Open Prompt #5: Teacher Preparation at MSU

Michigan State University has the best Elementary Teacher Education Program in the country (US News).  MSU's program prepares students to become teachers with all of the knowledge and skills needed to teach all subjects K-5th grade.  In this post I am going to talk about all the requirements Elementary Education majors need.  

To become an elementary teacher, first the student must pick a focus, a focus is the subject the student will be specializing in.  Although all teachers must have a strong foundation in all of the subjects for K-5, the focus allows teachers to teach their specialization in grades 6-8.  For example, my focus is language arts so I will be allowed to teach language arts in a middle school class room if I wanted to. To get a teaching degree, undergraduate studies must be completed including completion of a professional education program, and a fifth-year teaching internship is also required from Michigan State.  This assures all of MSU's teachers obtain the skills to be successful in the elementary classroom.  

There are many program requirements for Elementary Education Students which includes the following:

1. University Requirements 

• Integrative Studies Courses
• Writing Requirements
• Math Requirement

     2. Teacher Education Courses

     3. Teaching Major

• Classes directed at chosen focus

     4.  Elementary Planned Program

• Courses giving students knowledge needed to teach all elementary subjects
• Minimum of 20 credits

     5.  Examinations

• All education majors must take and pass the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) 

     6.  Bachelor Degree

     7.  Student Teaching

• A fifth-year, or internship year must be completed which includes experience in a classroom along with graduate level courses

These are the requirements to become an elementary teacher and Michigan State, it may seem like a lot but as you plan out your years with an advisor it will all fall into place, and in the end it will all be worth while because of how prestigious a teaching degree from MSU really is.

This information is from:

"Top Education Schools | Best Education Programs | US News - US News." US News RSS. US News & World Report LP, 1 Jan. 2015. Web. 17 Feb. 2015. <http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools>.

"Academics." Summary of Program Requirements. MSU College of Education, 1 Jan. 2015. Web. 17 Feb. 2015. <http://education.msu.edu/academics/undergraduate/elementary/elementary-ed-program-summary.asp>.