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We have ceased accepting applications for the FasTrack PostBac Initiative for Fall 2012 and Spring 2013 at this time.  Please contact the FasTrack office (800-723-3567), check the FasTrack website for updates on the program's status, or contact Dr. Roxanne Pickle, program coordinator (rpickle@bemidjistate.edu).

FasTrack PostBac Initiative (Minnesota Licensure)

FasTrack is a hybrid/online cohort initiative, which assists those individuals wishing to teach to gain licensure in the area of their Bachelors degree.  Participants must hold a degree or have completed significant course work in one of the following areas:

• Social Studies
• Science (all areas)
• Communications Arts and Literature
• Math
• Music
• Physical Education
• Health
• Modern Languages (Spanish)
• We also partner with Special Education, which you may enter with any undergraduate degree.

For the most current information, visit the FasTrack website.

Students seeking a Special Education license, but do NOT have a MN standard teaching license or who may be teaching under a limited license renewed yearly by the Department of Education must first take the Standards of Effective Practice (SEP) courses available in the FasTrack program (on line) or at Bemidji State University (on campus). After successful completion of the foundation SEP courses in semester one, the student will meet with an advisor to create a plan of study for special education licensure.No special education courses may be taken at BSU until after the 1^st semester of SEP courses.

Semester 1:

3100 Intro to Foundations of Public School Education (3 credits)

3110 Educational Psychology (3 credits)

Semester 2:

ED 3140 Human Relations (3 credits)

ED 3350 Pedagogy (3 credits)

ED3600/5600 Study of Learners with Special Needs may be taken in the same semester as Pedagogy

Semester 3:

ED 3780 Adaptations and Management (3 credits)

ED 4799 Professional Teacher (1 credit)

ED 4737 Content Area Reading (may be offered in the summer) (3 credits)

HLTH 3400/5400 Health & Drugs in Society* (may be taken any time after semester 1) (2 credits)

After Semester 3, students may take the remaining Core Skills courses.

These are ED 3640/5640 (3 credits), ED 3650/5650 (3 credits) and ED 4715/5715 (3 credits)

Students are required to take the majority of the SEP courses before beginning the MS in Special Education course work.It is recommended that students take their SEP courses at the undergraduate level.All Special Education courses should be taken at the graduate level if pursuing the MS in Special Education in addition to licensure.

In special circumstances, students may be permitted to take additional courses in special education after the first semester. However, this must be approved by the advisor of record of the student. Under no circumstances should a special education student take the Characteristics of Learners sequence (ED 5620, ED5630) without first completing the SEP sequence. Students should wait to take any 6000 level courses until after formal acceptance into the graduate program or completion of all SEP courses.

*Students seeking a Special Education license also do a 15 week student teaching experience for an additional 12 credits. Please note that the 33-34 credits for SLD/EBD licensure are beyond the 23 credits in the FasTrack SEP courses.

Contacts:

FasTrack/Special Education Initiative: Dr. Roxanne Pickle (rpickle@bemidjistate.edu)

Graduate Special Students:Dr. Janne Lillestol (jlillestol@bemidjistate.edu)