Education
MCTC's Education program will introduce students to the special challenges and opportunities of urban teaching and prepare students to transfer and obtain a four-year bachelor's degree in education.
The program--the only two-year pre-professional urban teacher program in Minneapolis--offers a curriculum that examines knowledge, engages in reflection, and values diverse urban experiences. During the program, students will learn to practice and model advocacy and activism by coaching young people and participating in cohort and cooperative learning projects. (In a cohort, groups of students move through their coursework together in a connected, supportive and intimate learning environment.)
Instructors with urban teaching experience will teach how to examine personal socialization, understand and value different ethnic cultures, conduct and document community-based research, prepare an urban school research profile, and develop the teaching skills needed in a complex and diverse urban school environment. Students will also develop through involvement in Public Achievement the skills and attitudes necessary to effect positive change in urban school settings.
MCTC works in partnership with urban communities and urban schools. As a result, these studies go beyond the classroom, allowing students to work with urban learners in the elementary and secondary schools. In addition, by the end of the program, students will have created an electronic portfolio highlighting achievements in the program. The Education program has articulation agreements with other four-year colleges and universities (many of them local); however, because of a special relationship with our partners at Metropolitan State University, students have the opportunity to earn both an A.S. and B.S. degrees (as well as a teaching license) at the MCTC-Metropolitan State University downtown Minneapolis campus.
Degrees, diplomas and certificates
- Urban Teacher Program A.S. Degree
- articulation: B.A., Urban Teacher Program, Metropolitan State University
Refer to the 2009-10 College Catalog for the requirements to degrees, diplomas and/or certificates available through the Education program.
Read MCTC's articulation agreements with other colleges and universities.
Faculty/staff listing
Frequently asked questions
- What is MCTC's Urban Teacher Program?
- Teachers are in great demand in urban Minnesota schools. To encourage more students to consider a teaching career in urban schools, Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC) has partnered with Inver Hills Community College, Metropolitan State University, and the Minneapolis and Saint Paul Public Schools to provide a specialized, 64-credit Associate in Arts degree with a focus on urban teacher education.
- Why do teachers need specific training to teach in urban schools?
- Teachers in urban schools work with students who have a variety of needs and who come from many different backgrounds. The Urban Teacher Program will give you the skills necessary to work with a diverse student body.
- When are classes scheduled?
- UTP Classes are offered in daytime, afternoon and evening blocks.
- How long is the program and where does it lead?
- To obtain a Minnesota teaching license, you are required to complete a four-year degree before submitting an application for licensure. The Urban Teacher Program provides the first two years (plus any additional brush-up coursework) of a four-year degree in education with an emphasis on urban teaching. UTP graduates will be prepared to transfer to Metropolitan State University or another area four-year college to complete the last two years of a baccalaureate degree in elementary (grades K-8) or secondary (grades 9-12) education. UTP graduates who want to work in the public school system before completing their four-year degree will be qualified to work as Associate Educators or Child Development Technicians.
- What kind of support is available for students in the program?
- Financial aid (grants, loans, and work-study positions on campus) and scholarships are available for this program. Scholarship information is available from Marnie Anderson at (612)659-6313. If you need help filling out your financial aid forms, you can make an appointment at the Educational Opportunity Center on campus at (612)659-6543.
- What will I study?
- At the heart of UTP is a series of courses that will introduce you to the many exciting challenges and rewards of an urban teaching career. Each semester, participants will be divided into "learning communities" of no more than 25 students, and will take a series of classes together. Through UTP, you will learn to use a variety of new technologies effectively, and to apply these technologies to your classroom teaching. You will also learn innovative teaching styles and strategies as well as methods for measuring the learning success of students in the urban classroom. Other UTP highlights include:
· an affordable way to complete the first two years of a four-year education
· a chance to create an electronic portfolio highlighting your achievements in the UTP program
· an opportunity to learn about many different ethnic cultures while taking classes on the most diverse college campus in Minnesota
· support and encouragement from mentors who guide you through the program
- What if I have previous coursework that applies to the UTP program?
- Your previous coursework will be evaluated by an MCTC counselor to determine if any previous credits can transfer into the UTP program.
- What is the job market for teaching graduates?
- After you have completed the UTP program, the last two years of your baccalaureate degree, and licensure, you will find a wealth of job opportunities in the Minneapolis and Saint Paul Public School systems. Minnesota does not face an overall teacher shortage; however, the state is experiencing a shortage of teachers in these specialized areas:
* Physical Sciences
* Mathematics
* Industrial Arts
* Special Education
* Family and Consumer Science
* Bilingual / English as a Second Language
* Home Economics
* Computer Science, and in teachers who are competent in the integration of technology in teaching and learning
Teacher shortages have also been reported in the areas of:
* Music
* Library / Media Specialists
* Business Education
* Agricultural Education
Over one-half of Minnesota's teaching force is located in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. Most retirements will occur there, leaving a huge need for urban teachers, including teachers of color.
For more information, see the article, "Teacher Shortages: Some Highlights and Talking Points," in the Urban Teacher Program Orientation Manual for 2004-2005 (pages 51-52). The article was written by Pam Wanga, the System Director for Teacher Education Collaboration, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU), and includes a list of References.
