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cehdgrad@umn.edu
110 Wulling Hall [map]
86 Pleasant Street S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55455 USA
Tel: 612-625-6501
Fax: 612-626-1580
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College > Student services > Graduate student services > Initial licensure

2008-2009 curriculum

Early childhood education and early childhood special education

Master of education/initial licensure

(State of Minnesota teaching licensure in early childhood education and early childhood special education)

Information session
Before applying to this program, applicants are strongly encouraged to attend an information session for an overview of admission and program requirements. Hour-long sessions are held at Student Services, Wulling Hall. Register online.

Note: The following program requirements apply to students admitted for the 2008-09 academic year. Program requirements are subject to change. Students should consult a program adviser at the College’s office of Student Services to stay abreast of changes.

Program

The early childhood education and early childhood special education initial licensure program is designed to prepare inquiring, analytical, and reflective professional educators who can teach in the classroom and lead in the schools. Included in the program is preparation on understanding student learning, working with diverse learners, developing a variety of instructional strategies, creating positive learning environments, and preparing for a collaborative, professional relationship with colleagues.

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.

This program is offered on a part-time or full-time basis through the Institute of Child Development (ICD), in collaboration with the departments of Curriculum & Instruction (C&I) and Educational Psychology (EdPsy).

Students enter a program integrating educational theory with classroom practice. Four student teaching experiences are generally required to create a strong base in which to apply the principles and methods learned in University classes. Throughout their student teaching, prospective teachers work closely with experienced teachers, observing firsthand the daily rewards and pressures of their profession.

Upon successful completion of program requirements, students are recommended for state licensure in two areas: early childhood education (birth–grade 3) and early childhood special education (birth–age 6). After completing all program requirements, students are awarded a master of education (M.Ed.) degree in teaching. Students have seven years to complete their degree, beginning with the first coursework used in the program, and must maintain a 2.80 grade point average (GPA) for M.Ed. coursework.

Application timeline

Students must pass the following test 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, as described in the following timelines.

Students must also pass additional Praxis tests before licensure completion (see licensure details).

This program has two application deadlines per year, as listed below.

Summer/fall enrollment

• February 1—Application materials due.
• March—Submit Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form for financial aid
• March/April—Committee review of applications
• Mid-April—Notification of admission decisions
• May 1—Deadline for University of Minnesota application for summer financial aid (eligible if FAFSA has been submitted)
• Mid-May—Orientation and summer registration
• June 1 (summer enrollment)/September 1 (fall enrollment)—Completion of Praxis I: Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST or CBT)
• Early June—Summer term begins
• Early September—Fall semester begins

Spring enrollment

• October 1—Application materials due for spring enrollment.
• October—Submit Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form for financial aid
• October/November—Committee review of applications
• Mid-November—Notification of decisions
• Late November—Orientation
• January 1—Completion of Praxis I: Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST or CBT)
• Mid-January—Spring semester begins

Admission criteria

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 (see Content area page for a list of prerequisite courses).
• Reflective essay
• Grade point average (GPA)—2.80 overall GPA at the time of application. Bachelor’s degree must be completed at the time of matriculation.

Applicants are also strongly encouraged to obtain the following paid or unpaid experiences:

• Classroom experience with young children
• Cultural and other diversity experience

Application materials checklist

Applicants are encouraged to check with a Student Services adviser to keep abreast of possible changes to admission requirements. All applicants must submit the following items:

• M.Ed./initial licensure application form [.pdf]
• Application fee: Make check, money order, or bank draft in the amount of $55 payable to the University of Minnesota. This fee must be paid each time an application is submitted.
• 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).
• 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

• Reflective essay: Describe your experiences working with children and/or youth and how it has affected your decision to become a teacher. Include cultural and other diverse experiences that have contributed to your development. Reflect on the innovative ways you have contributed or will contribute to the profession. Also, elaborate on your understanding of the process of effective teaching (e.g., classroom management, accommodating different learning styles, and working with special-needs children). Limit your essay to two double-spaced pages, with size-12 font and one-inch margins.
• Two letters of recommendation addressing your education-related experience, work style, and personal attributes. Include at least one letter from a site supervisor listed on your résumé. Sealed or unsealed recommendation letters may be submitted. Letters may be submitted in the application packet (preferred) or sent separately to CEHD Student Services.

