College of Education (cont'd)

Teacher Licensure Requirements

Specific teacher licensure requirements for the State of Montana have been established by the Office of Public Instruction.  All licenses are endorsed by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction for the appropriate level(s) and area(s) of professional competence based upon the recommendation by the Licensure Official of the College of Education.  Curriculum programs at MSU Billings prepare students for standard and professional licensure in elementary and secondary teaching and school counseling.  Education students who take sufficient credits in a specific field, and meet all the endorsement requirements may receive an endorsement on their teaching license for the field of teaching upon recommendation of the Licensure Official of the College of Education.

Processing Procedures for Licensure and Endorsement

1. Direct all applications for licensure to the College of Education Licensure Officer.
2. All applications for areas of permissive special competency, teaching licensure, teaching endorsements, and supervisory endorsements must be reviewed and receive final approval by the Licensure Officer prior to institutional recommendation and final consideration by the State Licensure Office in Helena, Montana.
3. The same regulation applies to applicants seeking licensure outside the state of Montana.
   

Drug and Alcohol Course Requirement

Chapter No. 396, Section 3, Montana Session Laws 1971 “All units of the Montana University System and all private colleges and universities in Montana that offer any degree in education shall require that any person who receives any degree in education from that unit, private college, or university must have successfully completed a course in health education to include drug and alcohol education and abuse prior to being awarded his or her degree.”

Indian Education for All (IEFA)

The State of Montana requires licensed personnel to have instruction pertaining to the history, traditions, customs, values, beliefs, ethics, and contemporary affairs of American Indians, particularly Indian tribal groups in Montana.  While one three-credit course is a teacher education requirement, IEFA is infused throughout the program.

Teachers of Native American Studies

Licensed teachers with any endorsement may teach Native American Studies classes if they have 10 credits of Native American Studies courses.  The following courses are recommended:

Admission to the Teacher Education Program

The Teacher Education Program at MSU Billings may be completed by students enrolled in the College of Education, the College of Arts and Sciences, or the College of Allied Health Professions.

All students desiring licensure to teach are required to file an Application for Admission to the Teacher Education Program.  The application is completed during the term following the completion of a minimum of 45 semester hours of credit, or in the case of a transfer student, during the first term of residence above the sophomore level or the first term of graduate studies enrollment.  Approved admission is necessary prior to registration for Professional Teacher Education courses at the 300 and 400 levels.

Admission to the Teacher Education Program requires the following:

1. Completion of a minimum of 45 semester credits with a minimum overall grade point average of 2.65 in all coursework completed.

2. All students must have completed the following Academic Foundations Requirements (see page 71) at MSU Billings, or from another regionally accredited institution of post secondary education, earning a minimum grade point average of 2.65 with a minimum grade of “C” in each course.

3. A minimum grade of “C” and a combined GPA of 2.65 must be earned for the following courses in the Professional Education Core.
   

4. Prior to assignment/placement in any field experience, the student must provide a federal background check, including finger printing, with clear results.  The documentation must be no older than two (2) years.  The candidate understands and agrees that information submitted may need to be shared with faculty and the school district/organization, on a “need to know” basis, to secure the candidate’s field experience placement(s).  Field experience placements include sophomore practica, junior field experiences, student teaching, and internships.

Teacher Education Program Appeals

Candidates proposing a deviation from the Teacher Education Program appeal to the College of Education Teacher Education Program Appeals Committee.  Candidates should contact their faculty advisor for assistance with this process.  The Committee makes recommendations to the Dean of the College of Education, who has final decision-making authority.

Courses Restricted to Teacher Education Program Admission

Formal admission to the Teacher Education program is required for enrollment in the following courses:

CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION
EDCI 300 Curriculum Theory and Design
EDCI 301 Teaching Language Arts and Children’s Literature
EDCI 302 Teaching Social Studies in the Elementary School
EDCI 303 Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary School
EDCI 304 Teaching Science in the Elementary School
EDCI 305 Teaching Art in the Elementary School
EDCI 306 Teaching Music in the Elementary School
EDCI 310 Curriculum and Instruction for Middle School, High School, and K-12 Teachers
EDCI 312 Teaching Social Studies in the Middle School and Secondary School
EDCI 313 Teaching Mathematics in the Middle and Secondary School
EDCI 314 Teaching Science in the Middle and Secondary School
EDCI 315 Teaching Art K-12
EDCI 316 Teaching Music K-12
EDCI 317 Teaching Speech and Drama in the Middle and Secondary School
EDCI 319 Teaching Foreign Languages K-12
EDCI 385 Junior Field Experience
EDCI 424 Teaching English
EDCI 484 Student Teaching (K-12)
EDCI 485 Student Teaching (Elementary)
EDCI 486 Student Teaching (Secondary) Capstone Seminar
EDCI 491 Independent Study
EDCI 493 Workshop
EDCI 494 Clinic

EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS
EDF 450 Philosophical, Legal and Ethical Issues in Education

READING
RD 310 Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum
RD 412/512 Emergent Literacy
RD 417 Diagnostic Teaching of Reading
RD 427 Literacy Development in Middle and Secondary Schools

SPECIAL EDUCATION
SPED 400 Legal and Current Issues in Special Education
SPED 405 Assessment of Students with Disabilities
SPED 415 Individualizing Curriculum (Preschool- 12th grade)
SPED 420 Teaching Special Populations
SPED 484 Special Education Student Teaching
SPED 492 Seminar