Phase 1 – Apply to BSU and the DLiTE program

Apply to BSU

  • Submit the Bemidji State University Application Online
    • For Type of Major, select “online”
    • For Intended Area of Study, select “Elementary Education”
    • For Intended Degree/Award, select “Bachelor of Science”
  • Submit official transcripts of all schools attended (BSU retrieves Minnesota State college and university transcripts)

Then apply to DLiTE

    • Minimum transfer/cumulative GPA of 2.5* for automatic DLiTE admission
    • Transfer an AA Liberal Arts or higher degree, or complete your Minnesota Transfer Curriculum or complete BSU’s Core Curriculum requirements.

Please complete the following items

            • Submit a 500 word response to the prompt “Why Teach?”
            • Submit a letter of recommendation
              Attach your essay/response and letter of recommendation as separate files directly to: dlite@bemidjistate.edu *Be sure your BSU Student ID or StarID is included on all attachments.

*Applicants with a GPA lower than 2.5 will be considered. Please ensure your essay and professional recommendation are of high quality for full consideration to the program.

Upon meeting the admission requirementsand completing the steps above, you will be emailed a DLiTE acceptance letter. If you are missing any of the above requirements, we will notify you of that as well. After being accepted into DLiTE, please continue on to Phase 2 (see below).

Phase 2 – After being accepted into the DLiTE program

*Teacher Mentor– Have your mentor complete the DLiTE Mentor Application form. You must have a mentor prior to starting classes in DLiTE. Mentor selection: No family or friends, minimum three years experience, currently teaching in your area in a K-6 public school. Make certain your mentor has the Principal-Mentor Teacher Responsibilities Letter which also lists the mentor requirements.

*Student Liability Insurance– All DLiTE students must purchase student liability insurance. Even if you are employed with a school district, you must have student insurance.

  • You will be in multiple classrooms and must be covered in case of an accident or harmful occurrence to you or a student. Every semester, all DLiTE students will be in the classroom, so you must obtain liability insurance for each academic year that you are active in the program.
  • The easiest and usually cheapest option for students is to buy from Education Minnesota. The Education Minnesota Student Program (EMSP) is a pre-professional organization for college and university students planning to be teachers. As a requirement to begin DLiTE, you need to purchase EMSP liability insurance before stepping into the classroom for your student teaching experiences.
  • EMSP insurance is $25 and is valid from September 1 to August 31 each school year.
  • Please click on the following link to purchase liability insurance. Put the address that you would like your Education Minnesota Membership card to be mailed to you. Be sure to leave the complimentary Instructor Magazine box checked. This is a free, one year subscription to this magazine. EMSP also offers professional resources for teacher candidates‚ review the website for options.
  • Please send verification that you purchased Student Liability Insurance to our program manager at dlite@bemidjistate.edu prior to attending the first face-to-face start-up/orientation. If you do not purchase and retain Student Liability Insurance from Education Minnesota you will not be able to participate and continue in DLiTE courses and activities.
  • It is your responsibility to renew your student insurance each academic year.

ALL face-to-face (F2F) sessions are mandatory per BSU’s agreement with the MN Board of Teaching.

If English is not your native language, you must submit an official copy of your TOEFL scores directly to Bemidji State Admissions from ETS. Minimum score of 500 (173 on Computer-Based Test, 61 on the Internet-Based Test) is required for undergraduates and 550 (213 on Computer Based Test, 80 on the Internet-Based Test) for graduate students. TOEFL has updated information on worldwide test availability list that indicates, by city, dates when seats are available for both the TOEFL iBT and paper-based test. TOEFL test code for Bemidji State University: 6676.