DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office: Cowan Hall 105
Associate Professors: Gilmartin, Fisher
Assistant Professors: Baker, Denning, Evanciew, Heck, Kiser, Kolis,
McCroskey, Ray, Spatkowski, Tande (Chair), Tretheway, Watts, Winn
Preparing students to become competent and productive educators
is the primary goal of the Teacher Education Program. The program
aims to provide superior instruction, integration of practical
and theoretical elements of knowledge, and effective faculty student
interaction. The curriculum provides both undergraduate and graduate
instruction leading to the Bachelors and Masters degrees with
preparation offered in various areas of specialization and teaching
fields. A Fifth-Year Program is also available.
The undergraduate Teacher Education Program contains four broad
areas of emphasis:
The Bachelor of Science Degree in Education is a four-year program
that provides students with the subject matter background and
skills for teaching. Prospective elementary, secondary, and vocational
teachers must have successfully completed one of the Bachelor
degree programs in education before Montana State University-Northern
can make a recommendation to the State Superintendent of Public
Instruction for a teaching certificate. Programs are planned in
terms of the specific areas in which the prospective teacher expects
to teach.
Consistent with the identified needs of Montana elementary and
secondary schools, Montana State University-Northern is authorized
and accredited to offer teacher education programs in the following
areas (also, see alphabetical program listings).
I. ELEMENTARY EDUCATION
II. BROADFIELD/EXTENDED MAJORS (40-60 credits)
Applied Technology
Business Education
English
General Science
Physical Education and Health K-12
Social Science
III. MAJORS (30-39 credits)
English
Counseling and Development K-12 (Graduate Program)
History
Mathematics
Physical Education and Health K-12
V. MINORS (20-29 credits)
Art K-12
Biology
Business Education
Chemistry
Computer Information Systems
Drama
English
French
Counseling and Development K-12 (Graduate Program)
History
Mathematics
Physical Education and Health K-12
Reading Specialist K-12
Traffic Education
Teacher Certification
Teacher Education graduates who have successfully completed the
core battery of the National Teachers Exam will be eligible to
apply for a Standard Class II Teaching Certificate. Successful
completion of a degree normally results in certification. Students
must make application for certification through Montana State
University-Northern's Teacher Certification Officer to the Office
of Public Instruction.
Effective July 1, 1986, all new applicants for initial Class I,
II, or III certification must provide evidence of having completed
the National Teachers Examination, NTE, Core Battery with a minimum
score established by the Montana Board of Public Education. Individuals
holding a current Class I, II, or III Certificate need not take
the NTE core battery in order to change certificates or add endorsements.
However, individuals seeking to reinstate lapsed certificates
are required to satisfactorily complete the exam. All existing
valid certificates will be renewed on the basis of the rules under
which they were issued.
Students completing Montana State University-Northern's Elementary
Teacher Education Program will be recommended for a Standard Class
II Teaching Certificate which qualifies holders to teach kindergarten
through grade eight. Students completing one of Montana State
University-Northern's Secondary Teacher Education Programs will
be recommended for a Standard Class II Secondary Teaching Certificate
which qualifies holders to teach in their subject area in grades
5-12.
In addition to their general and professional education requirements,
secondary education majors will complete an academic major, broadfield
major, extended major and/or an academic minor. Major and minor
areas are those subjects that are of interest to individual secondary
teacher education students and are to be selected from the specific
teaching areas previously listed.
Individuals obtaining a Class II Certificate will be endorsed
in their major and minor areas. Students who complete broadfield
or extended majors (40-60 credits) will be endorsed to teach selected
subjects within the broad area encompassed by that discipline.
Students who complete a regular major (30-39 credits) and a minor
(20-29 credits) will be endorsed to teach in the two areas. Areas
of Concentration, an option that is available in some programs,
do not lead to an endorsement.
Accreditation standards of Montana middle and secondary schools
identify the particular endorsements and, in many instances, the
number of credit hours of subject matter teachers must possess
in an endorsable area are specified. Students should consult with
the Director of Education if there are questions regarding the
middle and/or high school courses in which their major or minor
will permit them to teach.
