Start your journey
Earn a tier 3 teaching license to teach visual arts, dance, or theatre arts
This program is designed for teachers that already hold a teaching license.
Earn your MN K-12 teaching license to teach visual arts, dance, or theatre arts in just over a year. Our accelerated program will prepare you to step into your classroom with confidence and solid classroom experience. You will complete all of the required teaching hours through school-based field experiences and required coursework in 12 months. Our license is highly transferable to other states.
This is a graduate-level, full-time program integrating educational theory with classroom practice. Beginning teachers will be ready to implement a contemporary, comprehensive arts education program based on current theory and practice in the field.
Program details
Program Duration
- 12 months (3 semesters)
Modality
- In-person, cohort-based work
Schedule
- Full time, Monday thru Friday
Timeline
- The initial teaching licensure coursework is offered in a full-time, 12-month, graduate-level format integrating educational theory with classroom practice. Courses start in the summer and finish at the end of the spring semester.
Career outlook
- Teachers with a master's degree are regarded as experts in their field, making you a more competitive job candidate with an MEd
- Teachers who have a master's degree will see a roughly $7,000 annual salary increase [Teacher.org]
- Though the salary increase with a master's degree will vary by district and state, Minnesota teachers are on the higher end of the payscale. Median Minnesota teacher salaries were $64,790 and $64,960 for middle school and high school respectively in 2019 [BLS]
- Once a teacher is employed, there is much more mobility that comes with a master's. Teachers with advanced degrees can be promoted to school administration positions and can become mentors to other teachers based upon specific graduate training
Admission information
Important dates:
- October 1 - Application opens
- December 15 - Application closes
Decisions are released mid February
Application requirements
Transcripts
Submit all unofficial transcripts from all previous institutions. Once admitted you will need official transcripts.
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A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S institution, or a comparable degree from a recognized college or university in another country, is required.
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2.80 GPA is required for full acceptance. Special review will be given to applicants with a GPA less than 2.80.
Resume
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Highlight experiences and achievements working with children and youth.
Essay
- Writing prompt: Describe the world you come from--for example, your family, community or school. Tell us about a time when your worldview has informed and/or been challenged by working with children or youth.
- Reflecting on this and other experiences, how do you hope to grow as a reflective teacher through our program.
- Statement should be no longer than 5 pages. Standard font-size. Double-spaced. Include your name at the top of each page.
Letter of Recommendation
- Ask someone who can speak to your experience working with children and/or youth, or who can vouch for your commitment to educational equity.
- When you apply, list the name and email of your recommender. We will email them with instructions on how to submit their letter into the UMN application system. Please let them know to watch their Spam inbox in case the email appears there.
Diversity Statement
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Writing prompt: Given the well-documented racial, ethnic, and/or cultural differences between teachers and the students they teach in K-12 spaces, what have you done to further your knowledge and understanding about equity and diversity
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How have you demonstrated your learning?
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No longer than 2 pages. Standard font-size. Double-spaced. Include your name at the top of each page.
Official evaluation of transcript by a NACES-approved member
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You must get a NACES-approved member organization to complete a course-by-course evaluation of your transcript
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Send to: Department of Curriculum & Instruction c/o Foreign Transcript Evaluations
Peik Hall, 125 159 Pillsbury Dr. SE Minneapolis, MN 55455
(Optional) Extenuating Circumstances Statement
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This is not required.
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Only submit if there is something on your transcript that does not accurately reflect who you are as a student.
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No more than 500 words documenting unusual circumstances or hardships you have faced and the ways in which you have overcome or responded to them.
Application Fees
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$75 for U.S. applicants
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$95 for international applicants
NOTE: GRE not required.
International applicants
International applicants may also need:
TOEFL, IELTS or MELAB TOEFL
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Required for non-native English speakers: institutional code: 6874.
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IELTS and MELAB scores must be received directly from the testing center.
- An English translation of your transcripts, if the transcript is not in English.
- A course by course evaluation may be required.
- TOEFL scores. Official TOEFL scores are required. You may qualify for an exception if you have completed 16 semester or 24 quarter credits within the past 24 months in residence as a full-time student at an accredited institution of higher learning in the United States. Please see the University of Minnesota TOEFL score requirements and submission guidelines from the Graduate School. Early application is advised to ensure timely admission.
- International students with F-1 visas may take no more than the equivalent of one completely online education class (or 3 credits per semester) and count it towards their full-time course requirement. Full-time enrollment for graduate students is 6 credits. If you are enrolled in an online program and studying in your home country, you do not need full-time enrollment status.