Additional application materials are required for the following student groups:

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:

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.

Submission of application materials

• Applicant’s first and last names must appear on all pages of application materials.
• Submit all application materials on white paper (using paper clips, not staples) in a single envelope.
• Keep a copy of all application materials you submit.
• In the lower left-hand corner of the envelope, write the name of the program to which you are applying (e.g., M.Ed./initial licensure: early childhood education and early childhood special education).
• Submit application package to:
  Student Services
  College of Education and Human Development (CEHD)
  110 Wulling Hall
  86 Pleasant Street S.E.
  Minneapolis, MN 55455

Notification

All applicants will receive written notification of the admission committee’s final decision. Notification letters are typically mailed within eight to ten weeks after the application deadline. To reserve a space in the program, admitted students must include a nonrefundable $50 confirmation fee with the completed CEHD Intent to Enroll form. This fee offsets the costs of credential file, fingerprinting, and final official transcript processes required for licensure clearance.

The $50 confirmation fee is in addition to the $55 fee paid at the time of application.

Curriculum

Students complete foundations, methods, and student teaching experience coursework for licensure. Although all of these courses are required for licensure, some courses may be taken for undergraduate credit before admission into the program. Contact the Student Services program adviser for more information. At least 30 graduate-level credits are required for the M.Ed. degree.

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

Foundations courses

• CPSY 4336W—Development and Interpersonal Relations (4 cr)
• CPSY 4343—Cognitive Development (4 cr)
• CPSY 4993—Directed Instruction in Child Psychology (3 cr)
• EDHD 5007—Technology for Teaching and Learning (1.5 cr)
• EDHD 5009—Human Relations: Applied Skills for School and Society (1 cr)
• EPSY 5849—Observation and Assessment of the Preschool Child (3 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.

Methods courses

• CI 5111—Introduction to Elementary School Teaching (3 cr)
• CI 5415—Literacy Development in the Primary Grades (3 cr)
• CI 5504—Elementary School Science: Materials and Resources (3 cr)
• CI 5701—Teaching Social Studies in the Elementary School (2 cr)
• CI 5821—Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary School (2 cr)
• CPSY 5251—Social and Philosophical Foundations of Early Childhood Education (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)
• EPSY 5609—Family-Centered Services (2 cr)
• EPSY 5616—Behavior Analysis and Classroom Management (3 cr)
• EPSY 5625—Education of Infants, Toddlers, and Preschool Children with Disabilities: Introduction (2 cr)
• EPSY 5681—Education of Infants, Toddlers, and Preschool Children with Disabilities: Methods and Materials (3 cr)

Student teaching experiences

• CI 5181—Clinical Experience in Elementary School Teaching (8 cr)
• CPSY 5281—Student Teaching in Early Childhood Education (3-6 cr)
• EPSY 5753—Student Teaching: Early Childhood Special Education (3 cr each, 6 cr total) (two student teaching experiences required)

M.Ed. completion

One additional course plus a final integrative paper or experience is required for the M.Ed. degree. Students register for one of the following courses. Either course may be taken at any time during the program.

• CPSY 4334W—Children, Youth in Society (4 cr)
• or CPSY 5413—Early Childhood and Public Policy (4 cr)

After all licensure requirements are completed successfully, students register for one of the following courses and work with their faculty adviser to determine the subject, content, and methodology for their integrative paper or experience.

• CI 5187—Practicum: Improvement of Teaching in Elementary or PreKindergarten Schools (2-3 cr)
• or EPSY 5991—Independent Study in Educational Psychology (2 cr)

See course descriptions and course schedules.

Student Services program adviser

Rudy Hernández
Student Services
210 Wulling Hall
612-626-1513
E-mail: r-hern@umn.edu

Core faculty

LaVonne Carlson, ICD
612-624-7826, e-mail: carls017@umn.edu

Scott R. McConnell, EdPsy
612-624-6365, e-mail: smcconne@umn.edu

Anne Mooney-McLoone, ICD
612-624-9505, e-mail: moone001@umn.edu

Barbara A. Murphy, ICD
612-624-9035, e-mail: murph028@umn.edu

Revised July 2008

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Last modified on December 27, 2007

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