School of Education

Licensure and Master of arts in Secondary 5-12 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 I
Education’s Place in Society
Field Experience: Introductory (K-12)
Human Relations and Multicultural Education

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

Stage Three
Curriculum and Methods for Specific Discipline and Clinical Grades 5-8
Curriculum and Methods for Specific Discipline and Clinical Grades 9-12
Field Experience: Secondary (9-12)
Reading for the 5-12 Teacher
Adolescent Literature
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)

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

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?

Curriculum and Methods for Specific Discipline and Clinical Grades 5-8 (TEGR 581 - 2 Credits)

Be prepared for developmentally appropriate practice for a range of learners in grades 5 though 8.
Explore curriculum content and sources, instructionally based assessment strategies, connections with community resources, national and state standards, and technology integration.
Undertake lesson and unit planning and curriculum development.
Participate in a clinical experience and research-based exploration of critical issues related to the content field.

Curriculum and Methods for Specific Discipline and Clinical Grades 9-12 (TEGR 582 -2 credits)

Be prepared for developmentally appropriate practice for a range of learners in grades 9 though 12.
Explore curriculum content and sources, instructionally based assessment strategies, connections with community resources, national and state standards, and technology integration.
Undertake lesson and unit planning and curriculum development.
Participate in a clinical experience and research-based exploration of critical issues related to the content field.

Field Experience: Secondary (9-12) (TEGR 583 - 0 Credits)

Complete 30 hours in a classroom with a supervising teacher.

Reading for the 5-12 Teacher (TEGR 585 – 3 Credits)

Adolescent Literature (TEGR 545 - 3 credits - Communication Arts and Literature Major Only)

Explore ways in which contemporary adolescent literature meets the reading interests and needs of adolescents.
Develop methods and programs to stimulate reading interest and practice.

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 Credit)

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.

Master’s Completion

Educational Research (CIED 500 – 3 Credits)

Education Elective (3-6 Credits)