Agricultural education

Master of education/initial licensure
(Minnesota state licensure in agricultural education)

Program

The agricultural education initial licensure program at the University of Minnesota is designed to help you become an accomplished professional educator who can help students succeed in the classroom. The program prepares inquiring, analytical, and reflective professional educators who can teach in the classroom and lead in the schools.

Master of education (M.Ed.)/initial licensure programs are for individuals with bachelor’s degrees who want to become licensed teachers. These graduate-level programs provide rigorous, professional teacher preparation in accordance with Standards of Effective Practice for Teachers (SEPT) and content standards adopted in fall 1998 by the Minnesota Board of Teaching.

Students enter a 12- to 15-month program integrating educational theory with classroom practice. Working closely with experienced teachers, students observe firsthand the daily rewards and pressures of their profession. This program is offered by the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development (OLPD) in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD).

Flexibility is an important advantage of this program. Students may enroll in any semester and are welcomed into the entire agriculture education program, building valuable professional support. A second advantage is that most program credits may be applied toward completion of the master of education (M.Ed.) degree. Students have seven years to complete their degree, beginning with the first course(s) used in the program, and must maintain a 2.80 minimum overall grade point average (GPA).

This program includes two components: initial licensure and M.Ed. degree. After successfully completing licensure requirements and appropriate work experience, students are recommended for state licensure to teach agricultural education in grades 5-8 and 7-12. This program may also provide initial preparation for Minnesota State College and Universities (MnSCU) licensure in farm business management education.

Curriculum

Students complete foundations, methods, and clinical experience coursework for licensure.

Note: Foundations of education coursework may be completed throughout the program, including summer, fall, or spring terms.

Foundation courses

CI 5452—Reading in the Content Areas for Initial Licensure Candidates (1 cr)
EDHD 5001—Learning, Cognition, and Assessment (3 cr)
EDHD 5003—Developmental and Individual Differences in Educational Contexts (2 cr)
EDHD 5004—Teaching Students with Special Needs in Inclusive Settings (2 cr) (effective fall 2009)
EDHD 5005—School and Society (2 cr)
EDHD 5007—Technology for Teaching and Learning (1.5 cr)
EDHD 5009—Human Relations: Applied Skills for School and Society (1 cr)
EDPA 5341—The American Middle School (3 cr)
PUBH 6003—Fundamentals of Alcohol and Drug Abuse (1 cr)

Note: PUBH-designated courses listed above may not be applied toward the M.Ed. degree.

Major courses

Foundations of agricultural education

AFEE 5111W—Agricultural Education: Methods of Teaching (4 cr)
AFEE 5112—Agricultural Education Program Organization and Curriculum for Youth (3 cr)
AFEE 5114—Agricultural Education Teaching Seminar (1 cr)
AFEE 5116—Coordination of SAE Programs: Work-based Learning (2 cr)
AFEE 5118—Strategies for Managing and Advising the FFA Organization (2 cr)

Teaching internship

WHRE 5696—Teaching Internship: Introduction (1 cr, pre-fall)
WHRE 5697—Teaching Internship: School and Classroom Settings (2 cr, fall)
WHRE 5698—Teaching Internship (3-8 cr, spring)

Completion of M.Ed. degree

Following the licensure program, students may receive an M.Ed. (master of education) degree by successfully completing the following coursework:

AFEE 5220—Special Topics in Agriculture Education and Extension (4.5 cr)
AFEE 5280—Current Issues for the Beginning Agricultural Education Teacher (2 cr)
AFEE 5995—Integrating Paper—Master of Education: Agricultural and Extension Education (2 cr)

See course descriptions and course schedules.

Admission criteria

Before submitting an application, all applicants are strongly encouraged to meet with WHRE program faculty to complete a transcript review and keep abreast of possible changes to admission requirements and state of Minnesota teaching licensure requirements.

