Start your journey
Earn a tier 3 teaching license to teach elementary education
Earn your masters of education and a license to teach in elementary classrooms (K-6) in Minnesota 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 and coursework in 2 semesters. The license to teach in Minnesota is highly transferable to other states and our candidates are sought after by local school districts. This is a graduate-level, full-time program. (The program is nine months for graduates of the elementary education foundations major).
If you are beginning your undergraduate studies and interested in a career in elementary education, visit the BS in elementary education foundations program.
Program details
Program Duration
- 2 semesters (Fall & Spring)
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 the following summer.
Cost
-
$9,984 per semester (MN resident)
-
$15,600 per semester (non-MN resident)
Career outlook
97.3% of Elementary education MEd graduates found full-time teaching positions within a year of graduation (2021-22 Cohort)
- 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
International applicants
International applicants may also need:
- 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.
Admissions support
Additional admissions information
Before applying online, make sure you have all the required materials. Download and refer to this application tip sheet as you work through the application. The included directions will help you complete your application quickly and smoothly.
We are here to help! If you have questions, please contact the academic advisor in your program area:
Financial aids
- 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 elementary education at the University of Minnesota?
At the University of Minnesota, the Elementary Education MEd and Teaching License program What sets us apart from other programs is our supportive, immersive experience designed to prepare you to thrive in your own classroom from day one. Through our unique co-teaching model and cohort-based structure, you'll build confidence and gain hands-on experience alongside experienced educators and a community of peers.
In just one year, you’ll earn both your teaching license and master’s degree, guided by award-winning faculty who are leaders in the field. You’ll graduate with the practical teaching skills and deep understanding of child development and instructional strategies needed to lead and inspire in today’s elementary classrooms.
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:
2 semesters (Fall & Spring)
Modality:
In-person, cohort-based work
Schedule:
Full time, Monday thru Friday
Students starting the program without a BS in elementary education foundations from the University of Minnesota:
Courses start in May and finish June of the following year. Coursework taken in May-July are foundational courses to ground you in elementary education theory and practice. In the fall, you rotate between your student-teaching placement site and campus coursework. During spring, you will remain full-time at your student-teaching site and take two evening courses on campus.
UMN BS elementary education foundation students:
For students who are transitioning from the BS in elementary education foundations, the program runs August through June, in tandem with the public school calendars. In the fall, you rotate between your student-teaching placement site and campus coursework. During spring, you will remain full-time at your student-teaching site and take two evening courses on campus.
In order to be recommended for your Minnesota K-6 elementary education license, you must successfully complete these licensure requirements mandated by the state of Minnesota.
To view the core curriculum and electives for this program, visit the University course catalog teaching MEd page and scroll down to see the elementary education sub-plan.
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(s).
- 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.
Our unique co-teaching program and cohort experience will help you gain the confidence you need to start in your own classroom with plenty of support. Learn more about the student teaching experience.
Quote from Mychi Nguyen
I liked the idea of getting my teaching license as well as my masters degree in just one year. I also know that the U’s teaching program is very social justice orientated and I wanted to be able to work with like-minded people as I continued my education.
