Program Overview
Admission to the Teacher Education Program
Master of Education with Secondary Licensure Option
Contacts

Program Overview
Students preparing to teach at the middle and secondary level complete a teaching major in a specific content area as well as the professional licensure requirements to teach that discipline.

The following is a list of all teaching majors, minors, and endorsements offered at UM. Click on the name of the major to view the specific major and minor (where applicable) course requirements in a printable format. Please note that some teaching majors require a second major or minor. All areas lead to licensure for grades 5-12, unless noted otherwise.

Extended Teaching Majors
These content areas do not require an additional teaching major or minor:
Art (K-12)
Biology
Business and Information Technology Education (BITE)
Chemistry
English
French (K-12)
General Science Broadfield (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Earth Science)
German (K-12)
Health and Human Performance (K-12)*
Mathematics
Music (K-12)*
Comprehensive Social Science* (Licensed to teach Government & History and one additional social science: Economics, Geography, Psychology or Sociology)
Spanish (K-12)

Teaching Majors
These content areas require an additional teaching major or minor:
Earth Science*
Economics
Geography
Government (Political Science)
History
Latin (K-12)
Physics
Psychology
Russian
Sociology
Theatre*

Teaching Minors or Endorsements
These content areas require a teaching major:
English as a Second Language (K-12)
Library Media (K-12)
Reading (K-12)
Special Education (K-12)

*UM offers only a teaching major in these content areas.

When selecting a teaching major or minor, students should keep in mind the value of earning licensure in multiple fields. Students who combine fields significantly increase their future employment options. Advisors in the various fields can answer additional questions concerning teacher supply and demand, as can the Career Services Office.

The professional education courses required for licensure are completed following admission to the Teacher Education Program (TEP). More information about applying to the TEP can be found below. The following is a list of required professional licensure courses:

Click here for a printable PDF version of the professional licensure requirements.

Transfer students, post-baccalaureate students, and graduate students should consult the Licensure Specialist  or the Pre-Education Advisor for transcript evaluation. Their contact information is below.

Secondary licensure candidates have an advisor within their academic major and an advisor within the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Click here for printable version of all individuals who serve as advisors or liaisons for secondary licensure candidates.

Admission to the Teacher Education Program
All undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students seeking licensure to teach must apply for admission to the Teacher Education Program (TEP). Admission to the TEP is required before students may enroll in licensure (EDU) courses. Admission is limited to approximately 125 elementary and 125 secondary candidates per year. Application deadlines for undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students are September 15th and February 15th. Students are eligible for consideration for admission if they have:

• been admitted to The University of Montana;
• completed at least 30 semester credits (not including developmental or technical courses);
• achieved a minimum cumulative GPA (including all transfer credits) of 2.75;
• completed an introductory psychology course (PSYX 100S) and an English composition course (WRIT 101), with a grade of C- or better in each;
• evidence of competent writing ability as provided in an application writing sample;
• appropriate experience working with children or youth;
• supportive recommendations from two faculty members, including at least one from the student's major or minor;
• and satisfactory results from a national fingerprint-based background check. (Background check packets are available in the the Teacher Education Services office.)

Click here to read more about the TEP application and suggestions for successful preparation.

The Teacher Education Program application can be downloaded here. (NOTE: Adobe Reader is required in order to access and complete the application. If your computer does not have Reader, you may download the program for free here.)

Licensed teachers and those seeking readmission to the TEP complete different applications. Licensed teachers can find their application here. Those seeking readmission can find the appropriate form here.

Master of Education with Secondary Licensure Option
Secondary licensure candidates already holding a baccalaureate degree may choose to complete the Master of Education (M.Ed.)  with initial teacher licensure. M.Ed. program requirements include a minimum of 37 graduate credits in addition to any undergraduate course work necessary to complete content area requirements and licensure requirements.

Students who choose this option apply to the Graduate School and Department of Curriculum & Instruction’s Graduate Committee. Program requirements and admission procedures are explained on the Master of Education webpages and in the department's Graduate Handbook.

Contacts