Michigan State University Elementary Education Teacher Preparation
http://education.msu.edu/te/elementary/Prospective-Students/Program-Overview.asp
Program Overview
The Elementary Teacher Preparation Program at MSU is a five year program with an emphasis on preparing professional elementary teachers. We are the top ranked program among all United States colleges and universities because of our commitment to developing and mentoring excellent teaching practices. The #1 Elementary Education ranking also reflects our outstanding reputation with superintendents, principals, teachers, and educators not only in Michigan, but around the globe. The reason this for this reputation is simple: MSU's College of Education develops teacher leaders.
Commitment to Excellence
We believe in excellence. We believe that strong teaching habits require practice, time, and coaching. Thus, the elementary teacher preparation program is a planned program The program includes being formally admitted to the College of Education in your TE 301 Pre-Internship year. It also includes the successful completion of at least 20 credits within the Elementary Education Program. The classes which you take as part of the program include practical "field experiences" which allows you to use what you learn in the college classroom and apply it in a school setting – sometimes even the very next day! Finally, the program includes graduate level coursework during your internship year to help you further connect theory with actual teaching practice.
First Class Internships
The internship phase of MSU's Elementary Teacher Preparation Program is universally recognized as unparalleled and first-class. We have placed interns in school districts all over the Lansing, Detroit Metropolitan, and Grand Rapids areas. Furthermore, MSU has developed strong relationships with schools in Chicago, as well as, schools in international locations like Dubai and South Africa. With so many internship placements and possibilities, we strive to place our interns in schools and locations which are tailored to their strengths and desire to grow into their teaching profession. For more information about internships and locations, please visit our internship areas page.
Goals Born from Inspiration
Chances are that if you are considering a career in teaching then someone, whether that was a family member, a coach, or a teacher, inspired you to teach. At MSU, we assist you in developing this initial inspiration into a professional teaching practice. We aim to support and guide teacher candidates in working toward several key goals:
- The achievement of a deep understanding of subject matters and of methods for "teaching for understanding."
- A democratic commitment to the education of all children and to classrooms and schools that embrace diversity.
- The ability to establish learning communities in classrooms and schools.
- Learn how to participate in the improvement of teaching, of schools, and of the teaching profession, and in those ways help to make a better world.
- Be able to integrate theory with practice and teaching experience with reflection on that experience.