School of Education and Leadership

�鶹��ƵAPK School of Education Alumni Student, Nouly, holding a book in front of wall

The region's leader in teacher preparation

Become a teacher who shapes the world. At �鶹��ƵAPK, you'll grow from an educator into a practitioner, researcher, and leader-advocate. We guide you on your professional journey, whether you’re earning a first or additional teaching license, a certificate, a master’s, or a doctorate.

Our innovative curriculum prepares you to engage learners in different contexts and communities with a rich understanding of the various systems that affect your practice. You'll graduate primed to shape a more equitable, sustainable world from your first day with your students.

When you enroll in the School of Education and Leadership, not only do you join a network of thousands of education practitioners in K-12 schools, higher education, and other educational organizations in the region, but you also join a school known for its excellence in teacher preparation and continuing education. That reputation is born out in our graduates, who, each year, line the list of Minnesota Teacher of the Year finalists and are consistently named Minnesota's top educator. Awardees include:

2015 Minnesota Teacher of the Year, Amy Hewett-Olatunde MAEd '02, EdD '15
2019 Minnesota Teacher of the Year, Jessica Davis MAT '09
2023 Minnesota Teacher of the Year, Michael Houston MAEd '11

Graduate program offerings

Graduate programs

From an EdD, Educational Specialist, Administrative Licensure, or master’s degrees in education, environmental education, literacy education, and TESOL, �鶹��ƵAPK has the right program for you.

Graduate Education Programs

Teaching license programs

Whether you're interested in becoming a teacher or are already a teacher looking to add areas of expertise, �鶹��ƵAPK’s initial licensure and diverse additional licensure programs are ready for your needs.

Teaching License Programs

Graduate certificates

You'll learn quickly in these shorter programs and put your new skills and knowledge to work right away. If you earn a certificate on its own, you may be able to apply it to a future graduate degree.

Graduate Education Certificates

Undergraduate program offerings

Education major and co-major

With an education major or co-major, you'll get prepared for your first teaching license in areas such as elementary education and special education.

Education major

STEM Education major

A STEM Education major prepares you to teach in the many areas of STEM in middle and high schools, including biology, chemistry, general science, life science, mathematics, and physics.

STEM Education Major

Education minor

Build an interdisciplinary toolkit with select education courses to enhance your talents in another field.

Education minor

Environmental and climate education minor

Learn how to develop, teach, and lead environmental programs while developing rich environmental literacy and communication strategies that you can use to convey important concepts to diverse audiences.

Environmental and Climate Education Minor

Leadership minor

Leadership ability is one of the top skill sets employers are looking for. With this minor, you’ll identify and develop your unique leadership style.

Leadership minor

Centers and partnerships

The School of Education and Leadership not only provides a wide array of undergraduate and graduate program offerings. It is a leader in the field of education with partnerships, collaborations, and academic centers at the forefront of innovation in education.

Our partners include:

Historic collaboration with �鶹��ƵAPK Elementary

�鶹��ƵAPK and �鶹��ƵAPK Elementary School have been working together for more than 100 years to change education and lives. In 1991, the �鶹��ƵAPK to �鶹��ƵAPK Collaboration formalized its work and became the first university-elementary partnership of its kind.

�鶹��ƵAPK students actively participate in academic, athletic, and relational learning experiences in a public elementary school environment. This one-of-a-kind experience creates meaningful opportunities for learning, reflection, and growth for everyone involved. Our collaborative lab school partnership centers on six primary programs:

Academic tutoring
Academic and athletic pairings
Hand in Hand mentorship program
Snelling Connection writing and communications program
Guided practicum teaching clinicals
Fellowships

Get more Info on �鶹��ƵAPK to �鶹��ƵAPK Collaboration

Centers

Adult Basic Education Teaching and Learning Advancement System

The (ATLAS) provides resources and professional development to advance adult education throughout Minnesota.

Center for Excellence in Urban Teaching

The Center for Excellence in Urban Teaching (CEUT) was created to train and support teachers in applying proven culturally relevant pedagogical practices in urban and urban-like schools to promote increased educational success for all youth in Minnesota.

Center for Global Environmental Education

The (CGEE) fosters environmental literacy and stewardship in citizens of all ages and is a resource for inspired learning and educational tools and technology.