Several majors and minors (Art, Physical Education and Health,
French, Counseling and Development, Reading Specialist) lead to
a K-12 endorsement. This endorsement makes possible a teaching
assignment in the specific subject in all grades from kindergarten
through grade 12. Students seeking this type of endorsement must
plan coursework and practicums at both the elementary and the
secondary grade levels.
Graduates of all Montana State University-Northern Teacher Education
Programs will be eligible for a recommendation for a Standard
Class II Teaching Certificate. However, prospective teachers who
plan to teach in selected high school vocational subjects, in
vocational-technical schools, in community colleges, in junior
colleges, or in other programs where state certification is a
requirement for federal or state reimbursement programs, will
also need to complete specific vocational coursework and meet
appropriate on-the-job work experience requirements. The evaluation
of an individual's on-the-job work experience is completed by
personnel in the Montana Office of Public Instruction. Students
seeking to teach in a reimbursed vocational program should check
with their advisor and the Director of Education very early in
their program.
Admission to Teacher Education
Upon declaring an education major, each student is granted conditional
admission to teacher education. During the time of conditional
admission, and with the assistance of an advisor, each student
should plan a program of studies and work toward Final Admission
to Teacher Education.
All students seeking admission to the undergraduate education program for initial certification are required to apply to the Department of Education for Final Admission to Teacher Education. Final Admission to Teacher Education is required of all students prior to their enrolling in any professional education core courses at the 300 level or above.
Criteria for Final Admission to Teacher Education include:
Applicants will be notified according to the following classifications:
An applicant who is granted provisional admission will be monitored
for progress in the professional sequence and will be dropped
from Teacher Education if he/she fails to meet the provisions
specified when granted the provisional status. An applicant who
is not approved may request a hearing before the Teacher Education
Professional Review Committee by so informing the Director of
Education.
Student Teacher Practicum
Students seeking to be recommended for certification through the Teacher Education Program at Montana State University-Northern will successfully complete a teaching practicum in their senior year. The assigned teaching practicum will be in specially selected and fully accredited elementary, secondary, or vocational schools. The student must have acquired Final Admission to Teacher Education status prior to enrolling in EDUC 400, Elementary Teaching Practicum and Seminar, or EDUC 450, Secondary Teaching Practicum and Seminar or EDUC 475 Elementary and Secondary Teaching Practicum and Seminar. The teaching practicum is a full time responsibility; therefore, the student should not engage in outside work or enroll in additional courses during this time. No required professional education major, minor, or area of concentration courses may be taken on a pass-fail basis (exceptions are EDUC 400 and EDUC 450 and EDUC 475). Grades below C are not accepted in required professional education courses, and in courses included in the major, minor, or areas of concentration.
Students preparing to student teach at a distance greater than
100 miles from Havre, but within Montana, will be assessed additional
fees during the semester in which they register to student teach.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION
The faculty within the Department of Education are of the belief that Elementary Education is a unique professional field. It is a synthesis of academic disciplines interwoven with child development principles, learning theory, and pedagogical skills. The department faculty also believe that the elementary teacher should be education's premier generalist, the one educator who is conversant with all the central disciplines and major subjects that form the elementary school curriculum. Those who teach children in the early grades need to become broadly educated across a wide range of fields and be able to demonstrate the ability to impart knowledge and skills to children. More specifically, the elementary (K-8) teacher must:
Based on the above premise, the faculty within the Department of Education have designed an Elementary Education Program that includes:
Students who complete the Bachelor of Science Degree with a major
in Elementary Education will be eligible to teach those subjects
commonly found in the curricula of public schools from kindergarten
through grade eight.
Teacher Education Prerequisites
In order to provide a broad base for the Teacher Education Program,
Elementary Education majors must take several credit hours of
prescribed coursework in addition to the University-wide general
education requirements. The credits are identified as Teacher
Education Program prerequisites and should be substantially completed
during the freshman and sophomore years and prior to making application
for Final Admission to Teacher Education and enrollment in specific
upper division teacher education courses.
