MSU plans online program to address rural teacher shortage
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BOZEMAN — A new one-year, online master’s degree program in teaching that Montana State University expects to offer soon, aims to provide more access to education and help solve a critical schoolteacher shortage in rural Montana. The Montana Board of Public Education, which oversees public elementary and secondary schools in Montana, will vote on the proposed program in January. If approved, students who already have bachelor’s degrees may apply to the program in the spring for summer 2019 enrollment.
The new program, housed in the College of Education, Health and Human Development’s Department of Education, means that prospective teachers from across Montana – from Eureka to Wibaux and beyond – can earn a master’s degree in education and be eligible for initial teacher licensure in Montana. Students would come to Bozeman for a 10-day intensive introductory teaching academy in the summer and take 12 credits of graduate-level courses in each of three semesters: summer, fall and spring. All classes would take place completely online after the initial summer introductory session.
At the end of the year, after successful completion of the year’s coursework and field experience, students would earn a master’s degree and recommendation for a teaching license that would enable them to be eligible to teach either elementary grades or high school social studies, math, English or science. Prospective secondary teachers could also take additional summer classes to qualify for teaching dual enrollment classes, which offer high school students credit toward both high school graduation and a college degree.
The program will be focused on graduate students in rural parts of the state, because that is where the need is greatest.
“Our intention is really to provide an opportunity for education for those who don’t have the capacity to come to our campus,” she said. “We have to meet the students where they are. Improving access to this kind of program is part of our institutional mission.”
Individuals who are interested in learning more about the program are invited to contact Seifert at 406-994-3127 or Tricia.seifert@montana.edu.
