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Education

The following Central Methodist University programs of study have been approved by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Students who satisfactorily complete the programs of study and other degree requirements may be recommended to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) for educator certification.

Certification Area (Grade Level)

  • Early Childhood (Birth - Grade 3)
  • Elementary (1 - 6)
  • Middle School (5 - 9) - Choice of Language Arts, Mathematics, Science or Social Science

Secondary (9 - 12): Students seeking secondary certification in social science or technology/engineering will complete a Bachelor of Science in Education. All other students seeking secondary certification must complete a major in the area of certification with a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree with a Minor in Education. We offer secondary certification in the following areas:

  • Biology
  • Business
  • English
  • Mathematics
  • Social Science
  • Technology and Engineering

K - 12 Education

  • Instrumental Music
  • Special Education: Mild-Moderate Disabilities
  • Vocal Music

Other Routes to MO Teaching Certification

  •  Certification Only
  • Provisional Certification
  • Temporary Authorization Certification (TAC)

Certification Only
For students who already have a bachelor’s degree, they might choose to earn certification by taking only those courses needed for certification rather than earning another degree. The certification path will look different for each student depending on the undergraduate courses they have taken as well as the certification area they are pursuing. Contact the Division of Education to have a plan created for you.


Provisional Certification
When students are within 15 hours of earning their certification (through a traditional degree program or certification only) and are hired by a school in a position that is the same as their chosen certification program (e.g. Elementary, Middle School Language Arts, etc.), they may apply for a provisional certificate. This option is generally for students who have completed their programs but haven’t passed the state qualifying assessment, or students who are finishing their programs and have 15 or fewer hours remaining. If you or your hiring district believe you qualify for a provisional certificate, contact the Division of Education for more information.

TAC
The Temporary Authorization Certificate (TAC) is an alternative certification option through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) for individuals who wish to teach while pursuing teacher certification. The TAC is issued as a one-year, renewable certificate, and the teacher must teach under the TAC for a minimum of 2 years. To apply for a TAC, you must first be hired by a school district. That school district will then assist you in getting your TAC directly through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).  Requirements for the Temporary Authorization Certificate can be found on the DESE website under Temporary Authorization Certificate Requirements.   

Central Methodist offers coursework that meets the requirements for middle school, secondary and K-12 education programs. At CMU, we also offer advisor support through each step of the TAC plan. The TAC agreement is between the teacher, the hiring district/school, and DESE. Contact the Division of Education for more information.

Other Education Degrees

  • Educational Studies - no certification

It is important for all students who intend to pursue educator certification to examine certification standards and program of study requirements. Students should confer with their academic advisors and plan each semester of their programs. The lack of careful planning or late decision to enter the Educator Preparation Program may result in extended study.

Students who intend to prepare for educator certification can apply for formal admission to the program when they have earned 60 hours with a 2.0 Cumulative GPA, and completed PY210, PY223, and ED101/102. Students will also submit a self-assessment of their teaching dispositions along with two faculty/supervisor evaluations of the student's teaching dispositions. Students who have 60 hours may apply for admission even if all other requirements are not met. They would qualify for provisional admittance and could continue working on the other requirements for full admittance.

The Education Preparation Committee will determine whether an applicant will be admitted unconditionally, admitted provisionally, or not admitted based on established criteria. Information about these requirements will be distributed to students enrolled in ED101, Foundations of Education. Students who transfer credit in a course evaluated as equivalent to ED101 should consult with the Director of Teacher Education within their first semester of attendance to determine their status in the educator preparation program.

Educator Preparation candidates participate in selected professional education courses and student teaching experiences. Students must meet certain requirements before they will be allowed to register for ED454 and ED462. Students who have not met all of the standards below can appeal to the Director of Teacher Education and may be allowed to student teach due to the circumstances The requirements are:

  1. Full Admission to the Education Program
  2. At least one attempt on the state qualifying exam for certification in student's area of study Each campus may have an individual deadline for the attempt based on the student teaching placement process in that area.
  3. minimum GPAs required prior to student teaching and graduation: 2.0 GPA overall, 3.0 GPA in the content area, and 3.0 in professional education GPA (appeals can be made to the Director of Teacher Education).
  4. have a current substitute, provisional, or paraprofessional certificate through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
  5. current membership in SMSTA or SNEA (for liability insurance)
  6. student teaching application approval by the Educator Preparation Committee and
  7. a history of ethical academic conduct.

Students cannot register for any other courses concurrently with ED462 without permission from the Director of Teacher Education.

Alternative Clinical Practice

In accordance with Mo. Rev. Stat. § 168.400 (2005) and Mo. Code Regs. 5 CSR 20-400.330, Central Methodist University shall accept 2-year teacher assistant employment experiences in public or accredited nonpublic schools in lieu of the conventional student teaching requirement if the following conditions are met:

  1. The preservice student’s experience as a teacher assistant was concurrent with the student’s participation in the professional education program and in the same content area and grade range for which the students is seeking certification;
  2. The teacher assistant shall have conducted teacher activities comparable to those required for other pre-service education students in conventional student teaching placements and demonstrating similar competencies;
  3. The teacher with whom the teacher assistant served meets the qualifications for a cooperating teacher, as defined in the above mentioned regulation;
  4. The teacher with whom the teacher assistant served has been provided training for observing and evaluating the assistant’s teaching practice through the institution providing the assistant’s professional education program or through the school or district’s mentor training program; and
  5. The teacher assistant has been working with permission and under the authority of the principal of the school or a designee.

Contact the Director of Teacher Education for more information.

Professionalism and Ethical Behavior

Students working toward educator certification must act and dress in a professional manner when visiting or working in the classrooms of our public and private school partners. All educator preparation students will be involved in two different levels of security check processes. The first level (Freshman, Sophomore, Junior) involves security checks with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Missouri Division of Family Services, and the Missouri Sex Registry. Prior to student teaching, students must undergo an FBI Fingerprint Screen as well as the security checks previously mentioned. An arrest or conviction may disqualify a candidate for certification. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has the authority to refuse to issue a certificate.

Note: Any course that has a practicum requires an FCSR test; any practicum in an early childhood setting will require a TB test.