Northern Michigan University will roll out a revised bachelor's degree program in elementary education this fall. The new dual-endorsement major in PK-3 and 3-6 is designed to prepare individuals to teach the core content areas of literacy, mathematics, science and social studies. It aligns with Michigan Department of Education certification requirements and involves campus-based coursework and clinical experiences.
“The schools that employ our graduates said it was critical that NMU offers both PK-3 and 3-6 together,” Associate Dean of Teacher Education Joe Lubig told the NMU Board of Trustees before securing approval. “These are technically two separate licensure areas and will remain that way, but at NMU, students will be able to complete both through a 120-credit curriculum and 600 or more hours of onsite training. We also designed the program to serve as a true 2+2 program with community and tribal colleges so credit hours transfer to Northern so as not to extend the time to degree. And we also have a statewide articulation agreement that allows any high school students completing a career tech ed program to transfer coursework right to us.
Lubig said NMU will recommend students in the program take both licensure exams in Michigan to ensure optimum employability and transferability to other states. Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula schools, where most student teaching takes place, have reported a great demand for teachers. Lubig said it is anticipated NMU's elementary education enrollment will continue to trend, on average, at 40-50 new first-year students, 12 transfers and about 10 post-baccalaureate students.
“There's still a teacher shortage, and we're really trying to focus our program in our space, which is the rural environment,” he said.
The new program is a revision of the previous K-8 model. Lubig said the plan is to shift secondary education to grades 7-12 and focus on integrated science, social studies, English language arts, mathematics and special education programs. That restructuring is scheduled to take place this summer.
Learn more about the new dual-endorsement major here. For general information on the School of Education, visit its website.