COLLEGE OF

Education and Human Development

Teacher education

THE BEST TEACHERS ARE BACKED BY RESEARCH

We want you to succeed from your first day in the classroom. That’s why our teacher education programs prepare you to be an expert in your field and an effective teacher. As a teacher licensure student at the University, you’ll be a part of:

  • A world-renowned research university. You’ll learn from a community of faculty and graduate students who are respected experts in education. They are engaged in research that’s impacting the children, schools, and communities you’ll be working in.
  • A program that is well respected in Minnesota school districts. Our students are highly sought after by Minnesota School principals and superintendents because of our reputation for effective preparation.
  • A cohort of other teacher licensure students, so you can learn from your peers and build a lasting network of teacher colleagues.

The University of Minnesota Twin Cities has over 40 approved teacher licensure programs. Please see "Our Program Areas" section for an overview and application details. The list of licensure requirements for each program can be found here.

teachers smiling in the classroom

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is committed to preparing teachers who understand and can apply research-backed teaching methodologies that will help all students become proficient readers. Learn more about teacher preparation for reading instruction.

2024 handbook website now available.
Our handbook for teacher candidates, cooperating teachers, and University supervisors has been revised for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Why are many of our teacher preparation programs offered at the graduate level?

Graduate level teacher education affords you the opportunity to first master your content knowledge through your undergraduate degree. Then, we place you into real classrooms in ways that work best for you and our school partners, creating an optimal experience. Our teacher education students collaborate with co-teachers to design and deliver lessons, work one-on-one with struggling learners, and assess student learning.

This supports not only teacher preparation, but also classroom experiences for the preK-12 learners. Our model:

  • increases instructional options for teachers
  • reduces student/teacher ratios
  • addresses the size and diversity of today’s classrooms
  • increases student engagement and participation

The Multiple Pathways to Teaching Office develops programs with local partners to address acute needs and specific goals. These programs include K-6 Elementary MEd and Initial Licensure with a focus on Dual Language Immersion (DLI-L) and the Minnesota Grow Your Own Teachers Program (MNGOT) which offers a combined master's degree with licensure options including K-6 Elementary, and K-12 ESL.

Our program areas

Two programs are housed in other colleges - Agricultural Education in CFANS and Music Education in CLA.

Licensure

We support current teacher licensure students throughout their time at the University. Major aspects of our work include: new student orientation, completing the Minnesota state teacher licensing process, and post-graduation job search.

Partnerships

We deepen University-school partnerships to improve preK-12 student learning. Major initiatives include: enhancing clinical placements, co-teaching in student teaching, improving mentoring of teacher candidates, preparing liaisons as teacher leaders, supporting partner school change, coordinating innovative projects, and sustaining a strong partner network.

Workshops and trainings

These workshops are an important part of a successful co-teaching experience for teacher candidates (TCs) and their cooperating teachers (CTs). It is during these workshops that TCs and new CTs learn about co-teaching and how it differs from a traditional student-teaching model.

"Our work with the U of M is a catalyst for deep learning on both sides - our educators reflect on and strengthen their practice as they mentor and support the development of pre-service colleagues. Students ultimately benefit from the collaboration of two professionals working with them all year. We are grateful for the opportunity to partner in the important work of training the next generation of educators." 

Karen Duke Principal St. Anthony Park Elementary School, St. Paul Public Schools