Professional Education
Professional education courses may be taken after receiving Final
Admission to Teacher Education. The coursework consists of the
psychology of learning, child development, specific methods courses,
and a series of public school practicum experiences. This portion
of the degree requirement is designed to help students plan and
prepare instructional experiences, to develop insight into how
children learn and grow, and to provide actual experience with
the manner in which public schools are organized and operated.
Areas of Teaching Concentration
The University-wide General Education Requirements and Teacher
Education Program pre-requisites provide Elementary Education
majors with 70 hours of broadly based subject matter background.
In addition to this, Elementary Education majors must select either
one K-12 endorsable minor with a minimum of 20 credits, or two
non-endorsable areas of concentration with a minimum of 14 credits
each.
K-12 endorsable minors are available in art, physical education
and health, reading, and French. There are 12 possible subjects
in which areas of concentration can be developed. These areas
of concentration are developed in consultation with the advisor
and may be selected from the following: Art, biology, early childhood,
English, general science, physical education and health, history
and social science, mathematics, music, physical science, reading
and science. Additional areas of teaching concentration may be
cooperatively planned between specific departments and the Director
of Education on an individual basis. Although all elementary majors
will receive the same certification and grade level endorsement,
it is recommended that students planning to teach in the upper
grade levels include two areas of concentration in their program.
This is especially desirable for teaching in grades seven and
eight. Students desiring added endorsements should consider a
K-12 minor.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN SECONDARY EDUCATION
Students who wish to prepare for teaching in middle schools, junior high schools, high schools, or selected vocational schools should complete a Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education which leads to a recommendation for a teaching certificate endorsed for grades five through 12. Secondary education program requirements include:
Professional Education
The professional requirements in education are designed to prepare
students to apply their academic training to their interactions
with students, parents, colleagues, and administrators in the
public schools. Completion of the professional education sequence
enables students to apply for a Class II Teaching Certificate
endorsed in their academic major and minor fields for grades five
through 12. Selected students who have appropriate work experience
may also seek approval to teach in a reimbursed vocational program.
Interested students should consult the Director of Education.
The following are the Professional Education Core requirements:
| Credits |
| EDPY | 112 | Introduction to Educational Psychology | 3 |
| EDPY | 215 | Psychological Foundations of Education | 3 |
| EDUC | 325 | General Teaching Methods | 3 |
| EDUC | 380 | Classroom Environment and Management | 2 |
| EDUC | 405 | Current Issues in Education | 3 |
| EDUC | 445 | Teaching Reading, Writing & Critical | |
| Thinking Across the Curriculum | 3 | ||
| EDUC | 400 | Elementary Teaching Practicum and Seminar | 12 |
| OR | |||
| EDUC | 450 | Secondary Teaching Practicum and Seminar | 12 |
| OR | |||
| EDUC | 475 | Elementary and Secondary Teaching | |
| Practicum and Seminar | 12 | ||
| GUID | 424 | Principals of Counseling and Development | 3 |
| TOTAL | 32 |
VOED 350 Principles of Applied Technology, VOED 360 Analysis and
Preparation Instructional Materials, and VOED 370 Organizing and
Teaching Applied Technology are required for those Applied Technology
and Business Education majors (or minors) who plan on being able
to verify appropriate work experience through the Office of Public
Instruction and want to qualify for vocational approval to teach
in a state or federally reimbursed program.
The programs for each of the majors and minors can be found in
alphabetical order throughout this catalog. For a complete listing
refer to the index.
GRADUATE STUDIES
Montana State University-Northern offers a Master of Education
degree with options in Counseling and Development, Elementary
Education, General Science, Vocational Education, and a Master
of Science in Education-Learning Development Option.
The graduate program provides sound academic preparation for individual
graduate students, taking into consideration the student's experience,
interests, and previous education. Programs provide studies which
focus on recognition and definition of problems, data gathering,
interpretation, and application.
