School of Education

This is an archived copy of the 2021-22 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.ndsu.edu.

Programs in education at NDSU are administered by the School of Education. Our graduates are prepared to be teachers, counselors, and school administrators and to assume various additional roles in education and throughout the community. Program graduates are capable of working effectively with diverse populations. Through course work and field experiences, students come to an appreciation of - and commitment to - cultural diversity and the elimination of inequitable instructional and institutional practices.

All programs leading to teacher licensure or the school administrator credential with the School of Education are reviewed and accredited at the undergraduate and graduate levels by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and are approved by the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board (ESPB). Additionally, NDSU is designated by the State Board for Career and Technical Education (NDCTE) as the recognized institution for preparing teachers of Agricultural Education and Family & Consumer Sciences Education. Graduate programs in counseling are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Program accreditation and program approval assure that graduates of the respective programs may be certified/licensed as teachers, counselors, or school administrators in other states, and also assures that the programs offered through the NDSU School of Education are high quality.

Degrees Offered

  • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) / Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees with the following teaching specialties:
    • Agriculture Education; Art Education (offered through NDSU's VIsual Arts department); Biological Sciences Education; Chemistry Education; Comprehensive Science Education; Earth Science Education; English Education; Extension Education (minor only); Family & Consumer Sciences Education; French Education; Health Education; History Education; Mathematics Education; Music Education (Instrumental & Vocal; offered through NDSU's Challey School of Music); Physical Education; Physics Education; Social Sciences Education; Spanish Education
    • Dual Degree: Elementary Education (offered by VCSU) & Human Development and Family Science (offered through NDSU's HDFS department)
  • Masters of Education (M.Ed.) / Masters of Science (M.S.)
    • Agricultural Education (including a Teacher Licensure option);
    • Education (with options in Curriculum & Instruction, English, History, Mathematics, Music, Science, Social Science, Whole Child Approaches, and Teacher Licensure);
    • Educational Leadership (with options in K12 Leadership and Higher Education);
    • Extension Education; and
    • Family & Consumer Sciences Education
  • Masters of Science (M.S.)
    • Counseling (with options in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling)
  • Educational Specialist (Ed.S.)
    • Educational Leadership
  • Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) / Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
    • Education (with options in Adult & Community Education; Institutional Effectiveness; and Organizational Learning & Leadership)
  • Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
    • Counselor Education and Supervision

Admission to Teacher-Licensure Programs

Application forms and instructions for admission to the School of Education are available at the Teacher Education Office, 155 E. Morrow Lebedeff Hall. Students should check the School of Education web site or contact the School of Education office for updates in procedures and requirements.

Students should apply for admission to the School of Education the semester following successful completion of the introductory professional education course, EDUC 321 Introduction to Teaching. Applications deadlines are February 15 and September 15 of each year. A late application may delay completion of the program and graduation requirements. All applications to the school will remain valid for five years from the date of approval or until completion of the baccalaureate degree, whichever comes first. Candidates must earn a grade of 'C' or better in all education (EDUC prefix) courses.

The Teacher Education Council reviews and acts upon completed applications. The Council is the body within the School of Education with jurisdiction over such matters as admission, retention, student teaching, and certification/licensure. The Council informs the students of its action. For questions about admission policies, contact the School of Education office.

Admission Requirements

Undergraduate students may gain admission to the School of Education by meeting the following requirements:

  1. Provide evidence of maintaining a minimum grade-point average of 2.75 in the student’s total academic program, teaching specialty courses and professional education courses. Transfer students shall complete a minimum of one semester’s work and obtain a 2.75 institutional grade-point average at NDSU before their applications are processed.
  2. Provide evidence of achieving passing scores on the PRAXIS I test of basic skills or passing scores or the Core Academic Skills test. (The student is responsible for registering for the test and paying the appropriate fee.)
  3. Provide a letter of recommendation.
  4. Complete 20 hours working with youth within 24 months of application.
  5. Submit completed curriculum guide.
  6. Provide up-to-date transcripts of all college work (including transfer credits).

Admission of Post-Baccalaureate Students

Students with college degrees seeking teacher certification/licensure should contact the School of Education certification officer for more information. NDSU students who continue in school after graduation or who resume their education within one year following graduation will be considered on the same basis as undergraduates.

Students whose undergraduate academic average was below 2.75 shall increase their overall undergraduate grade-point average to 2.75 or achieve and maintain an average of 3.00 on post-baccalaureate course work while meeting the following conditions:

  1. Obtain 24 approved credits in two contiguous semesters, or equivalent.
  2. Take each course for a grade other than pass/fail.
  3. Obtain approval of all courses from the Teacher Education program.

Post-baccalaureate students must submit an application showing evidence of meeting the requirements listed under “Admission of Undergraduate Students.”

Note: These policies refer to admission to Teacher Education for purposes of certification/licensure and are not recommendations for admission to Graduate School.

Student Teaching

Prior to student teaching, student teachers must meet all School of Education requirements including completion and submission of the verification of requirements form (available from the School of Education office). Because student teaching is a full-time experience, students shall not participate in extracurricular activities on campus or participate in employment that detracts from student teaching and shall not be registered for course work other than student teaching EDUC 487 Student Teaching, EDUC 488 Applied Student Teaching and EDUC 485 Student Teaching Seminar. A student teaching course fee will be assessed during the student teaching semester.

Undergraduate Graduation Requirements

Graduation requirements for all students desiring teacher certification/licensure, secondary or K-12, include three basic parts: general education requirements, professional education requirements, and teaching specialty requirements. Upon exiting the program, students:

  1. Must complete a capstone portfolio based on the Interstate New Teachers Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC) standards.
  2. Must earn a minimum GPA of 2.75 in each of the following programs:
    • Total academic programs
    • Teaching specialties
    • Professional education courses consisting of a minimum of 27 credits
  3. Must pass the PRAXIS II tests (Subject Assessment and Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT))
  4. May complete an application for state certification/licensure and pay the appropriate fee to the state upon completion of the program.

K-12 Certification/Licensure for Physical Education and Music Education Majors

Certification/licensure for kindergarten through 12th grade programs (K-12) is available for students majoring in Physical Education or Music Education. Students must enroll in HDFS 230 Life Span Development or PSYC 250 Developmental Psychology, Elementary Teaching Methods, and student teach at both the elementary and secondary levels, as well as meet the specific requirements for each major department.

Special Notice

Changes in national and state legislation, standards, or rules may result in revised course work requirements. Students should contact the School of Education to keep abreast of possible developments in curriculum areas.

Program Approval and Accreditation

The initial and advanced Teacher Education, advanced Educational Leadership, and advanced School Counseling programs at NDSU are approved/accredited by the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board (ESPB), 2718 Gateway Ave., Suite 303, Bismarck, ND, 58503-0585; (701) 328-9641.

The School of Education at NDSU is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), 1140 19th St NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC, 20036; (202) 223-0077. This accreditation covers the institution’s initial and advanced teacher education, advanced educational leadership, and advanced school counseling programs.

Counseling programs in the School of Education are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), 5999 Stevenson Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22304; (703) 823-9800.

For more information, contact the NDSU School of Education, Dept. 2625, P.O. Box 6050, Fargo, ND, 58108-6050, 231-7921.