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School of Education

School of Education

Dean: Allen Burgad, Ph.D.

Certification Officer/Program Specialist: Amber Olson

Administrative and Assessment Assistant: Rachel Bopp

Contact Us
Department Office
McFarland Hall, Third Floor 326

Overview

Explore our programs

Founded as a teacher’s college over 125 years ago, VCSU is widely respected as having one of the finest teacher education programs in the region. Students have the opportunity to become qualified for nearly any area of K-12 education from the elementary classroom to rapidly growing areas of specialization like ELL and STEM Education.

Teacher Preparation Scholarships

Students working as part-time or full-time as a paraprofessional or substitute teacher in their community school will receive a scholarship covering the majority or all costs associated with earning their degree.

  • Covers tuition and fees up to $3,800 per semester
  • Scholarships available for Spring, Summer or Fall
  • (Available Spring 2024, Summer 2024, and Fall 2024)

Students working as a paraprofessional in their community school will receive a scholarship covering tuition associated with earning their degree.

  • Covers all tuition costs capped at $20,000
  • Awards up to four semesters 
  • Available Spring 2024, Summer 2024, Fall 2024, Spring 2025

Teacher Education

The School of Education and Graduate Studies at Valley City State University believes an effective teacher is able to establish rapport with students and provide a nurturing, caring environment conducive to personal development. The teacher should be a person who has a love for learning and an adequate command of basic communication skills, as well as reasonable knowledge and skills in a field of study. An effective teacher should also be able to activate student energy to work toward a more just and humane social order.

The content of the teacher education curriculum at Valley City State University reflects what effective teachers need to know and should be able to do. The curriculum is designed to prepare teacher candidates with the knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions to plan, implement, evaluate, and reflect on lessons for learning through coursework, mentorship, and a variety of field experiences. Tests for admission to teacher education, clinical field experiences, and tests for licensure contribute to the screening and evaluation of pre-service teachers.

The goals for Valley City State University student teachers are achieved through the policies and procedures presented in the student teaching handbook. By following the ideas and procedures presented in the student teaching handbook, it is expected that the candidate will successfully complete student teaching and continue to grow and develop toward becoming a more effective teacher.

Faculty & Staff

Meet our faculty and staff

Meet the people behind your program—the master balancers of research, teaching, and mentorship—who will support you throughout your time as a student.

Next Steps

You’re ready to study education at VCSU. What’s next? Visit the links below to become a Viking.