The graduate program also offers a Fifth-Year Program leading
to a Class I Teaching Certificate for elementary and secondary
teachers. Students who hold Class II certification, have had three
years teaching experience, and have successfully completed the
Master of Education degree or the Fifth-Year Program will be recommended
for a Class I Teaching Certificate. Students who complete the
Master of Education degree with the counseling and development
option or the minor in the same area and who have successfully
completed an internship in a public school K-12 setting, will
be recommended for a K-12 counseling endorsement provided they
currently hold a Montana teaching certificate and possess three
years teaching experience. Students who complete the Master of
Education, Counseling and Development Option, but lack teacher
certification may be eligible for the Class 6 Specialist Certificate,
provided a 600 hour internship in a K-12 setting is included in
the program.
Students pursuing graduate study may plan their programs in a
manner that will allow them to be recommended for either a supervisor's
(Class III Certificate) or a reading specialist's endorsement
on their existing Montana teaching certificate
Classification of Graduate Students
All students not matriculated for specific degrees are classified
as graduate, non-degree students.
Graduate Objectives
Students who apply for admission to Graduate Studies will be asked
to state their objectives for degrees, credentials, or certification.
This statement should apply to any of the areas described below:
Advising
Upon Admission to Graduate Studies and the declaration of Master's
degree objectives, the Director of Graduate Programs will assign
the student an advisor who will assist in planning a program to
meet the individual's objectives. Students must confer with their
advisor since the advisor must recommend approval to the Director
of Graduate Programs of any coursework to be counted toward a
degree or certificate.
Residence, Transfer, and Extension Credit
A maximum of 9 transfer credits may be included in the coursework
presented for the Master of Education Degree. Courses accepted
for transfer credit must have been earned at the graduate level
from an accredited institution and carry a letter grade of "B"
or better. Courses which carry grades such as "P" or
"S" are unacceptable for transfer credit.
Credit Earned Before Matriculation
Up to 10 semester-hours of course credits earned or the credits
completed in the first semester prior to degree matriculation,
may be applied toward a graduate degree.
Credit Load
A student may carry up to 12 credits of graduate coursework in
any semester.
Standards of Scholarship
A student admitted to Graduate Study must maintain a grade average
of "B" or better in all graduate work. A student who
fails to meet this standard will be placed on probation, suspended
from graduate study, or dismissed from the University. Decisions
on such matters will be made by the Graduate Council in consultation
with the appropriate advisor. A student who is suspended from
Graduate Study or dismissed from the University may, through the
petition procedure, request a review of the case by the vice-chancellor
for Academic Affairs.
Admission to Candidacy
Admission to Candidacy is granted when the student has obtained
a minimum of nine (9), but fewer than fifteen (15) credits in
a degree program and has satisfied the requirements listed below.
The following qualifications and procedures are necessary for
Admission to Candidacy:
1 Graduate Record Examination
Students seeking the Master of Education degree must complete
the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination with a specified
minimum score before gaining Admission to Candidacy. Students
should contact the Office of Graduate Programs for specific information.
2. Scholarship
At the time of application for Admission to Candidacy, the student
must demonstrate adequate proficiency in oral and written communication
and have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or above for all
graduate work taken at Montana State University-Northern to be
applied toward the Master's degree.
3. Removal of Deficiencies
Any deficiencies in the student's undergraduate program (identified
at the time of admission to graduate studies) must be removed
before making application for Admission to Candidacy for a Master's
degree.
4. Program of Study
As part of the application for matriculation, each candidate will
file a program of study for a specific degree. The program of
study will meet all graduation requirements and will be kept in
the Department of Education's central office. Subsequent deviations
must be appropriately approved.
5. Letters of Recommendation
Two letters recommending the candidate for Graduate Studies must
be in the candidate's file.
Comprehensive Examinations
Candidates for a Master's degree shall complete a comprehensive evaluation during the last semester of the graduate program. Such evaluations consist of both written and oral examinations. Candidates should notify their advisor of their intention to complete the examinations. The written examination assesses the student's professional experience, knowledge, and understanding. This examination is developed, administered, and evaluated by members of the student's Graduate Program Committee.
