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> Northern
Plains Transition to Teaching
Application information
The Northern Plains Transitions to Teaching (NPTT) Program at
Montana State University is a graduate-level program designed to prepare mature
candidates for the teaching profession at the secondary school level (middle
school and high school only). Eligible
candidates must have an earned baccalaureate degree in a
teachable subject area
(or a bachelor’s degree and the equivalent coursework in a teachable content
area), must have a documented history of productive engagement in the workforce,
and must have a demonstrated capacity and the willingness to engage in serious,
concentrated study and preparation in order to move rapidly through this
demanding, highly concentrated course of study.
Admission Requirements
Required Qualifications:
-
An earned baccalaureate degree
in a
teachable subject area (or the course equivalent of a major in a content
area).
-
Ability to do graduate level
course work.
-
A documented history of
responsible engagement in the workplace.
-
Evidence of responsible and
engaged citizenship.
-
Ability to learn
via distance technologies - Please review this material before
applying!
Preferred Qualifications:
-
Evidence of work with children
and/or adolescents.
-
Strong skills in reading,
writing, and mathematics.
-
Evidence of leadership
ability.
-
Master’s Degree or other
advanced training.
Admission Process
The application must be submitted online using the MSU
Division of
Graduate Education electronic application. All other associated documentation
(listed below) should be sent directly to the NPTT office. Applications are
reviewed and rated by the admission committee members who then convene to make
final admission decisions. Those passing the initial screening may be contacted
to arrange a personal/telephone interview. Once applicants are accepted, their
applications will be forwarded to the Division of Graduate Education for
administrative processing.
Application Deadlines
-
Applications for 09-1 cohort starting Sep '08 due -
July 20, 2008
-
Applications for
09-2
cohort starting Nov '08 due - October 15, 2008
-
Applications for
09-3 cohort starting Feb '09 due -
January 1, 2009
* NPTT
candidates starting in '08 cohorts will be eligible to start
paid teaching positions at the start of the '08-'09 school year (assuming
successful progression through the program).
The Department of Education and Division of Graduate
Education
at MSU encourages applicants who know they are interested in earning the
master's degree (M.Ed.) in
addition to teacher licensure/certification to submit their graduate degree
seeking applications in conjunction with their NPTT application. Not only does
it potentially reduce follow-on application fees, but it also eliminates the
chance that NPTT courses will not be allowable for use on the degree seeking
program of study. Please speak with Jamie O'Callaghan with any questions
regarding the M.Ed. application process.
Application Requirements
Admissions screening is conducted
by a panel of faculty/program staff and is based on multiple indicators. Every
attempt is made to ensure that qualified applicants are accurately identified
and that no one indicator will rule out eligibility. At the same time, because
of the highly compressed nature of this program, and the high level of
conceptual and academic demands placed on each candidate, selection is rigorous.
There are a limited number of places available in each cohort; therefore, even
qualified applicants may be denied admissions on the basis of availability.
Because completion of the program also requires successful completion of a
year-long paid teaching experience, applicants who may be considered at risk for
finding a teaching position (by being site bound in a limited market, or due to
limited employability within some endorsement areas, etc.) may also be
denied.
Admissions will be based on a
combination of the following:
Applications are only accepted
through the Montana State University online graduate application system. A
nonrefundable $50 application fee must accompany the online application. The
application fee may be paid online using a debit card, credit card or a
personal check from a financial institution in the United States.
Applications will not be processed without the receipt of the application
fee.
If you are considering
applying to the Master of Education program, we recommend that you submit
that application up front, as both applications incur the same cost.
Supporting materials required
to complete the application package should be e-mailed as attachments to
nptt@montana.edu.
Application for Admission
You must indicate what subject
area you intend to pursue licensure in (based on the content area options
found at
http://www.montana.edu/nptt/teachable.html) as part of your objective
statement in the resume/vita . E-mail as attachment to
nptt@montana.edu.
All participants in this
program must qualify to teach in a “teachable
major”. You should have an earned Bachelor’s and/or graduate level
degree(s) (or the equivalent coursework to complete a major) in at least one
of the teachable majors. Once you qualify for a teachable major, you may
then be able to add endorsable minors to your program and thus add
endorsements to your teaching license/certification which increases
employability.. Download and complete the Teacher Education Preparation
Program that matches the subject area major(s) and minor(s) you desire to
teach. The subject areas identified at the TEPP web page are currently the
only areas in which MSU-Bozeman & NPTT are able to provide teacher licensure
and preparation. NOTE: Broadfield and Extended majors can stand alone for
completion of the program and licensure. If you qualify in a major area (not
Extended or Broadfield, then you MUST also qualify in a minor area. It is
recommended that you gain licensure in as many teachable areas as you are
qualified for. Do NOT submit completed majors and minor forms for areas that
you do not qualify for OR are close to being qualified for.
Complete the TEPP form(s)
using copies of your transcripts where you attempt to match comparable
courses. It is possible to suggest course substitutions where you believe it
appropriate (i.e. the title of the course you took may not match the course
title identified on the TEPP form, but you believe the content matter
covered to be equivalent). Your Application will not be reviewed without
this form being complete and submitted to NPTT. E-mail as attachment to
nptt@montana.edu.
*If you are an international
applicant, you must hold a four year bachelor's degree
(Cumulative GPA 2.5 for all
undergraduate coursework; Cumulative GPA 2.5 for all graduate level
coursework). Official copies must be mailed directly from institutions to NPTT
office. If accepted to the NPTT program, you will need an additional
set of official transcripts to submit to the Office of Career Services when
you set up your credential file.
-
Describe your previous
work history, academic preparation, and work with children or
adolescents.
