Elementary education

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

The elementary education initial licensure program is designed to help you become an inquiring, analytical, and reflective professional educator who can help students succeed in school. The program also seeks to develop thoughtful practitioners who are enthusiastic about and prepared for leadership roles in the schools.

Program

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.

Two groups of students typically apply to this M.Ed./initial licensure program. They are:

Elementary education foundations transition applicants These applicants have completed or are completing the separate CEHD undergraduate program in elementary education foundations. This group typically completes the M.Ed./ILP program in two semesters or about 10 months.
All other applicants These applicants have not completed the undergraduate elementary education foundations program. This group typically completes the M.Ed./ILP program in 15 to 18 months.

These two groups are subject to different application and admission requirements, and must submit different sets of application materials. In many cases, the differences are due to the fact that many M.Ed./initial licensure program requirements have already been satisfied during completion of the undergraduate elementary education foundations program.

The M.Ed./ILP program is offered through the Department of Curriculum & Instruction (C&I) in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD). Practicum and student teaching create a strong experience base in which to apply the principles and methods learned in University classes. Included is preparation on understanding student learning, working with diverse learners, using a variety of instructional strategies, creating positive learning environments, communication, lesson planning, assessment, reflection and professional development, and collaboration, ethics, and relationships.

An important advantage of this program is its cohort nature. Students in each cohort begin classes together and continue through their course of study as a single group, building a valuable sense of community. Throughout their student teaching, prospective teachers work closely with experienced teachers, observing firsthand the daily rewards and challenges of the profession.

This program includes two components: initial licensure and M.Ed. degree. After successfully completing initial licensure requirements, students are recommended for state licensure to teach elementary education for grades K-6 and a specialty area chosen from:

preprimary (age 3 and above)
one of four middle school areas (grades 5-8):
communication arts and literature
mathematics
science
social studies

For more information, see the content area page.

After completing a year of teaching and an additional four semester credits, students are awarded a master of education (M.Ed.) degree in teaching. Students have seven years to complete their degree, beginning with the first course(s) used in the program, and must maintain a 2.80 grade point average (GPA) for M.Ed. courses.

Curriculum

Students must complete at least 30 credits of foundation, methods, and clinical experience coursework for licensure.

Group I—Introduction and foundations

Introductory block

CI 5111—Introduction to Elementary School Teaching (3 cr)
EDHD 5001—Learning, Cognition, and Assessment (3 cr)

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

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; not required for elementary education foundations transition students)
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)
PUBH 6003—Fundamentals of Alcohol and Drug Abuse (1 cr)

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

Group II –Literacy and inquiry

Literacy block

CI 5183—Applying Instructional Methods in the Elementary Classroom (2 cr)
CI 5401—Literature for the Elementary School (3 cr)
CI 5425—Reading Instruction in Elementary Grades (3 cr)
CI 5426—Language Arts Instruction in the Elementary Grades(3 cr)

Building on the introductory block, students explore reading, language arts, and children’s literature with both a primary and intermediate focus in the literacy block. Students spend Tuesday and Thursday mornings in an elementary classroom applying literacy skills.

Inquiry block

CI 5183—Applying Instructional Methods in the Elementary Classroom (2 cr)
CI 5501—Teaching Science and Health in the Elementary School (2 cr)
CI 5701—Teaching Social Studies in the Elementary School (2 cr)
CI 5821—Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary School (2 cr)

The inquiry block focuses on the inquiry process as it applies to science/health, social studies, and mathematics. Students work in an elementary classroom on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and complete three 3-day inquiry micro-teaching sequences in science/health, social studies, and mathematics.

Other required courses

CI 5008—Theory and Practice of Teaching Art in Elementary Schools (2 cr)
CI 5644—Working with Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Students in the Mainstream Classroom (1 cr)
KIN 3327—Teaching Physical Education in the Elementary School (2 cr) (does not count toward M.Ed.)
MUED 5011—Music in the Elementary Classroom Curriculum (2 cr)

Students take art methods, kindergarten methods, physical education, and music methods classes during the literacy block and inquiry block of coursework.

