Teaching (Initial License) Programs M.A., License

The M.A. in Teaching and the Teaching License programs are designed for college graduates who aspire to teach at the elementary, middle and/or secondary levels. The programs are a student-centered, standards-driven collaboration among students, college professors, and local school districts. In partnership with school districts, students will have opportunities to continually apply their new knowledge and learning in a school environment. Students in the program will complete the coursework required to apply for a Minnesota teaching license in one of the following areas:

• Business (grades 5–12)
• Chemistry (grades 9–12)
• Communication Arts and Literature (grades 5–12)
• English as a Second Language—ESL (grades K–12)
• General Science (grades 5–8) 
• Life Science (grades 9–12)
• Mathematics (grades 5–12)
• Physics (grades 9–12)
• Social Studies (grades 5–12)
• Visual Arts (grades K–12)

The M.A. in Teaching and Teaching Licenses programs are designed for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree in a field other than education and are seeking to transition into teaching. This program is tailored for adult learners who:

• Thrive when working with children and supporting their growth.
• Bring established values, beliefs, and perspectives to their learning journey.
• Integrate new knowledge with prior experiences and understanding.
• Exhibit a well-developed mindset and professional maturity.
• Demonstrate self-direction in their approach to learning.
• Seek opportunities to immediately apply classroom concepts to real-world teaching contexts.

Teacher preparation across the United States increasingly follows a standards-based model. In Minnesota, all teacher candidates must provide evidence of meeting the Minnesota Standards of Effective Practice (MNSEP), which include both subject matter and pedagogical standards. These standards emphasize the integration of content expertise with effective teaching strategies.

Bethel’s M.A. in Teaching program and Teaching Licenses are carefully designed to support students in meeting MNSEP requirements, as well as the academic standards for their subject area that guide instruction in the state’s public schools.

Bethel University's Teaching Licenses programs are fully accredited by Minnesota’s Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB), reflecting its commitment to high-quality education and professional excellence.

If the MN Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) changes any content standards or education standards after a student is admitted into a Bethel education program, the student is responsible to complete and pay for appropriate classes to meet the standard(s) either at Bethel or another college/university.  

Program Outcomes

1. Planning for Instruction. Candidates will plan standards-based instruction aligned with the discipline and grade levels of their licensure area. (General Education Teaching Licenses, Field Experience & Student Teaching, MN SEPs)
2. 
   Instruction. Candidates will apply appropriate evidence-based instructional strategies that engage students in learning. (General Education Teaching Licenses, Field Experience & Student Teaching, MN SEPs)
3. Assessment. Candidates will select or design a variety of assessments (e.g. standardized, formative, summative) that inform instructional practice and/or measure student performance. (General Education Teaching Licenses, Field Experience & Student Teaching, MN SEPs)
4. Learner Development and Learner Differences. Candidates will differentiate instruction for students with various learning needs using a variety of culturally responsive and developmentally appropriate strategies and/or methods and appropriate educational technologies. (General Education Teaching Licenses, Field Experience & Student Teaching, MN SEPs)
5. Candidates will practice professional dispositions that allow them to appropriately engage in a variety of educational contexts (e.g. schools, other teachers, students, administrators, families, communities). (General Education Teaching Licenses, Field Experience & Student Teaching, MN SEPs)
6. Students will integrate Christian perspectives, personal values, and/or ethics with the professional practice of teaching. (General Education Teaching Licenses, Field Experience & Student Teaching, MN SEPs)
7. Students will demonstrate written and/or oral communication with all stakeholders, including an academic audience.

Program Design

• Courses are offered sequentially throughout the calendar year, including the summer months.
• Courses are generally taken one or two at a time.

Delivery format:

Courses are offered in a combination of online classes and face-to-face classes. Face-to-face classes are held on various weeknights and Saturdays. Consult a calendar of class sessions for the schedule.

Degree Requirements

M.A. in Teaching

The required curriculum for the M.A. in Teaching comprises a 36-37 semester credit sequence of courses. For course sequence, request a program calendar from the Graduate School.

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Course must be taken for credit at Bethel