School of Education

Licensure and Master of Arts in Elementary K-8 Teaching courses

Program Stages
The program coursework and field experiences are designed to assist you in attaining the knowledge, skills and dispositions to ensure your success as an educator.

Stage One
Circles of Advocates for Competency Assessment
Education’s Place in Society
Human Relations and Multicultural Education

Stage Two
Psychology for Teaching and Learning
Field Experience: Middle Level (5-8)
Language, Literacy and Literature I
Survey of Exceptionality

Stage Three
Language, Literacy and Literature II
Teaching Mathematics and Technology
Teaching Science and Healthy, Active Living
Teaching Social Studies and Fine Arts
Field Experience: Primary K-4
Circles of Advocates for Competency Assessment II

Stage Four
Student Teaching
Circles of Advocates for Competency Assessment III
Student Teaching Seminar: The Teacher as Educational Advocate

Master's Completion

Refer to our catalog for course descriptions with greater detail

Stage One: Foundations Block

Foundations Block courses are the same for K-8, K-12, or 5-12 programs. Ideally, you should begin with these courses. Understand the foundations of education and what you will do as an educator.

Circles of Advocates for Competency Assessment I (TEGR 501 - 1 Credit)

Establish a circle of educational advocates appropriate for licensure level and area(s) of concentration.
Become familiar with Minnesota Standards of Effective Practice for Teachers.
Assess your prior professional experiences and academic preparation as it applies to earning Minnesota teacher licensure.
Receive group and individual guidance to develop a comprehensive learning plan.
Begin creating your licensure portfolio.

Education’s Place in Society (TEGR 510 - 3 Credits)

Analyze education’s place in today’s rapidly changing society.
Understanding historic, philosophic and social perspectives on education.
Participate in a guided, reflective, in-school field experience.

Field Experience: Introductory (K-12) (TEGR 511- 0 Credits)

Complete 15- 30 hours in a classroom with a supervising teacher.

Human Relations and Multicultural Education (TEGR 512 - 3 Credits)

Model appropriate multicultural, gender-fair values and actions
Gain awareness of teachers’ crucial role in influencing positive, systemic change on social issues of personal growth, human interaction and interpersonal relations.

Stage Two: Psychology for Teaching and Learning Block

Courses in this block are designed to help you understand the learners you will be working with. Discover how you can affect the learning process.

Psychology for Teaching and Learning (TEGR 530 - 3 Credits)

Explore the scientific knowledge base that underlies good teaching practices.

Learn to apply educational psychology principles to your own learning and future teaching.

Study standards-based instruction, performance-enhancing assessment strategies, technology-assisted teaching and learning to meet the diverse needs of learners.

Analyze effective teaching practice through reading, discussion, classroom simulations, school observations and microteaching demonstrations.

Field Experience: Middle Level (5-8) (TEGR 532- 0 Credits)

Field experiences are tied to courses and should be completed along with regular classroom work.
Field experiences range from 15 hours in a classroom with a supervising teacher.

Language, Literacy and Literature I (TEGR 550 - 3 Credits)

Understand the theory and practice of elementary curriculum and instruction in the areas of reading, language arts and children’s literature.
Learn to teach in an integrated manner to students of diverse socio-economic backgrounds and cultures.
Develop appropriate practice for kindergarten, primary and intermediate grades.
Reflect on language development and literacy processes as foundations for understanding curricular development and applications for literacy in the elementary classroom.
Conduct research critical issues in the field of literacy development.

Survey of Exceptionality (SPED 750 – 3 Credits)

Examine the theories, legal mandates, definitions and terminology related to special education.

Explore characteristics of individuals with exceptionalities including gifted and talented; emotional behavioral, and speech and language disorders; learning, developmental and sensory disabilities; early childhood special education.

Stage Three: Curriculum and Instruction Block

Get down to the basics of teaching. How do you meet your K-12 students’ needs? How do you challenge learners with exciting, in-depth, relevant learning? How do you get students engaged with life changing content?