- More information about English Language proficiency
Tuition
2025-2026 professional graduate program costs - master’s in arts education cost
Visit OneStop for the most up-to-date tuition information and to understand the full cost of attendance.
Funding
CEHD Fellowships, scholarships, assistantships, and grants for graduate students
As a graduate student in CEHD, you may be eligible for fellowships, grants, and scholarships from the University of Minnesota, from our college, and from your academic department. Check out the CEHD aid for future teachers and graduate funding page to get more information on funding opportunities!
Questions about funding:
University Funding Opportunities:
612.625.7579 | gsfellow@umn.edu
CEHD Funding Opportunities:
Financial aids
Financial aid for your graduate program works a little differently than financial aid at the undergraduate level. It’s important to know the differences and explore your options. Check out this One Stop link for more information on eligibility, required steps, and timelines. If you have questions, you should contact Veronica Myers.
- Apply for financial aid and scholarships when you submit your application
- Each year we award partial scholarships to qualified teaching candidates. Teaching candidates received over $600,000 in scholarships from CEHD last year.
- If you intend to teach a high-need subject in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves low-income families, you may be eligible to receive grants of up to $4,000/year. Learn more about the TEACH grant on Onestop.
- If you plan to teach full time for five complete and consecutive years in schools that serve low-income families, you may be eligible for loan forgiveness of up to $17,500 through a program administered by the federal government.
- Learn more about teacher loan forgiveness
Tuition and funding
Program prerequisites
Before you are admitted to the MEd and Teaching license programs, you must complete some prerequisite coursework, which varies based on the type of license you are seeking. Below, you will find a list of prerequisites listed by license. Please email the program advisor your unofficial transcript(s).
Program adviser:
Request information
We’re here to help. Complete our form and a member of our department will be in touch.
Why choose a master's in arts in education at the University of Minnesota?
Our arts in education MEd and teaching license program stands out for its accelerated, graduate-level pathway to becoming a licensed teacher in just 12 months. Specializing in visual arts, dance, or theatre arts, students gain extensive, hands-on classroom experience in diverse public school settings, ensuring they’re ready to lead a contemporary arts education program from day one. Additionally, our Minnesota teaching license is highly transferable, offering opportunities nationwide. This comprehensive approach empowers you to make an immediate and lasting impact in the classroom and beyond.
About the program and coursework
Master's of education
This program includes two components: initial teaching licensure and MEd degree. The Department of Curriculum and Instruction offers our teacher preparation programs at the graduate level because it affords you the opportunity to master your content knowledge through your undergraduate degree before being placed in a real classroom for an optimal learning experience.
This model offers the following advantages:
- Teachers who have a master's degree will see a roughly $7,000 annual salary increase [teacher.org]
- Though the salary increase with a master's degree will vary by district and state, Minnesota teachers are on the higher end of the pay scale.
- Teachers with advanced degrees can be promoted to school administration positions and become mentors to other teachers based upon their graduate training.
Program duration:
12 months (3 semesters)
Modality:
In-person, cohort-based work
Schedule:
Full time, Monday thru Friday
Our program is sequential, with each required course offered once per academic year, beginning in the summer semester. The program can be completed in three semesters (12 months). Summer courses meet in both the morning and the afternoon. Fall courses are scheduled in the afternoons and primarily in the evenings, while Spring courses meet exclusively in the evenings. Candidates complete placements in elementary, middle, or high school arts classrooms. In the fall semester, candidates engage in field experiences. In the Spring semester, they participate in full-time student teaching, divided into two eight-week placements in different school settings.
In order to be recommended for your Minnesota K-12 dance, theatre, and/or visual arts license(s), you must successfully complete these licensure requirements mandated by the state of Minnesota.
This material is available in alternative formats upon request. Direct requests to the Office of Teacher Education at ote@umn.edu, 612-625-5060.
- If you already have earned your initial teaching license, we offer an additional teaching license in visual arts, theatre and dance education.
- DirecTrack to Teaching is an exploratory education program that lets you experience schools and school culture in a K-12 education setting
- The Racial Justice in Urban Schooling undergraduate minor lets you explore school systems and offer support to advance educational equity.
Quote from Talia Edelheit, MEd '21
“This is one of the only programs in the US that gives students a master's degree and teaching license within a single year. The University of Minnesota is also one of the only educational institutions that puts a strong emphasis on anti-racist curriculum. As a white educator wanting to create a safe and diverse environment for my students, I knew that I needed this program.”
