Accredited VCSU Programs for K-12 Teacher Licensure
Valley City State University appears in our ranking of the Top 20 Best MATs in Elementary Education Online.
At McFarland Hall, the School of Education & Graduate Studies offers a 120-credit, four-year B.S. in Elementary Education major overseen by Dr. Joan Oigawa Aus for Valley City State University Titans to complete 150 fieldwork hours before 12-week teaching placements like Jefferson Elementary or St. Catherine School. Chaired by Dr. Christopher Redfearn, the B.S. in Music Education builds a 120-credit, NASM-accredited path toward North Dakota certification with opportunities to join the Concert Choir, perform in Foss Hall, and attend the James Ployhar Honor Band Festival. Other undergrad degrees include the B.S. in Health Education, B.S. in Art Education, B.S. in History Education, B.S. in Mathematics Education, B.S. in Technology Education, and B.S. in English Education.
Online on Moodle, the M.Ed. in Teaching English Language Learners follows a 34-credit, part-time plan outlined by Dr. Greg Brister for current K-12 teachers to receive TESOL Endorsement after taking two courses like Second Language Theory each semester and completing the action research project. Directed by Dr. Heather Kvilvang, the Master of Arts in Teaching customizes 36-57 credits of CAEP-accredited courses from Adolescent Development to Student Exceptionalities with year-long internships for initial certification. Additional post-grad offerings include the M.Ed. in English Education, M.Ed. in Technology Education, M.Ed. in Elementary Education, M.Ed. in Library & Information Technologies, and M.Ed. in Teaching & Technology. There’s also a 15-credit STEM Education Certificate online.
About Valley City State University
Valley City State University originated on October 13, 1890, when Congregational Church of Christ minister J.W. Sifton opened the Valley City State Normal School for teacher prep. In 1892, President George McFarland moved it from the Valley City High School to its Old Main. By 1918, enrollment had skyrocketed from its inaugural class of 35 to 1,343 students. In 1921, the Board of Regents authorized the Normal School’s first four-year Bachelor of Arts. That Fall, it became the State Teachers College in Valley City. In 1940, Valley City graduated future Congressman and Secretary of the Interior Thomas Kleppe. In 1943, it joined the Navy V-12 Program and added programs beyond teaching. Accredited by the AACTE in 1948, it became Valley City State College in 1963. Twenty-four years later, the Valley City State University name was adopted. In 1996, President Ellen-Earle Chafee started a free laptop initiative and campus Wi-Fi network.
Endowed for $7.3 million, Valley City State University now employs 109 faculty teaching 1,404 undergrad and 143 post-grad Vikings in the North Dakota University System online or on its 64-acre Barnes County campus near the Sheyenne River with 35+ clubs like Kappa Delta Pi. In 2019, Valley City State won an AIA Distinguished Design Merit Award. In 2012, VCSU had the North Dakota Teacher Excellence Award for Technology Education recipient. Valley City State University accepted a 2015 NABC Academic Excellence Award too. The U.S. News & World Report ranked Valley City the 43rd best Midwest school with the 68th top social mobility. On Niche, VCSU boasts America’s 32nd best online studies, 221st safest campus, and 302nd top public education. Washington Monthly declared Valley City State University the 51st best regional value. WalletHub picked VCSU 85th for financial aid and 365th for outcomes.
Valley City State University Accreditation Details
On March 22, 2012, the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA) Institutional Actions Council voted to reaffirm the Level III accreditation status at Valley City State University through the next 2021-22 evaluation under President Alan D. LaFave, D.M.A., who received the Phi Beta Mu Distinguished Service Award. Located 700 miles southeast via Interstate 94 in Chicago, Illinois, this huge 19-state Heartland Region accreditor is recognized by the U.S. Education Department to review VCSU’s 39 undergrad and two graduate majors. Further, the Council on Accreditation for Educator Preparation (CAEP) accredited the School of Education & Graduate Studies in May 2016. The B.S. in Music Education was also approved by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) in 2018.