-
Describe the unique
characteristics, academic abilities, and personal traits that qualify
you to become a teacher.
-
Describe why you want to
enter the teaching profession, and what you expect to encounter as a
teacher.
All three essays should be 5-8
pages combined and double spaced. E-mail as attachment to
nptt@montana.edu.
To complete your application,
please have three (3) individuals provide letters of recommendation on your
behalf. Recommendations should be from individuals qualified to assess your
ability and potential as a graduate student and individuals able to attest
to your work ethic and professionalism. Examples of individuals qualified to
assess your potential as a graduate student are professors in your major
field, technical supervisors, department heads, or deans from your
baccalaureate institution. Examples of individuals qualified to assess your
abilities in the job place are your most recent employer or supervisor.
References from relatives are not acceptable.
Please have the three (3)
individuals return the letters of recommendation directly to the NPTT office
or to you in sealed envelopes with their signatures across the flap for
inclusion in your application packet. Do not open the recommendation
envelopes if they are returned to you.
All Personal References /
letters of recommendation are confidential unless indicated otherwise by the
reference / recommendation provider(s).
Applicants who are not U.S.
citizens and not from countries where English is the official language are
required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language and score a
minimum 213 (paper version- 550, 80 for the iBT). This requirement
is waived if the applicant has earned an undergraduate or graduate degree
from an institution in the U.S.
* International applicants
need to be aware that if they want to teach in the U.S. there are fairly
significant obstacles to overcome. Visit this site for more information:
http://teachers4america.net/foreign_faqs.html.
Personal interviews (via phone
or in person if convenient) may be requested in cases where clarification of
application information is required prior to making a final decision.
(Not currently part of the
Application process but something applicants need to be aware of)
While the State of Montana does not
currently have a testing requirement for licensure, effective September, 2006,
the MSU Education Department will require all students to pass the
appropriate Praxis II content area tests in major and any minor endorsement
areas before an Institutional Evaluation & Recommendation
for licensure will be issued. See the
MSU Praxis II page for more information on
the requirements and specific tests.
As of July 1, 2005 all candidates
for initial certification in South Dakota will be required to pass the
Praxis II content area tests for each endorsement they seek as well as the
Principals of Teaching and Learning test most appropriate to their level of
preparation. More detailed information on the
South Dakota
requirements can be found at their web site.
As of June, 200 all
candidates for initial certification in Wyoming will no longer be required to pass
the Praxis II Principals of Teaching and Learning test most appropriate to their
level of preparation. More detailed information on the
Wyoming
requirements can be found at their web site.
Test dates are limited (only seven are scheduled each year) so plan in advance. Low scores on these examinations will
affect your status in the program and your ability to receive
licensure/certification in the state you plan to teach in.
Criminal background checks
are not required for the application to NPTT. Applicants must
"self-disclose" prior criminal convictions on the NPTT application. Applicants
who have been convicted of a crime or crimes will be required to submit their
fingerprints for a criminal background check as part of the application process
(so that we are able to evaluate whether our partner states will provide a
teaching license/certificate prior to considering you for admission to the
program). The NPTT program also reserves the right to require additional
documentation and/or criminal background checks of any applicants who have been
charged with serious offenses, though not necessarily convicted.
Be aware that all NPTT candidates
will be required to submit fingerprints for criminal background checks to the
states they wish to teach in as part of their application for initial
license/certification (alternative license/certificate or temporary permit).
NPTT students who
fail to self disclose and are unable to complete the program because states
withhold licensure/certification based on a criminal background check will be
required to repay the scholarship amount expended.
Costs
NPTT program students will be charged
$300/credit, or a grand total of $7,200 over the span of the entire program. As
courses run sequentially, not concurrently, students typically do not have
expenditures that exceed $900 (excluding books) at any one time.
Master of Education (M.Ed.) option
The certification program consists of 24 credits (18 credits
of course work, six credits of internship). Qualified students have the option
to earn a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree by successfully completing an
additional six credits. Candidates should indicate their interest in this option
during the admissions process.
In addition to the above listed Criteria for Admissions,
program participants seeking the master’s degree will need to have earned a 3.0
GPA during their undergraduate career, and must submit official GRE scores
showing a minimum combined score of 850 for the verbal and quantitative sections
of the test. Participants interested in the M.Ed. option must declare their
intent to pursue the degree prior to completion of nine credits of the
teacher certification program (no credits taken beyond the initial nine, while
in a non-degree graduate status, can be counted towards a degree program –
ever).
We encourage those who know they are interested in earning
the M.Ed. in conjunction with their licensure to
apply for the NPTT master's degree up front rather than go through two
separate application processes (first for the NPTT licensure program, then the
NPTT master's degree option). Please note that the M.Ed. application
simply requires the online application for Master of Education, Northern Plains
Transition to Teaching, and the GRE score.
NPTT
Master of Education (Curriculum & Instruction option) Application
If you have ever served in the U.S. Armed Services (to
include the U.S. Coast Guard), please click on the Troops-to-Teachers link above
to see if you might be eligible for financial assistance through that program.
If you are eligible, please contact the regional
Troops-to-Teachers office to register for the
program.
Database on Applicants and Students
Information collected on all applicants and candidates will
be stored in a database. This information will be used primarily for internal
purposes of accounting and for purposes of program review and revision.
Candidates will be asked to sign a form granting permission to use any materials
produced by the candidate or candidate’s pupils during the time the candidate is
enrolled in the program or engaged in any follow-up activities. Because MSU is a
research institution we reserve the right to utilize these materials for
demonstration, research, and product development purposes. Information on
candidates may also be published or otherwise be made available, for example, on
the program web site, in order to provide for a better informed public.
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