Mission Statement

The College of Education is dedicated to preparing competent, caring and committed professionals for Montana's schools; conducting socially significant research to improve the human condition; providing community services aimed at improving the quality of life experienced by Montanans; and providing graduate education designed for the continuing development of professionals.

Accreditations and Affiliations

The College of Education is proud of its accreditations and formal affiliations. The Teacher Education Program at Montana State University-Billings is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) for the preparation of elementary and secondary teachers through the Bachelor’s degree, and school counselors, the Master of Education degree and the Master of Science in Special Education degree. The Montana State Board of Public Education accredits the Teacher Education Program.

See also: Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges

Operating Principles

To successfully implement the University’s mission, the faculty and staff adhere to the following operating principles:

• All people are entitled to educational programs that are committed to assisting each individual develop self-knowledge, designed to promote physical, social, mental, intellectual and spiritual health, and are delivered in a manner that enhances dignity and respect.

• Educational programs must enable students to think critically and analytically, make independent decisions, develop social consciousness and recognize the importance of making productive contributions to a multicultural society.

• Education programs must be committed to the concept of equal opportunity.

• Educators must be committed to the ethical principles of the profession.

• Teachers need to be prepared as facilitators of learning, able to assist and direct the natural learning processes of their students.

• Professionals in education need to develop the skills and understanding necessary to assist people from different cultures and those with disabling conditions.

• Professional preparation programs must be interdisciplinary in nature.

• Professionals in education must have a comprehensive foundation in the liberal arts.

• Professional preparation programs must have sequential and increasingly intense supervised field experience to allow for the guided demonstration of clinical skills.

• Research conducted by the academic community must be directed toward the search for solutions to specific human problems.

• Faculty must be actively engaged in community education programs to assist with the implementation of current, empirically validated practices.

• In support of lifelong learning by professionals in education, the faculty are committed to providing regular in-service education via the graduate and community education programs.

Instructional Facilities and Special Partnerships

The Montana Center on Disabilities
The Montana Center on Disabilities is a statewide disability outreach program of the College of Education. The Center is dedicated to developing resources that promote the inclusion of people with disabilities of all ages and cultural backgrounds into their communities. To meet this mission, the Center works with numerous university and community partners.

The Montana Center serves as a training and technical assistance resource to people with disabilities, families and numerous agencies throughout the state. The activities of the Center are funded by a variety of state and federal resources.

The staff of the Montana Center have professional skills related to disability in the areas of employment, rehabilitation counseling, transition, hearing conservation, community integration, prevention, collaboration, and learning strategies.

Through its unique array of programs the Center provides students opportunities to apply skills in a supervised setting. In addition, the various programs of the Center offer unique opportunities for students to engage in study and applied research. The Center also maintains a wealth of research resources in the Center’s library and on their web page www.msubillings.edu/mtcd.

Montana State University Cooperative Program Centers
The Montana State University campuses at Billings and Bozeman have developed cooperative program centers to better serve students who want to earn endorsements and degrees not offered through the authorized curricula on either campus. At Bozeman, MSU Billings offers the special education endorsement program, the Master of Science in Special Education program, and a special education minor in the doctoral programs in curriculum and instruction, and educational leadership offered by MSU-Bozeman. At Billings, MSU-Bozeman offers the school administration endorsement for elementary education and secondary education, and the Master of Education in Educational Administration. Contact the Office of the Dean of Education at either campus for additional information.

Special Projects

• Big Horn Teacher Projects
• Rural Paraeducator Project

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