Education Department

The purpose of the Education Department is to provide well-developed programs firmly rooted in the liberal arts which will enable those completing them to become certified elementary and secondary classroom teachers.

All students enrolled in education programs—either elementary or secondary—must major in a specific discipline. Those pursuing a secondary teaching credential must have a major and a minor in their selected teaching fields. Both must pursue an education studies curriculum as outlined below, including a fifth-year internship or Master of Arts in Teaching under the guidance of the Education Department.

Throughout the Education Studies Program, students will maintain a portfolio which will be used to assess their progress. There will be three times when portfolios will be formally assessed and students will be evaluated to see whether they should continue in the Education Studies Program: at the end of the Introduction to Teaching course, at the end of their four years of study prior to beginning the internship, and at the end of the internship.

Both elementary and secondary education students may elect to complete a minor in reading education, English as a Second Language or bilingual education.

Admission to the Undergraduate Education Studies Minor

Students normally apply for admission to the Education Studies Program when they are sophomores. Transfer students and those who decide to pursue a teaching career after the sophomore year should meet with an advisor in the Education Department. Acceptance into the program is contingent upon the following criteria:

Minors & Endorsements

The Education Department offers the education studies minor for those students pursuing careers that involve work with education policy, or reform, as well as minors for students pursuing certification as elementary and secondary teachers.

Education Studies Minor (Does not lead to certification)

Consists of 20 credits and includes the following courses:

Requirements for students who plan to seek an elementary teaching certificate

Students seeking elementary certification take the following in place of the electives in the education studies minor.

Though not part of the minor, students preparing to teach at the elementary level will take the following courses in mathematics

Course of study for students completing a minor to teach at the elementary level

Requirements for students who plan to seek a secondary teaching certificate

Students preparing to teach at the secondary level must successfully complete a major in one of the following areas: art, biology, chemistry, English, history, mathematics, music, physics, physical education, political economy, psychology, social studies teaching, Spanish, or theatre.

Students seeking secondary certification must to complete a teaching minor. In addition to the areas listed above, minors may be completed in American government, American history, economics, French, German, natural sciences or reading.

After completing a bachelor's degree, in order to be recommended for certification, students must complete a fifth-year internship. During this time, interns will engage in coursework in pedagogy and methods, research and teaching at the secondary (8-12) school level under the guidance of experienced professionals.

Students seeking K-12 certification in art, reading, music or physical education need to consult with their Education Department advisor.

Students seeking secondary certification take the following in place of the electives in the education studies minor.

Course of study for students completing a minor to teach at the secondary level

Additional Endorsement Area Minors

Students may choose to add endorsements to their teaching certificate by completing one or more of the following minors.

Reading Education Minor

Consists of 20 credits, including:

Bilingual Education Minor

Consists of 20 credits including:

Teaching English as a Second Language Minor

Consists of:

Teaching Modern Foreign Language Minor

Consists of a minor in the language of at least 20 credits and the following:

Certification - Graduate Level

The College of Idaho has a state-approved program which makes it possible for students who successfully complete Option I or Option II below to be eligible for initial certification in any of the states that are members of the Inter-State Compact.

After completion of a bachelor's degree, in order to be recommended for certification, students must complete a fifth-year internship which may or may not include completion of the Master of Arts in Teaching degree (MAT). During this time, interns will engage in coursework in pedagogy and methods, research and teaching at the elementary or secondary school level under the guidance of experienced professionals. K-12 certification is also available in the areas of art, reading, music or physical education.

It is expected that the following courses are taken in sequence. Any exceptions must have the approval of the education faculty. Note: Instructor signature is required for ALL courses before students are allowed to enroll.

OPTION I: Planned Fifth-Year Internship

Candidates Seeking Elementary Certification

Admission to the Fifth Year OPTION I:

Candidates Seeking Secondary Certification

Admission to the Fifth Year OPTION I:

OPTION II: Master of Arts in Teaching

Because the MAT is designed to enhance the five-year education department experience, students who have been enrolled in the undergraduate program will be given preference in admission to the MAT. If there are openings remaining in the cohort, applications will be accepted for review from:

NOTE: Candidates for secondary certification must have required course work in two teaching fields.

Requirements for admission to the MAT program:
Application Deadline

Students in the College of Idaho undergraduate program must complete the admission process by March 15. Others must complete the process by April 1. Candidates will be notified of acceptance in the program within two weeks of the closing date.

To earn a Master of Arts in Teaching degree (MAT) at The College of Idaho, all course work must be completed with a grade of "B" or better. All course work must be completed within five years of matriculation into the program. The responsibility rests with students to see that their program of study satisfies all the requirements.

Summer I

The core of the first summer consists of three courses: Foundations of Instructional Leadership, Research Methods and Design, and Instruction and Technology. The study of various leadership models and their implementation in schools, a survey of qualitative and quantitative research methods to assist a candidate's research project, and the application of technology build the foundation for an intensive internship year.

Internship Year

The internship year takes place in a K-12 professional development site. Interns preparing for elementary certification engage in the study of methods in the following areas: reading, language arts, social studies, science, math, music, physical education and art. Coursework for secondary certification includes special methods in all proposed endorsement areas. Both groups will study assessment as it relates to learning. During this time, work on the Professional Portfolio and the collection of data necessary to complete the research project will continue.

Secondary MAT Internship Year

Elementary MAT Internship Year

Summer II

The research project designed during the first summer and researched during the internship is written under the supervision of a C of I professor and a thesis committee. Each candidate will prepare a professional development plan and complete a project consistent with that plan.