Valley City State University Application Requirements
Enrollment at Valley City State University is classified “non-competitive” by Peterson’s though only 339 of the 460 Fall 2018 applicants were chosen for 74 percent acceptance. First-year Titans seeking any B.S. in Education must complete high school with 13+ college-prep units or the GED. Cumulative GPAs of 2.0 or better are required. Freshmen need a minimum 18 ACT or 940 SAT composite score. The Class of 2022 presented an average 3.18 GPA, 21 ACT, and 1060 SAT mark. Declaring a School of Education major is reserved for sophomores with GPAs above 2.75. Passing the Praxis CORE Academic Skills for Educators test is prerequisite. Incoming Bachelor of Science transfers must hold 24+ eligible credits and 2.0 or higher GPAs. Foreign learners prove English fluency with at least 6.0 IELTS or 523 TOEFL pBT scores. Graduate programs mandate four-year bachelor’s completion with GPAs over 3.0. Lower grades require strong GRE or MAT scores. Master of Education cohorts must verify K-12 licensure.
Valley City State University conveniently has rolling admission for decisions in 3-5 business days anytime. Please note scholarship forms are only accepted until June 30th. International students must file before May 1st for Fall or October 1st for Spring. Post-grads must apply at least three weeks before semester start dates. Accordingly, complete the VCSU Application online with a $35 non-refundable fee via ePayment. Send official transcripts to 101 College Street SW in Valley City, ND 58072. Provide standardized tests using SAT/TOEFL code 6480 or ACT code 3216. Submit supplemental items, such as the residency form, MMR immunization verification, three recommendations, resume, teacher certification, and two-page written statement. Contact (800) 532-8641 or enrollment.services@vcsu.edu for help.
Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2019-20, Valley City State University is charging in-state B.S. in Education majors $5,884 annually. Minnesota residents pay $6,590 each year full-time. Non-resident bachelor’s tuition is $10,296 yearly. The Midwest Student Exchange Program drops pricing to $7,355 though. Undergrads cover the university and technology fees for $1,823. Living at the Barnes County campus’ dorms like Snoeyenbos Hall adds $6,560 for room and board. VCSU budgets $1,100 for textbooks and $3,578 for miscellaneous expenses. Annual undergrad attendance equals about $18,750 in-state or $28,290 out-of-state. Online bachelor’s students spend $489 per credit. The School of Education & Graduate Studies has an average full-time master’s tuition of $5,700. Expect post-grad student fees of $1,435 per year.
According to the NCES College Navigator, the Office of Financial Aid in McFarland Hall Room 219 links 99 percent of incoming full-time VCSU Vikings to tuition assistance averaging $6,078 apiece for $1.14 million combined. School of Education funds include the Alyce Meyers Kluksdahl Scholarship, Blanche Stewart Scholarship, Borchert Memorial Scholarship, Doris Evers Scholarship, Elizabeth Burns Shimota Scholarship, Ethel Hansen Scholarship, Hazel McBride Scholarship, John Leininger Memorial Scholarship, Lindstrom-McGregor Scholarship, Mary Stark Memorial Scholarship, Patricia Lundberg Scholarship, Ruth Edholm Scholarship, and Sharon Stites Memorial Scholarship. The President’s Scholarship gifts $4,000 annually to outstanding freshmen meeting the 27 ACT or 1240 SAT minimum. The $2,500 Innovator Award supports transfers with 30+ credits and GPAs above 3.5 from regionally accredited colleges. Federal resources, such as the Pell Grant or TEACH Grant, require FAFSA applications coded 003008. North Dakotans could also utilize the Teacher Shortage Loan Forgiveness Program, State Grant, Tribal Higher Education Grant, Wendschlag Memorial Scholarship, and more.
Continue reading about Valley City State University at the Teacher Education Program website.
