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, the College of Business, 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 General Education 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
EDU 381 Curriculum Theory and Design
EDU 397A Methods:  K-8 Language Arts
EDU 397B Methods:  K-8 Social Studies
EDU 397C Methods:  K-8 Mathematics
EDU 397D Methods:  K-8 Science
EDU 397E Methods:  K-8 Art
EDU 397F Methods:  K-8 Music
EDU 380 Introduction to Curriculum Planning/Practice
EDU 497A Methods:  5-12 Social Studies
EDU 497B Methods:  5-12 Mathematics
EDU 397G Methods:  5-12 Science
EDU 397H Methods:  K-12 Art
EDU 397I Methods:  K-12 Music
EDU 397J Methods:  5-12 Speech and Drama
EDU 497C Methods:  K-12 Modern Language
EDU 353 Junior Field Experience
EDU 497D Methods:  5-12 English
EDU 495A Student Teaching:  K-12
EDU 495B Student Teaching:  K-8
EDU 495C Student Teaching:  5-12
EDU 492 Independent Study
EDU 494 Seminar/Workshop
EDU 496 Clinic

EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS
EDU 406 Philosophical, Legal and Ethical Issues in Education

READING
EDU 333 Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum
EDU 330/RD 512 Emergent Literacy
EDU 438 Literacy Assessment, Diagnosis and Instruction
EDU 432 Literature and Literacy for Young Adults

SPECIAL EDUCATION
SPED 310 Teaching Students with Learning Disabilities
SPED 311 Teaching Students with Emotional Disturbance
SPED 312 Teaching Students with Developmental Disabilities
SPED 375 Teaching, Learning, and Behavior in the Schools
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