Fact Sheets

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Contact Information
Karen Danbom
218.477.2216

MSUM Admissions
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Degree Requirements
B.S. Degree in Early Childhood Education
  Specialty Area in Communication Arts and Literature
  Specialty Area in Mathematics
  Specialty Area in Science   Specialty Area in Social Studies
  Specialty Area in World Language and Culture: Spanish
B.S. Degree in Elementary Education

  Licensure in Kindergarten
  Certificate in Literacy Instruction
Minor in Language and Literacy

  Certificate in Children's and Young Adult Literature

  Certificate in Preprimary Education

  Certificate in Reading

  Certificate in Special Education

  Certificate in Teaching and Learning with Technology

 

Course Descriptions

Early Childhood Education Program
The early childhood education major prepares students to work in inclusionary programs serving children from infancy to 8 years old.  These programs include childcare, preschool, Head Start, and early childhood family education, as well as public school kindergarten and first, second and third grade classrooms. The early childhood major emphasizes collaboration with parents and other professional agencies that serve families with young children, as well as appropriate teaching strategies.

Elementary Education Program
The elementary education major prepares students to be confident and competent teachers of kindergarten and elementary school children. Today's teachers need good written and verbal communication skills; a strong background in mathematics, the social and natural sciences; basic computer literacy; and knowledge of current local, national and international issues. Elementary education majors are required to complete a specialty in a content area (communication and literature, mathematics, science, social studies, world languages and culture) or in pre-primary education. Student are licensed for 7th and 8th grade in the content areas and for pre-kindergarten programs with pre-primary specialty.

Certificate Programs
Certificate programs are available to students in the areas of Pre-primary Education, Special Education, Literacy Instruction, and Reading. Certificates are awarded for successful completion of a specialized academic program of study and will be designated on a student's transcript.

Licensure Programs
Licensure programs are available to students who hold a valid elementary or secondary teaching certificate. Refer to MSUM's undergraduate catalog for specific requirements of each licensure program. Available licensure programs include: English as a Second Language, Kindergarten, and Pre-Kindergarten.

Program Benefits

• MSU Moorhead is one of the few schools in Minnesota that offers a major in early childhood education, leading to licensure in pre-kindergarten through 3rd grade.
• MSUM's elementary program strongly emphasizes in-school practicums beginning with sophomore-level courses. More intense teaching experiences are gained during the junior and senior years to build student confidence and to connect theory with practice.
• MSUM's accredited Professional Fourth Year (PFY) program combines formal methods courses and practical experiences in the schools within the same semester. This unique component of the elementary education program makes PFY graduates highly desirable in the job market.
• Expanding opportunities are available to experience school settings outside rural Minnesota. Some of these include Aldine, Texas, inner-city schools in St. Paul, California, Switzerland and London, among others.
  
• MSU Moorhead offers the largest and most successful student teaching abroad program in the United States. More than 1,400 student have participated in the program in more than 62 countries. The multi-cultural exposure and travel abroad experience enhance employment opportunities.
• Hands-on teaching experience is available on campus through the Early Education Center, a lab school and child care center for children of students. The Center is also used for child observation, practicums, in-class experiences, and work study opportunities.
• Elementary and early childhood education classes are small, giving you the personal attention you deserve and letting you develop close personal relationship with your professors and advisors.
• Opportunities to work and to intern with directors of Head Start, child care programs and preschools are abundant in the Fargo-Moorhead community.
• The Student Minnesota Education Association, Kappa Delta Pi, and Alpha Upsilon Aipha are active student organizations that bring teachers, authors and illustrators to campus; host book fairs; and schedule social events.
• Students can network with area teaching professionals through local chapters of the North Dakota Reading Association and the North Dakota Association for the Education of Young Children.

Students Succeed at MSU Moorhead
MSUM education graduates are successful teachers at all levels. In the past five years, our graduates have earned state and national acclaim:

• 2008 North Dakota Teacher of the Year.
• Minnesota No Child Left Behind 2007 American Star of Teaching Award.
  
• Minnesota Teacher of the Year (four of the nine finalists were also MSUM graduates).
• National Outstanding Early Childhood Administrator.
• Fargo Teacher of the Year and North Dakota Teacher of the Year.
• Recipients of the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award, including a $25,000 grant.
• Outstanding reading teacher recognized by the Texas Commissioner of Education.
• Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics Teaching.
• Sallie Mae First-Year Teacher of the Year.
• Phi Delta Kappa Excellence in Student Teaching Award.
• Minnesota Ann Allen Kindergarten Scholarship Award.

Elementary Education Careers
Employment opportunities vary widely among school districts and states, and projected employment growth varies among individual teaching occupations. Areas that are currently in short supply include math, science (especially chemistry and physics), bilingual education and computer science. There's an oversupply of general elementary education, physical education and social studies teachers. Students who are geographically mobile and who obtain licensure in more than on subject area, should have a distinct advantage in finding a job. Starting salaries for teachers is approximately $24,000-$27,000, with public elementary school teachers averaging about $37,000 a year.

Early Childhood Education Careers

Jobs in the child day care services industry are projected to grow 38 percent from 2004-14. A large number of openings will result each year from the need to replace experienced workers who leave the field. Substantial replacement needs coupled with faster-than-average employment growth should create numerous employment opportunities. Preschool teachers in public schools who have state teacher certification, generally have salaries and benefits comparable to kindergarten and elementary school teachers. Kindergarten and primary grade teachers earn an average of $30,000-36,000 a year.

Graduate Opportunities

MSUM offers graduate degree programs in special education, reading, educational leadership and curriculum and instruction, and graduate certificate programs in literacy, literature for children, middle school education, teaching ESL, and teaching/learning with technology.

Admission Requirements

Formal application for admission to Teacher Education is begun during the student's first education course, ED205. Admission into the Elementary and Early Childhood Education program requires: a liberal studies GPA of 2.25 and a cumulative GPA of 2.75.