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) 

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:

K - 12 Education 

Other Education Degrees

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 met the ACT requirements or passed all parts of the MoGEA, earned 60 hours with a 2.0 Cumulative GPA, and completed PY210, PY223, and ED101/102 with a grade of C or better in each class. Students will also submit a self-assessment of their teaching dispositions along with two faculty/supervisor evaluations of the student's teaching dispositions.

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.

Students should meet the ACT requirement (22 composite with no subtest lower than 18) or pass all parts of the MoGEA (see below) by the time they reach Junior standing (60 hours.) Enrollment in the program may be affected if this is not completed.

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. The requirements are:

  1. ACT requirement or passing score on all sections of the MoGEA.
        Reading 183
        Writing 167
        Mathematics 180
        Science/Social Studies 188
  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). Students may have no grade lower than a C in any course required for certification, and
  4. 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. 

CMU has a student organization for Education majors. Student Missouri State Teachers Association (SMSTA) was founded in 1947. All students who are interested in a career in education must join a professional organization by their senior year. The Missouri State Teachers Association is the sponsoring organization. (Advisor: pending)

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

Majors and Minors

Major Minor

BSE, Technology and Engineering BSE, Early Childhood BSE, Elementary Education BSE, Middle School Special Education, Mild-Moderate Disabilities K-12 BS in Educational Studies Education Minor
Courses

ED101 - Foundations of Education, Diversity, and ELL - 2 Semester Hours

ED102 - Field Experience I - 1 Semester Hours

ED103 - Child Development - 2 Semester Hours

ED105 - Field Experience II - 1 Semester Hours

ED122 - Education Technology - 2 Semester Hours

ED204 - Utilizing Family and Community Resources - 3 Semester Hours

ED206 - Infant and Toddler Curriculum Methods and Materials - 2 Semester Hours

ED207 - Infant and Toddler Curriculum Methods and Materials Practicum - 2 Semester Hours

ED260 - Special Problems - 1 Semester Hours

ED264 - Child Health - 2 Semester Hours

ED290 - Special Topics - 1 Semester Hours

ED303 - Methods and Materials for Teaching Content Classes - 3 Semester Hours

ED304 - Methods and Materials for Teaching Content Classes Practicum - 1 Semester Hours

ED308 - Organization and Administration of Early Childhood Programs - 3 Semester Hours

ED313 - Classroom Management - 3 Semester Hours

ED314 - History, Philosophy, and Curriculum of Middle-Level Education - 3 Semester Hours

ED315 - Reading and Writing with Young Children - 4 Semester Hours

ED318 - Reading Assessment and Instruction - 3 Semester Hours

ED319 - Reading Assessment and Instruction Practicum - 1 Semester Hours

ED320 - Teaching Reading and Writing in the Middle School - 3 Semester Hours

ED324 - Methods of Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary Middle School - 3 Semester Hours

ED326 - Childrens Literature - 3 Semester Hours

ED327 - Creative Arts - 3 Semester Hours

ED329 - Emergent Language - 2 Semester Hours

ED330 - Curriculum Methods and Materials in Early Childhood Education - 2 Semester Hours

ED331 - Curriculum Methods and Materials in Early Childhood Education Practicum - 1 Semester Hours

ED332 - Screening, Diagnosis, and Planning Instruction for Young Children - 2 Semester Hours

ED333 - Screening, Diagnosis, and Planning Instruction for Young Children Practicum - 1 Semester Hours

ED337 - Classroom Organization and Curriculum Design - 2 Semester Hours

ED340 - Implementing a Business Education Program - 3 Semester Hours

ED341 - Coordination of Cooperative Education - 3 Semester Hours

ED350 - Education Methodology - 2 Semester Hours

ED360 - Special Problems - 1 Semester Hours

ED360MU - Elementary School Music Methods - 3 Semester Hours

ED370 - Teaching Methods in the Content Area - 2 Semester Hours

ED375 - Autism Spectrum Disorder - 3 Semester Hours

ED376 - Methods and Materials for Teaching Music Classes - 3 Semester Hours

ED378 - Applied Behavior Analysis for Educators - 3 Semester Hours

ED390 - Special Topics - 1 Semester Hours

ED444 - Early Childhood Experience - 3 Semester Hours

ED453 - Education as a Profession - 2 Semester Hours

ED454 - Student Teaching Seminar Methods - 2 Semester Hours

ED462 - Supervised Student Teaching - Semester Hours

ED468 - Child Development Internship - 3 Semester Hours

ED470 - Instructional Interventions for Students with Reading Deficits - 3 Semester Hours

ED471 - Reading and Writing in the Content Area - 3 Semester Hours

SE203 - Introduction to Special Education - MMB K-12 - 3 Semester Hours

SE223 - Career Development - 2 Semester Hours

SE233 - Special Education Processes - 2 Semester Hours

SE311 - Curriculum Methods MMD K-12 - 4 Semester Hours

SE313 - Counseling in Special Education - 2 Semester Hours

SE321 - Diagnostic and Prescriptive Procedures - 3 Semester Hours

SE340 - Mathematics Instruction for Special Needs Students - 2 Semester Hours

SE341 - Literacy Instruction for Special Needs Students - 2 Semester Hours

SE345 - Classroom and Behavior Managements - 3 Semester Hours

Last updated: 02/16/2022