2009-2010 cohort
Content area preadmission course requirements
Master of education/initial licensure in elementary education
Content area courses are prerequisites that must be completed or in progress at the time of M.Ed./ILP program admission.
Courses in the content area are required to meet the Standards of Effective Practice for Teachers (SEPT) and content standards adopted in 1998 by the Minnesota Board of Teaching: "The teacher understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline(s) he or she teaches and can create learning experiences that make these aspects of subject matter meaningful for students."
Students must complete the preadmission core requirements for grades K-6 elementary education licensure. They must also complete an additional set of requirements for a teaching specialty area. Students choose from these five specialty areas: preprimary education (age 3 and above); or middle school (grades 5-8) in mathematics, science, social studies, or communication arts and literature.
Contact Student Services to meet with an adviser if you have questions about these requirements.
I. Preadmission core requirements for grades K-6 elementary education licensure
Students must complete all of the following preadmission core requirements:
A. Basic requirements
- General psychology—PSY 1011 (4 cr) or PSTL 1281 (4 cr)
- Fundamentals of music or equivalent (instrumental music experience required, vocal experience not applicable)
- The English language (linguistics)—ENGC 3601 (4 cr), LING 3001 (4 cr), or LING 5501 (3 cr)
B. Mathematics (minimum 9 cr)
- College algebra—MATH 1031 (3 cr)
- Mathematics for elementary teachers—MATH 3113 (4 cr) and MATH 3118 (4 cr) OR MTHE 3101 (4 cr) and MTHE 3102 (4 cr)
Note: To enroll in Math 3113, contact the University's School of Mathematics (612-625-4848) to obtain a permission number.
C. Sciences (minimum 9 cr)
- Physical science (chemistry or physics)
- Earth science (geology, astronomy, or meteorology)
- Biological science (biology, biochemistry, botany, or ecology)
Note: At least two of three courses listed above must include a lab.
D. Social studies (minimum 9 cr)
- U.S. history since 1880 (minimum 3 cr)
- World history or world geography (minimum 3 cr)
- Social science electives (minimum 3 cr) (may not include child, adolescent, or general psychology)
E. Communication arts and literature (minimum 9 cr)
- Literature
- Six semester credits with courses from at least two of the following areas: music (required for students who do not have musical aptitude equivalent to MUS 1011), speech (highly recommended), theatre, dance, art, or additional literature
II. Preadmission specialty areas
Students must complete at least 15 credits of content area coursework in a middle-school specialty area; or at least 21-23 credits of content area coursework in the preprimary specialty area. Child or adolescent psychology may not be included in the preadmission credit totals.
Students must fulfill requirements for one of the following specialty areas: one of four middle-school specialty areas (grades 5-8) or preprimary education (age 3 and above).
A. Mathematics (grades 5-8)
Students must complete the core mathematics requirements (listed
above in section IB) plus the following courses:
- Calculus
- Statistics
- Mathematics electives
- Adolescent psychology—CPSY 4303 (4 cr) (not included in 15-credit minimum)
B. Science (grades 5-8)
Students must complete the core science requirements (listed above
in section IC) plus the following courses:
- Environmental education or natural resources
- Science electives
- Adolescent psychology—CPSY 4303 (4 cr) (not included in 15-credit minimum)
C. Social studies (grades 5-8)
Students must complete the core social studies requirements (listed
above in section ID) plus the following courses:
- Cultural pluralism and diversity in the United States
- Social studies electives
- Adolescent psychology—CPSY 4303 (4 cr) (not included in 15-credit minimum)
D. Communication arts and literature (grades 5-8)
Students must complete the core communication arts and literature
requirements (listed above in section IE) plus the
following requirements:
- Contemporary literature with international perspectives
- Introduction to fiction writing
- Literature or writing electives
- Adolescent psychology—CPSY 4303 (4 cr) (not included in 15-credit minimum)
E. Preprimary education (age 3 and above)
Students must complete 21-23 credits of preprimary education
requirements. Students choosing this specialty should expect to
spend an additional one to three semesters to complete prerequisite
coursework before admission to the M.Ed./ILP program.
- CPSY 2301—Introductory Child Psychology (4 cr)
or CPSY 3301—Introductory Child Psychology for Social Sciences (4 cr) - CPSY 4336W—Development and Interpersonal Relations (4 cr)
or CPSY 4331—Social and Personality Development (4 cr) - CPSY 4343—Cognitive Development (4 cr) (strongly recommended, not required)
- CPSY 4993—Directed Instruction in Child Psychology (3 cr)
- CPSY 5252—Facilitating Social and Physical Learning in Early Childhood Education (3 cr)
- CPSY 5253—Facilitating Cognitive and Creative Learning in Early Childhood Education (3 cr)
- CPSY 5281—Student Teaching in Early Childhood Education (4-6 cr)
Revised June 2009