The Department of Educational Theory & Practice

With programs in Elementary/Secondary Education, Special Education, Reading Education, Early Childhood Education, and School Counseling

Dr. Ken Miller, Chairperson
(406) 657-2315
kmiller@msubillings.edu
www.msubillings.edu/COE/etp

Professors:  Barfield+, Fishbaugh, Gregory, Hecimovic, Hobbs, Lord^, Metheny, Miller, Nowlin, Rietz, Yazak
Associate Professor:  McEnany
Assistant Professors:  Alberson, C. Dell, Dugi, Klippenstein, Scarlett, Snow, Waller, Young-Pelton
University Lecturers:  Allard, A. Christensen, Schwalbe
Instructor:  Holt
Professors Emeritus:  Card, L. Christensen, Davidson, Davison, Dunlop, Gulliland, Gruber, Heywood, LaCounte, Lee, Schulz, Sexton, Warne

^Joint Appointment with the Department of Health and Human Performance
+Joint Appointment with the Department of Music

Mission

The Mission of the Department of Educational Theory and Practice is preparation of teachers who evidence the highest ideals of the teaching profession.  This mission involves leading prospective teachers to examine the complex ways in which diverse disciplines interrelate and provide the foundations of all education.  Study in the Department’s programs prepares professional educators for insightful, critical examination of the principles and practices that they encounter in their careers.

Offerings in the Department are based on the assumptions that teaching excellence depends upon:  1) celebration of the dignity of all individuals and cultural groups; 2) comprehensive understanding of subject matter; 3) a knowledge of human intellectual, physical, social, emotional, and spiritual development; and, 4) thoughtful, informed decisions about pedagogy.

Advising Information

Academic advising services for freshmen education majors are provided through the Advising Center on McMullen Hall first floor west. During the sophomore year, education majors will be assigned to a faculty advisor in their program for upper division advising. Advising files for upper division students are maintained within the department. Although advisors are available to assist students in designing their Plans of Study, students are ultimately responsible for meeting degree requirements.

Undergraduate Degrees and Majors

Bachelor of Science in Education with Teaching Majors in the following:

• Broadfield Major in Elementary Education
• Elementary Ed/Special Ed (P-12) Double Major
• Elementary Education/Reading (K-12) Double Major
• Secondary Ed/Special Ed (P-12) Double Major
• Secondary Education/Reading (K-12) Double Major

Special Education and Reading majors are available to candidates completing an elementary broadfield major or a secondary teaching option.

Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts Degree with Secondary or K-12 Teaching Licensure Option
MSU Billings no longer offers a Bachelor of Science in Education (BSED) degree.  Students now receive either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in the content area with a secondary or K-12 Teaching Licensure Option.  Students must earn a teaching major and teaching minor, a double major, or an extended major in order to complete degree and licensure requirements.

See Teacher Licensure Options for the following areas in the College of Arts & Sciences (see page 117)

* It is recommended that students interested in pursuing Social Sciences choose a major in history (licensure option) with a teaching minor in political science and apply for the social science (broadfield) licensure endorsement.  This plan will expand employment potential.  Please consult the College of Arts & Sciences for specific information (see page 117).

Teaching Minors
For students who are pursuing secondary or K-12 teacher licensure in a content major, the following minors lead to additional endorsement.  A teaching minor, second major, or extended major is required for the teacher licensure.

Minor (Area of Permissive Special Competency): Early Childhood Studies

Associate of Arts Degree Program of Study in: Education

Teaching Endorsement in Special Education (P-12)

Graduate Degrees/Endorsements

Information on Graduate Programs offered by Montana State University Billings may be found in the online Graduate Catalog or may be obtained by writing:

Director, Graduate Studies
Montana State University Billings
1500 University Drive
Billings, Montana  59101-0298
(406) 657-2238
email:  gradstudies@msubillings.edu

Master of Education (M.Ed.) with Options in:

• Curriculum and Instruction Teacher Licensure Option
• Early Childhood
• Educational Technology
• Interdisciplinary Studies
• Reading
• School Counseling

The Interdisciplinary Studies Option permits students to have the flexibility to design a program in collaboration with faculty advisor.

Master of Science in Special Education with Options in:

• Advanced Studies
• Generalist

Certificate of Teaching and Learning Online

Supervisory Endorsements

• Supervisor of Reading
• Supervisor of Special Education

The Department of Educational Theory and Practice is committed to preparing teachers who evidence the highest ideals of the teaching profession.  Programs in the Department are based on the assumptions that:  1) effective teachers celebrate the uniqueness and dignity of all individuals and in all cultural groups; 2) a comprehensive understanding of subject matter is essential to teaching excellence; 3) an in depth knowledge of human intellectual, physical, social, emotional, and spiritual development through informed classroom practice is essential to teaching excellence; 4) human learning emerges contextually within individuals and is molded in part by familial and cultural institutions and values; and, 5) thoughtful, informed decisions about pedagogy enable teachers to guide students in constructing knowledge and becoming actively involved citizens in an increasingly global society.

These goals are accomplished by:  schooling pre-service and in-service teachers in the dynamics of developing self-esteem and diverse family and cultural heritages; encouraging broad-based, in depth studies in a variety of disciplinary areas; focusing on developmentally appropriate instructional theory and practice; modeling attitudes, behaviors, and practices sensitive to individual, gender, and cultural differences; assisting students in developing instructional strategies emanating from several theoretical bases; and, limiting the size of classes to promote maximum individual attention for students.

Online Availability

A number of COE programs are available online with limited on-campus residency requirements.  These include the following:

• AA Program of Study in Education
• Minor in Early Childhood Studies
• Special Education Teaching Endorsement
• Graduate licensure programs in elementary and secondary education
• Graduate special education supervisory endorsement
• Master of Education in Educational Technology

In addition, some College of Education programs have individual course availability online but not the entire program of study. These include the following:

• Early Childhood undergraduate minor
• Reading courses
• School Counseling courses
• Elementary Education

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