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Be Well Prepared for Your Classroom

ELEMENTARY EDUCATION (K-6)

Choose between a traditional in-person program (fall start) or the fully online offering (spring or summer start).

Become Licensed to Teach Elementary Education (K-6)

Elementary teachers can make a world of difference in the lives of children. They encourage, nurture, instruct and educate young people during the crucial early years of their development. Elementary educators work with young learners (K-6) teaching skills and knowledge that form the foundation of learning. Teaching at this level requires a unique combination of content knowledge, pedagogy, understanding of individual development and learning styles, and familiarity with learners' families and communities.

The School of Education now offers two ways to learn and earn your initial licensure in elementary education:

  • Option 1 - Hybrid: Students learn both in-person and online. Students pursuing this option must start in the fall semester.
  • Option 2 - Fully Online: This new offering allows students to take all classes online in the evening. Classes are a mix between synchronous or asynchronous learning. Students pursuing this option must start in the spring or summer semester.
online class

New fully online program

Flexible Pathway to Teaching

Beginning Spring 2025, St. Thomas will offer a fully online program resulting in an elementary school license and master's degree in teaching. This new pathway allows future teachers to maintain employment while taking online, synchronous classes with fellow students in the evening. See below for more information about in-person fieldwork and student teaching.

Coursework for Licensure

You may have completed some of these requirements as an undergraduate. Our admissions team will help you to determine which requirements, if any, are met via the transcript review process.

Credits for license and MA: 42+

Required courses for the license:
TEGR 510 Education: Issues and Policies
TEGR 512 Diversity and Cultural Competence
TEGR 530 Psychology for Teaching and Learning
TEGR 532 Field Experience II: Learning & Teaching
TEGR 550 Language Development, Literacy and Literature
TEGR 570 Language Development, Literacy and Literature II
TEGR 571 Teaching Mathematics and Technology
TEGR 572 Teaching Science and Healthy Living
TEGR 573 Teaching Social Studies and Arts
TEGR 537 Field Experience III: Curriculum and Instruction
CIED 551 Learning Design with Technology
TEGR 660 Clinical Practice & Seminar: Student Teaching
CIED 670 Assessment for Learning

TEGR 640 Teaching Mathematics with Conceptual Understanding in the P-12 Classroom
MATH xxx College-Level Math Elective
BIOL xxx Lab Science: Life Science (Example: BIOL 101)
CHEM or PHYS xxx Lab Science: Physical Science (Example: CHEM 111, PHYS 101)
GEOL xxx Lab Science: Earth-Space (Example: GEOL 111)
TEGR 570 Language Development, Literacy, & Lit II
TEGR 571 Teaching Math & Technology
TEGR 572 Teaching Science & Healthy Living
TEGR 573 Teaching Social Studies & Arts
TEGR 537 Field Experience III - taken with TEGR 570 (40 hours)
TEGR 660 Clinical Practice & Seminar

FAQs

  • How will I find a school for my field work?
  • How long will this program take to complete?
  • Do you accept students outside of Minnesota?

    • How will I find a school for my field work?

    In-person field work is incorporated into the degree program early and often. The quality of our teacher preparation sets our program apart from other schools and universities.

    The St. Thomas field placement coordinator will arrange field sites within the Twin Cities area. If you need a placement outside the Twin Cities area, then you will partner with us to arrange a site for fieldwork and student teaching that complies with a set of UST-School of Education criteria.

    How long will this program take to complete?

    Most students complete the program in 2 1/2 years. This includes 100 hours of field work and student teaching.

    Do you accept students outside of Minnesota?

    This program meets licensing requirements for the state of Minnesota.

    If you live and work outside of Minnesota, please contact our Admissions team before enrolling to confirm if this program meets licensing standards in your home state.

    How will I find a school for my field work?

    In-person field work is incorporated into the degree program early and often. The quality of our teacher preparation sets our program apart from other schools and universities.

    The St. Thomas field placement coordinator will arrange field sites within the Twin Cities area. If you need a placement outside the Twin Cities area, then you will partner with us to arrange a site for fieldwork and student teaching that complies with a set of UST-School of Education criteria.

    How long will this program take to complete?

    Most students complete the program in 2 1/2 years. This includes 100 hours of field work and student teaching.

    Do you accept students outside of Minnesota?

    This program meets licensing requirements for the state of Minnesota.

    If you live and work outside of Minnesota, please contact our Admissions team before enrolling to confirm if this program meets licensing standards in your home state.

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