2008-2009 curriculum

Elementary education

Master of education/initial licensure

(Minnesota state licensure in elementary 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 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.

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.

Application deadlines

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

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
Reflective essay
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.

Application materials checklist

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 must submit the following items:

M.Ed./initial licensure application form [.pdf]
Application processing 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.

All other applicants

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: Discuss 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 addressing your education-related experience, work style, and personal attributes. Include at least one letter from a K-6 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:

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.

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: elementary education).
Submit application packages to:
Student Services
College of Education and Human Development
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.

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. Different student groups must submit official Praxis I test scores to Student Services by the following deadlines:

Elementary education foundations transition applicants
Applicants who have completed or are completing the undergraduate elementary education foundations program

Spring admission: January 1
Fall admission: August 1

All other applicants
Applicants who have not completed the undergraduate elementary education foundations program

Summer admission: June 1

See more details at Praxis testing.

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 (3 cr)
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 5424—Reading, Language Arts, and Literature: Primary (3 cr)
CI 5482—Reading, Language Arts, and Literature: Intermediate (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.