General Structure of Degree Programs in the College of Education
The Graduate Advisor
Every graduate student will plan his or her graduate program with the help of a member of the graduate faculty who serves as an advisor. Typically the advisor is a faculty member in the department that houses the student’s degree program. The relationship between student and advisor is distinctive in graduate education. Ideally, the advisor is both a mentor and advocate for the student. The student creates a plan of study with the advisor, so it is important the student respects and feels comfortable with this person. The student should feel free to discuss with several faculty members whether they should be his/her advisor. When the student has determined which faculty member he/she would like as an advisor, the student confirms that person’s willingness to serve as advisor and indicates that preference on the Request for an Advisor form available through the Office of Graduate Studies. If the student does not indicate a choice during his/her first semester in a program, an advisor will be assigned to the student.
When a need or desire to change an advisor arises, the Request for Advisor form is used to make the change formal. All affected parties should be contacted by the student seeking a change.
Office of Licensure and Field Experiences
COE 114, 657-2336
The Office of Licensure and Field Experiences is responsible for approving and coordinating all graduate level, field-based experiences (internships, clinics, etc.) in the education programs, including placement and faculty supervision. Students seeking permission for field-based experiences must complete the Internship Application form available from the Office of Licensure and Field Experiences. Graduate students must file an application for admission to the Teacher Education program with the Office of Licensure and Field Experiences, COE 114. The College of Education at Montana State University-Billings (MSU-B) requires that a national criminal history background check, including fingerprinting, be completed for all candidates participating in any field experience, lab, internship, or student teaching.
Students who will be pursuing teacher licensure or endorsement in conjunction with their master’s degree should contact the College of Education to obtain a list of requirements necessary for admission into the Teacher Education Program. It may be possible that some graduate level courses will meet outstanding requirements for admission to both the Teacher Education Program and the Master’s Degree Program. Each student should meet with his/her advisor to discuss these possibilities further. Arrangements should also be made to take the Graduate Record Exam or other standardized test as required by the State of Montana.
Graduate Level Coursework
For any master’s degree in education or counseling, at least 50 percent of the total credits (including electives) included in an approved plan of study must be taken in course work at the 500 level. In addition, at least 50 percent of the total credits (including electives) must be taken within the College of Education.
The remainder of the total credit requirements (including electives) must be chosen from any post-baccalaureate or upper division undergraduate courses (300-499) subject to approval by the faculty advisor and advisory committee (if required by the student’s program). Elective courses proposed in the plan of study must clearly contribute to overall program coherence in keeping with the degree and option designation.
The Professional Core
The Professional Core has been designed to build upon undergraduate professional education courses and provides a foundation for graduate study in specific disciplines within the fields of teacher education and counselor education.
The Professional Core consists of six semester credits required of all candidates for the Master of Education Degree, or the Master of Science in Special Education Degree. The core has been designed to provide graduate students with advanced knowledge and application of:
- Human growth, development, and diversity; and
- Research design, interpretation, and analysis.
The graduate student’s program schedule should be planned in a manner to allow completion of the standard core early in the graduate program. The research course should be taken during the student’s first semester of course work if possible.
The core classes are:
| Courses |
Credits |
| EDF 501 Research Design and Interpretation |
3 |
| EDF 530 Advanced Human Development
and Learning |
3 |
| Total Required Semester Credits |
6 |
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