School of Education

The school offers exciting undergraduate programs in the areas of elementary/secondary/special education and e-learning, health and physical education and psychology. Graduate programs are offered in counseling, educational leadership, teaching and learning and educational studies.

For more than 100 years, NSU has been preparing successful educators and has a richly deserved reputation for turning out teachers. The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (CAEP) has accredited our teacher preparation program through 2021.

Additionally, our psychology, counseling, human performance and fitness and sports marketing and leadership programs make us stand out. High-quality instruction is coupled with hands-on opportunities for internships, lab experiences and service to the community.

Northern’s School of Education is divided into three departments:

• Teacher Education
• Health and Physical Education
• Psychology and Counseling

Knowledge is key to turning students into teachers. So is experience. At Northern, you’ll receive training and hands-on experience using the latest in classroom technology. We provide more opportunities for direct student contact than any other teacher education program.

Unique Opportunities

• Reading Clinic - NSU is the only South Dakota state university to offer a reading clinic practicum for elementary, secondary or special education majors. As a tutor under the supervision of a reading specialist, you'll have the opportunity to help children achieve meaningful growth in their reading ability.
• Rural Student Teaching Placement Project - This program places student teachers in small South Dakota towns. You’ll be supported throughout this intimate and rewarding experience with supervision, training and stipends from Northern.
• Nora Staael Evert Human Performance and Fitness Lab - The human performance lab provides opportunities for exercise science research, training and assessments for the campus and local community. Graduate and undergraduate students learn and apply knowledge with hands-on training in class and through individual and collaborative research, including theses. Campus and local community members may obtain health-, fitness-, or performance-oriented assessments. Learn more about the lab below:
  

  Staael Evert Lab Video