About

Earn a Minnesota teaching license and master's degree in two years.

WORK & LEARN SOUTHWEST is for individuals who are dedicated to education, have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, and are current or prospective employees of SouthWest Metro Intermediate District 288 or its 11 member districts. Participants will be employed as teachers of record or paraprofessionals by their school district while taking a combination of online and face-to-face (f2f) courses in a cohort model. Classes will take place at Shakopee High School through the University of St. Thomas.

YEAR ONE

Fall
Standards of Effective Practice
Professional Practices
Field Experiences on the Job

J-Term
Educational Equity & Inclusive Practices
Field Experiences on the Job

Spring
Literacy
Mild to Moderate Disability
Field Experiences on the Job

Summer
Standards of Effective Practice
Assessment
Field Experiences on the Job

YEAR TWO

Fall
Elementary Academic Interventions
Secondary Academic Interventions
Student Teaching on the Job

J-Term
Disability Methods
Field Experiences on the Job

Spring
Behavior and Learning Environments
Student Teaching on the Job
Ed-TPA

Summer
Master's Degree Add-on

Add-On Licenses:
Autism Spectrum Disorders Methods & Clinical Practice
Emotional Behavioral Disorders & Clinical Coursework

PROGRAM COST

Initial Behavioral Strategist License Coursework	31 credits
Add-on Master's Degree	3 credits
Add-on Autism Spectrum Disorders License Coursework	8 credits
Add-on Emotional Behavioral Disorders License Coursework	8 credits

University of St. Thomas MA Degree is approximately $660 per credit. Cost of books is an additional fee and varies by course. Participants are encouraged to apply for financial aid. A tuition reimbursement program may be available through your District.

GET STARTED!
Contact your District's Special Education Administrator and APPLY NOW!

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Prices listed are for the Fall 2021 Cohort session. Prices are subject to change per University of St. Thomas.

The Work & Learn Program aims to recruit, prepare, retain, and support highly qualified paraprofessionals and effective teachers from under-represented backgrounds who reflect our diverse student populations in SouthWest Metro Intermediate District 288 and its member districts. It provides an affordable, accessible, and accelerated program to earn a Minnesota teaching license and master’s degree in two years.

SouthWest InterMediate District 288 includes 11 member districts: 108 Central, 110 Waconia, 111 Watertown-Mayer, 112 Eastern Carver County, 716 Belle Plaine, 717 Jordan, 719 Prior Lake-Savage, 720 Shakopee, 721 New Prague, 877 Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose, and 2905 Tri-City United.