Language, Literacy and Literature II (TEGR 570 - 3 Credits)

Understand the theory and practice of elementary curriculum and instruction in the areas of reading, language arts and children’s literature.

Learn to teach in an integrated manner to students of diverse socio-economic backgrounds and cultures.

Develop appropriate practice for kindergarten, primary and intermediate grades.

Extend the foundations in language, literacy and children’s literature presented in the initial course to classroom applications in composing processes (writer’s workshop), assessment and evaluation, and interdisciplinary instruction.
Research critical issues in the field of literacy development.

Teaching Mathematics and Technology (TEGR 571 - 3 Credits)

Provide a problem-solving-based mathematics program and integrate technology in your teaching in grades K-6.
Learn developmentally appropriate practice, teaching to standards, understanding mathematics, using technology to support learning, and authentic assessment.
Intended for all students earning licensure in K-6 with a specialty.

Teaching Science and Healthy, Active Living (TEGR 572 - 3 Credits)

Explore how to effectively engage learners with science and help them have the skills for lifelong, healthy, active living.
Learn developmentally appropriate practice for a range of learners in grades K-6.
Develop curriculum content and review instructionally based assessment strategies,
Make connections with community resources.
Identify national and state standards, lesson and unit planning, and curriculum and technology integration.
Engage in research related to science and healthy, active living.
Course includes clinical experiences.
Intended for all students earning licensure in K-6 with a specialty.

Teaching Social Studies and Fine Arts (TEGR 573 - 3 Credits)

Gain an overview of the social studies and fine arts.
Develop a civic and cultural awareness respectful of human diversity.
Identify national and state standards.
Learn unit and lesson planning, instructional resources and technology, teaching and assessment strategies, and curriculum integration.
Intended for all students earning licensure in K-6 with a specialty,

Curriculum and Methods for Middle Level Specialty Area (TEGR 574 -1 Credit)

Participate in a series of guided classroom and field experiences designed to meet the Minnesota middle-level competencies for K-6 pre-service teachers in their chosen 5-8 area of academic concentration.
Engage in developmentally appropriate practice for a range of learners in grades 5-8.
Identify age-appropriate, performance-based assessment strategies.
Make connections with community resources.
Review national and state standards
Learn about lesson and unit planning; and curriculum and technology integration.
Intended for all students earning licensure in K-6 with a specialty.

Field Experience: Primary K-4 (TEGR 577- 0 Credits)

Complete 30 hours in a classroom with a supervising teacher.

Circles of Advocates for Competency Assessment II (TEGR 531 - 1 Credit)

Monitor your progress in meeting the Minnesota licensure standards.
Complete the interview process and all other requirements for full admission into the teacher education program at St. Thomas.
Further develop and refine your teacher licensure portfolio.
Review your comprehensive plan to ensure the required competencies are met.

Stage Four: Reflective Practice Block

Complete your student teaching requirement. Student teaching is one full semester and is an unpaid position. You may list three or four geographic preferences and St. Thomas will try to accommodate your request.

Student Teaching (TEGR 660 - 6 credits)

Apply your knowledge and skills of teaching and learning in a classroom setting.
Attend seminars to reflect upon the experience and to increase your repertoire of strategies for dealing with topical, relevant issues.

Circles of Advocates for Competency Assessment III (TEGR 661 - 1 Credit)

Participate in a final assessment of your evidence toward meeting the required Minnesota licensure standards.

Demonstrate your ability to meet the required Minnesota licensure standards at your level and concentration area(s).

Complete your licensure portfolio.

Complete the final assessment and interview process.

Develop a continued professional development plan as novice teachers.

Student Teaching Seminar: The Teacher as Educational Advocate (TEGR 662 – 0 Credits)

Prepare to be an effective, collaborative advocate for educational institutions and for students.

Study a political and social analysis of educational organizations and institutions.

Develop skills in communication and teacher leadership.

Build strategies for connecting with communities and families, including families for whom English is not the primary language.

Masters Completion

Educational Research (CIED 500 – 3 Credits)

Education Elective (3 Credit3)