College of Education

A110 EDUCATION BUILDING/308-3023
Web site: http://www.stcloudstate.edu/coe

Dean: Kate M. Steffens
Associate Dean: John H. Hoover

Departments

Child and family studies
Counselor education and educational psychology
Educational leadership and community psychology
Health, physical education, recreation and sport science
Human relations and multicultural education
Special education
Teacher development

Center

Center for Information Media

Services

Curriculum and Technology Center (CTC)
Office of Clinical Experiences
Office of Cultural Diversity
PRAXIS Center
Special Projects and Applied Research Center (SPARC)

Major Programs

The following majors and minors are offered in the College of Education:

*Athletic coaching
Athletic training
Chemical dependency
Community health
Community psychology
*Developmental/adapted physical education
Early childhood education
Elementary education
*Human relations
Information media
*Outdoor education
Physical education
Physical education and sport science
Recreation and sports management
Secondary education
Special education
*Therapeutic recreation

*Minor only

Mission and Goals

The College of Education strives to create an environment where all participants are critical, creative thinkers, problem solvers, life long learners, and global citizens who will advocate and work for justice and equality as they pursue their professional roles.

College of Education Conceptual Framework

The Educator as Transformative Professional

The College of Education strives to create an environment where all participants are critical, creative thinkers, problem-solvers, life-long learners, and global citizens who advocate and work for justice and equality as they pursue their professional roles. We organize the above crucial roles of educators in terms of transformations, of ideas/information, individuals, intermediate social institutions (e.g., schools, school districts, communities), and the larger polity. These transformative philosophies, goals and institutional standards are organized around the theme of the Transformative Professional.

We believe that teaching and learning is made of significant transformations that fundamentally alter individuals and social institutions. Incremental change as measured by formal testing reflects only incomplete aspects of the changes wrought by the formal and informal interactions (with people, ideas, text and media) that characterize excellent education.

We believe that currently understood effective practices can be acquired by candidates. Education in the unit is seen as holistic, yet we believe that by subdividing pertinent discussions via the Conceptual Framework, candidates have a better chance of understanding education's complexities. Finally, while we believe that candidates can and should learn specific information related to their disciplines, and to teaching, we also want to inculcate in them a respect for the dynamism of information and a vigorous skepticism about the permanence of current policies and conceptualizations in the field.

Clinical Experiences

Supervised, professional clinical experiences are integral to the development of transformative professional educators. Thus, students will participate in a variety of observations, internships, and field experiences designed to help students develop appropriate understandings and capabilities. Various models of field experiences are available for students.

Teacher Education Programs

Departments and colleges in the university develop major and minor programs for teacher education (Bachelor of Science degree) which meets the Minnesota State Department of Education standards, Minnesota Statutes, Board of Teaching standards, and Minnesota Board of Education regulations. After approval by appropriate college and university committees and/or councils, the programs are forwarded to the Minnesota Board of Teaching through the Dean of the College of Education. All teacher education programs have been approved by National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). When students successfully complete an approved program and apply for a Minnesota teaching license, the Office of Records and Registration verifies program completion. The College of Education recommends the graduate for the appropriate license. This approved teacher education program procedure for licensure is similar to that found in other states.

Students pursuing licensure programs have major responsibility for making certain that they meet concomitant and/or antecedent requirements as well as the academic program requirements for the licensure they seek.

Legislation enacted in 1985 required the Minnesota Board of Teaching to adopt examinations for assessing skills in reading, writing, and mathematics for teachers licensed under Board authority and to adopt rules for implementation and ongoing administration of the tests (Praxis I-PPST). In addition, Minnesota Statute 122A.09(e) requires the Minnesota Board of Teaching also to adopt general pedagogy and content tests for teacher licensure (Praxis II-Content/PLT). Effective September 1, 2001, all candidates applying for their first Minnesota teaching license will also be required to complete the adopted examinations in general professional knowledge and examinations in specific content fields.

General Requirements for Teacher Education

Bachelor of Science Degree

The College of Education prepares students for professional careers in teaching. Teacher preparation programs are available through the following departments: Department of Teacher Development (programs in elementary, secondary and K-12 teaching), Department of Special Education (K-12 special education programs to teach developmentally disabled, specific learning disabled, or emotionally/behaviorally disabled), Department of Child and Family Studies (early education (birth to grade 3)) and Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Sport Science (programs in physical education or developmental adapted physical education). Attainment of a Bachelor of Science degree in education requires each student to:

1. Complete an approved general education program required by the university and an approved teacher licensure program.
2. Be admitted to teacher education.
3. Be admitted to and successfully complete a major program of study, or licensure program.
4. Be admitted to and successfully complete a student teaching or resident teaching experience.

Admission to Teacher Education

(Apply at the dean's office, A-110 Education Building). Admission standards currently are being reviewed and are subject to change. All students preparing to teach are to make application for admission to teacher education and will be admitted when they have met the following requirements (all requirements also apply to transfer students):

1. Applicants must have earned a grade of "C" or better in each of the following courses: ENGL 191, Introduction to Rhetorical and Analytical Writing CMST 192, Introduction to Communication Studies.
2. The applicant must have taken the Pre- Professional Skills Test (PPST) in reading, mathematics, writing and have a score report on file in the dean's office. (Applicants must reach acceptable levels of proficiency in order to be recommended for licensure; tests may be retaken).
3. The applicant must have earned an overall grade point average of 2.50 (on a 4-point scale) or higher in all course work completed. This requirement must be met by all transfer students who apply for admission to teacher education regardless of previous degree status. Applicants must complete a minimum of 36 semester hours of course work, with at least 12 semester hours completed in residence at St. Cloud State University.
4. The applicant must complete the application form for admission to teacher education.
5. Applicants must have been admitted to a major program of study or licensure program (see major department/center for details.)

Contact personnel in the dean's office, A-110 Education Building, for forms, general information, and information about basic skills testing. All teacher education students must provide proof of having taken the Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) in reading, mathematics, and writing prior to enrolling in upper division professional education courses.

The college reserves the right to consider as part of admission to student teaching those personal qualities, general health, scholastic achievement, conduct, or other standards seen as appropriately related.

Graduation

A minimum of 120 semester hours of credit is required for graduation. Candidates for the Bachelor of Science degree in teacher education must meet the following academic standards in order to qualify for graduation:

1. General scholarship—2.50 grade point average.
2. Professional education—see individual departments and centers.

Application for graduation forms are obtained in the Office of Records and Registration. The university academic calendar lists the due dates for each semester.

Admission to Major

See the following sections in this catalog:

Admission to Student Teaching/Resident Teaching

See the following sections in this catalog:

Suggested plans of study for all majors in the College of Education are available online at http://bulletin.stcloudstate.edu/ugb/.