Admission to the program is based on the following criteria:

Knowledge of content area—Applicants must have a fully developed knowledge base of the subject area, as demonstrated by completion of appropriate content area courses (see Content area page). A transcript review should be completed by the WHRE program faculty before applying. These reviews may be done by mail or in person. Students completing degrees outside of the United States must arrange for a transcript evaluation (see #3 under the “Application materials” heading below).
Classroom experience with grades 5-12 (for more information about this requirement, see Classroom experience).
Cultural and other diversity experience
Personal Statement
Grade point average (GPA)—2.80 overall GPA at the time of application. The bachelor’s degree must be completed by the time of matriculation.

How to Apply

Application Materials

All applicants must submit the following items:

Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions you have attended or are currently attending, except the University of Minnesota. Transcripts must be received from the issuing school in a sealed and stamped envelope. Any student with a U.S. bachelor's degree or a comparable foreign degree from an accredited college or university may apply to CEHD. Official transcripts of all previous post-secondary academic study must be submitted. If you completed coursework at a university outside of the United States, your transcripts must be evaluated by a professional credential evaluation center. Request a “course-by-course” evaluation. This process can take four-six weeks, so please plan in advance. A suggested provider of this service is Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE), P.O. Box 514070, Milwaukee, WI 53203-3470 (414-289-3400, fax: 414-289-3411).

All applicants must submit the following items with their online applications:

Résumé highlighting classroom experience, diversity experience, and other experiences relevant to your teaching field. The résumé must include the following details for each experience:
- Dates and total hours (e.g., October 2007-December 2007; two days/week to total 100 hours)
- Name and location of site
- Supervisor’s name and phone number
- Description of activities
- Description of the cultural background of the population with which you worked
Personal Statement that discusses how the experiences listed on your résumé have influenced your decision to become a teacher. Limited to two double-spaced pages, typed or word-processed, size-12 font.
Two letters of recommendation (submitted through the online application system) addressing your education-related experience, work style, and personal attributes. Include at least one letter from a K-12 site supervisor listed on your résumé.
Application fee charged when your online application is submitted. Fees must be paid with a credit card.

Nonnative English speakers and/or international students

All nonnative English speakers must submit an official score report from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). (Exceptions may be granted for applicants who will have completed 16 semester or 24 quarter credits within the past 24 months in residence as a full-time student at an accredited institution of higher learning in the United States before entering the University of Minnesota.)

Minimum TOEFL score requirements:

Internet-based test	79-80
Computer-based test	213
Paper-based test	550

Applicants may also be required to demonstrate spoken English proficiency in an Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) and/or oral interview with faculty or staff. Contact Student Services for more information.

International applicants who will require an I-20 for a student visa must submit a Financial Certification Statement, which will be mailed to you upon admission to the program.

Apply Online

Apply Online
Save your PIN number and password so that you can work on the application over time.
Follow application instructions carefully, because once your application is submitted, you will no longer have access to add/change application information or upload required supplemental material.
As your application is being reviewed, you can log back into your account to view your current application status.
Your admission decision will also be displayed in your application account.

Timeline

All application materials are due by these deadlines:

March 15—to enroll summer session
June 15—to enroll fall semester
October 1—to enroll spring semester

A college-wide orientation is held in mid-May for summer and fall enrollment, and in mid-December for spring enrollment

Before you begin the program

Testing

The Minnesota Board of Teaching requires licensure applicants to pass several standardized Praxis Series tests administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS). These tests are offered several times a year; students are responsible for registering for and taking Praxis Series tests by the required deadlines. Test information is available from The Praxis Series Information and Registration Bulletin, available at Student Services (612-625-6501) or the ETS Web site.

Students must pass the following tests to be recommended by CEHD for teaching licensure:

Praxis I: Pre-Professional Skills Tests (PPST). Students must take this test before starting the licensure program. Official Praxis I test scores must be submitted to Student Services before starting the program.

The following tests must be taken before licensure program completion:

Praxis II: Subject Assessments—Agriculture
Praxis II: Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) Tests

See more details at Praxis testing.

Criminal background check

Before starting student teaching or practicums, students are subject to a criminal background check required by the college. The investigation is conducted by a private agency contracted by the college and is designed to meet school district guidelines governing adults with responsibility for children. Decisions about candidate placement will be made by the district approving the assignment. For background check details and fees, contact Bob Utke at CEHD, 612-625-1084, e-mail: stuteach@umn.edu.