Group III—Applied practice

Student teaching

CI 5181—Clinical Experience in Elementary School Teaching (8 cr)

In the early fall, students visit for three weeks in the classroom where they will student teach. Students spend full days student teaching in an elementary classroom after completing the coursework and applied experiences in the introductory, inquiry, and literacy blocks.

Specialization coursework Students in this program must choose a middle school (grades 5-8) or preprimary (age 3 and above) specialty area and complete appropriate courses in the following lists.

Middle school specialty Students choosing the middle school specialty area must complete at least 15 credits of prerequisite coursework listed on the content area page. In addition, students must complete one of the following courses, choosing a course that aligns with the specialty area being added.

CI 5405—Middle School Language Arts Methods (2 cr)
CI 5505—Middle School Science Methods (2 cr)
CI 5705—Middle School Social Studies Methods (2 cr)
MTHE 5305—Middle School Mathematics Methods (2 cr)

Preprimary specialty Students choosing the preprimary specialty area must complete at least 21-23 credits of prerequisite work listed on the content area page.

M.Ed. completion

After teaching for at least one year, students complete the master of education degree with the following courses.

One 2-cr elective, additional course selected in consultation with faculty adviser
CI 5187—Practicum: Improvement of Teaching in Elementary or PreKindergarten Schools (2 cr) (project and paper related to the area of teaching)

See course descriptions and course schedules.

Admission criteria

Admission to the M.Ed./initial licensure program is based on the following criteria:

Knowledge of content areas (See Content area page)—Applicants must have a fully developed knowledge base of the subject areas. A transcript review should be completed by the Student Services program adviser 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).

Grades K-6 classroom experience—100 paid or unpaid hours in a public-school setting (for more information about this requirement, see the CEHD classroom experience page.
Cultural and other diversity experience—100-hour minimum
Personal statement
Grade point average (GPA)—All applicants must have completed a bachelor’s degree at the time of matriculation. Two applicant categories are subject to two different GPA requirements, as listed below:
- Elementary education foundations transition applicants Applicants who have completed or are completing the undergraduate elementary education foundations program must have:
  - a 2.80 overall GPA for University of Minnesota coursework and 3.00 GPA in major coursework at the time of application.
- All other applicants Applicants who have not completed the undergraduate elementary education foundations program must have:
  - a 2.80 overall GPA and 3.00 GPA in major coursework at the time of application.

How to apply

Application Materials

The two student groups must submit two different sets of application materials. Applicants who have completed the undergraduate elementary education foundations program have already satisfied many of the admission requirements for the M.Ed./initial licensure program.

Elementary education foundations transition applicants 

Applicants who have completed or are completing the undergraduate elementary education foundations program need only apply online and pay the application fee.

All other applicants

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 are listed below:

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
Be sure to save your PIN number and password, so that you can work on the application over time.
Take your time and follow instructions carefully, because once your application is submitted, you will no longer have access to add/change information or upload required supplemental material.
As your application is reviewed, you will receive e-mail notifications of your status.
Your application status and decision will also be posted in your application account.

Timeline

The two applicant groups must follow two different sets of application deadlines, as listed below.

Elementary education foundations transition applicants Students who have completed or are completing the undergraduate elementary education foundations program can apply for spring or fall term admission to the M.Ed./initial licensure program in elementary education. Application materials are due by the following deadlines:

Spring term admission: September 15
Fall term admission: December 15

All other applicants Applicants who have not completed the undergraduate elementary education foundations program may apply to the M.Ed./initial licensure program for summer term admission only. Application materials are due by the following deadline:

Summer session admission only: December 15

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
Praxis II: Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) Tests

See more details at Praxis testing.

Criminal background check

Before starting student teaching or practica, 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 tke at CEHD, 612-625-1084, e-mail: stuteach@umn.edu.