The candidate's advisor generally serves as the chairperson of
the Graduate Program Committee, which is appointed by the Director
of Graduate Studies. The Graduate Program Committee also administers
a comprehensive oral examination for each degree candidate and
shall assign a grade of pass or fail for the comprehensive evaluation
based on its determination of the candidate's competence. Those
students who choose to write a thesis must file their thesis before
their comprehensive examinations.
Application for Graduation
A candidate for the Master's degree or the Fifth-Year Program
must file an application for graduation with the Student Records
Office at the beginning of the semester in which the work for
the degree is anticipated to be completed. In addition, the student's
advisor must indicate approval for graduation to the Office of
Graduate Studies.
Requirements for Graduation
It is the responsibility of the Director of Graduate Studies to certify that a student has met all the requirements for the degree, certificate, or credential sought. The requirements for graduation include:
In addition, students who complete a thesis must have submitted
two approved copies to the Director of Graduate Studies.
Conferring of Degrees
Although the completion of a degree is posted on the student's
transcript at the end of the semester in which it was earned,
diplomas are conferred only at the conclusion of Spring Semester
with commencement exercises held on campus. While attendance at
the exercises is not mandatory, students are urged to participate.
FIFTH-YEAR PROGRAM IN TEACHER EDUCATION
Teachers may choose to obtain a fifth-year of coursework by concentrating
in one area, or following a more generalized program. Areas of
concentration which may be incorporated into Fifth-Year Programs
are: art, English, French, health, history and social sciences,
mathematics, physical education, music, and science.
The Fifth-Year Program for teachers meets individual needs and
supplements academic preparation in a chosen subject field. The
program serves teachers who desire to strengthen their professional
competency while working toward a professional level teaching
certificate.
Students seeking admission to the Fifth-Year Program must complete the application form and submit it to the Director of Education. They must also make arrangements to have an official copy of the undergraduate transcript sent from the college or university where the degree was completed to the Office of Admissions at Montana State University-Northern. All transfer credits must be substantiated by an official transcript sent directly from the college or university where the work was completed.
Applicants for a Fifth-Year Program must satisfy all graduate
study requirements, must have completed one year of professional
teaching and must hold a degree in teacher education. Upon formal
admission to the program, the student will be assigned an advisor.
The advisor will assist in planning a program that meets the professional
goals of the student.
Before completion of 10 semester credits of coursework, students,
in consultation with the advisor, must outline the courses to
be completed to meet the program requirements. Subsequent changes
in the student's program must have the prior approval of the student's
advisor and the Director of Education.
Completion of the Fifth-Year Program
The satisfactory completion of an approved Fifth-Year Program
leading to a recommendation for a Class I Certificate is verified
by an appropriate statement on the transcript By law, three years
of successful teaching at the elementary or secondary level is
required before the applicant may be recommended for the Class
I Certificate. Students may enter the Fifth-Year Program after
one year of teaching, but they will not be recommended for the
Class I certificate until they have completed three years of successful
teaching.
Requirements for the Fifth-Year Program
In order to complete the Fifth-Year Program:
Students who hold a Class II teaching certification, have three
years of teaching experience, and successfully complete the Master
of Education degree or Fifth-Year Program, will be recommended
for a teaching Class I Certificate.
APPLIED TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION (5-12) MAJOR
Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education
COUNSELING AND DEVELOPMENT (K-12) MAJOR
Master of Education Degree
COUNSELING AND DEVELOPMENT (K-12) MINOR
Graduate
Master of Education Degree
Bachelor of Science Degree
Master of Science in Education Degree
PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND HEALTH (K-12) MAJOR
Minor Required
Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education
PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND HEALTH EXTENDED (K-12)
No Minor Required
Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education
PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND HEALTH (K-12) MINOR
Teacher Preparation
READING SPECIALIST (K-12) MINOR
Teacher Preparation
TRAFFIC EDUCATION (5-12) MINOR
Teacher Preparation
Master of Education Degree