The Department of Education offers teacher preparation programs for students seeking teaching careers in grades kindergarten through eight (K-8). The programs are designed to provide a basic general education and the breadth of experience in the sciences, language arts, humanities, social studies, art, music, mathematics, and health enhancement necessary for a classroom teacher at these grade levels.

Visit the on-line course catalog's Elementary Education section for complete details on the following:

• Professional Requirements for Elementary Teaching
• Program Sequence
  • Elementary Education K-8 Option
  • Early Childhood Education Option
  • Library Media K-12 Option
  • Mathematics Option
  • Reading Option
  • Science Education Option
  • Special Education Option

Prospective elementary school teachers follow a program of study the first two years which is essentially the same for all students. There is sufficient flexibility, however, for specialization in the various teaching options available.

One of the major attributes of the elementary education program at Montana State University is its extensive field-based component. This includes an early experience in the freshman year that is designed for students to observe and interview teachers and their students. Its emphasis is to clarify career directions and it is therefore required prior to all other professional coursework. Prior to student teaching, each student is required to take two paraprofessional semesters. During these semesters the student spends four half-days for eight weeks in a teacher aide capacity while concurrently completing methods courses on campus. The final field-based experience is student teaching where students spend twelve or fourteen weeks in actual supervised teaching in a school setting.

The elementary education K-8 curriculum and six options within the program are available in the department. Early childhood education, library media K-12, mathematics, reading, science, and special education are offered to permit students to specialize in these specific areas in addition to completing the elementary school curriculum. The library media and reading options provide additional teaching endorsements for kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12). The other options, while not providing an additional endorsement in the specialties addressed, do allow for added study in each area.

Graduate degree programs are offered for students who wish to pursue advanced programs in teaching or curriculum supervision in elementary education. (see Educational Leadership)

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