences
  prerequisites in language proficiency, a general psychology course is also required
• Social studies education
  Recommended majors: American studies, anthropology, economics, geography, history, philosophy, political science, psychology, sociology
  prerequisites in social studies education content areas
• Special education
  Recommended majors: child psychology, early childhood education foundations, elementary education foundations, Inter-College Program, kinesiology, psychology

*New scholarship opportunity for students interested in becoming a secondary science or mathematics teacher: On September 1, 2008, we received a Noyce Scholarship Award from the National Science Foundation to support the recruitment, preparation, and retention of secondary teachers in the high need areas of physics, chemistry, earth science, and mathematics. Students who are in the second year of the DirecTrack to Teaching program for science education (chemistry, earth science, physics) or mathematics education can apply for scholarships of up to $10,000 to support their tuition and costs. For more information, please contact Gillian Roehrig at roehr013@umn.edu.

DirecTrack to Teaching coursework

Exploring the Teaching Profession (EDHD 3001 [2 cr] and 3002 [2 cr])

Learning, Cognition, and Assessment in the Schools (EDHD 5001 or EPSY 3119 [3 cr])

Developmental and Individual Differences in Educational Contexts (EDHD 5003 [3 cr])

School and Society (EDHD 5005 [2 cr])

Human Relations: Applied Skills for School and Society (EDHD 5009 [1 cr])

Fundamentals of Alcohol and Drug Abuse for Teacher Education (PUBH 3003 or PUBH 3005 [1 cr])

Application information

Who is eligible?

Currently enrolled University of Minnesota-Twin Cities undergraduate students with either second-term freshman status or second-term sophomore status may apply. We're looking for exceptional students who hold promise as future educators. We want to see the following:

• a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.8 overall (3.0 is preferred). A minimum 3.0 overall GPA is required for maintaining your status in the program.
• volunteer activities that show an interest in education. We look for candidates who  have demonstrated their interest in teaching with activities and volunteer experiences related to children and youth.

Undergraduate transfer students from outside the University of Minnesota system who meet the above criteria are also eligible to apply. Candidates must have at least two years of studies remaining at the University of Minnesota after transfer.

How to apply

Submit application materials by the February 1 priority deadline to be considered for admission to the DirecTrack to Teaching program for the following fall semester. The final deadline is May 1. Applications submitted after February 1 will be reviewed on a space-available basis, so apply early! Speak with Shuji Asai in Student Services for more details (call 612-624-0512 or e-mail asai0003@umn.edu).

Application materials

• DirecTrack to Teaching application; choose a format:
  • .pdf | print, fill out, and mail
  • .doc | save to computer, fill out, and e-mail
• a reflective essay (as described on the application form)
• list of activities and volunteer experiences (as described on the application form)

After you've been accepted

After acceptance into the DirecTrack to Teaching program, you will attend a spring orientation. DirecTrack to Teaching advisers in the College of Education and Human Development will work closely with you to help you choose the proper coursework to meet DirecTrack to Teaching requirements.

Benchmark minimums

You will be required to meet the following benchmarks to continue participating in the DirecTrack to Teaching program:

• Achieve and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.00 throughout the program.
• Maintain full-time student status and good academic standing in the major, and adequate progress toward graduation.
• Take at least one course in the DirecTrack to Teaching sequence per academic year after admission to DirecTrack to Teaching.
• Earn grades in DirecTrack to Teaching courses of B or higher.
• Stay on track toward successful completion of subject area prerequisite courses for the M.Ed./initial licensure program.
• Participate in at least two DirecTrack to Teaching professional development events per semester (when not enrolled in a DirecTrack to Teaching course).
• Participate in the DirecTrack to Teaching learning community via the online networking site.
• Complete at least 100 hours of practicum/service-learning experience through enrollment in Exploring the Teaching Profession coursework: EDHD 3001 and EDHD 3002 (two 2-credit course sequence: 4-credit total).
• Other benchmarks may be required by specific programs.

After DirecTrack to Teaching

After you've completed your undergraduate degree and met all DirecTrack to Teaching benchmarks, you will be eligible to begin the graduate-level initial licensure program in your field. If you graduate and complete DirecTrack to Teaching in the spring semester, you will begin your initial licensure program that summer.

October 2008