Teacher Education

Faculty:
Craig - Chair, Augspurger, Durborow, Gober, Goswick, Heavin, Hicklin, Hull, Locher, Mascher, Neugebauer, Rice, Schisler, Stegall, and Vieselmeyer
Taylor Hall 228 • 417-625-9309

The mission of the Teacher Education Department is to develop reflective educators for a global society.

Vision

The MSSU Teacher Education faculty and staff are dedicated to developing competent teachers who will incorporate into their classrooms a strong foundation of knowledge and pedagogy; a lifelong love of teaching and learning; and motivation to improve practice through reflection, self-study and professional development. It is our goal to assure all candidates become ethical classroom practitioners, cognizant of the need to help all students reach their full learning potential.

All Teacher Education programs have been approved by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

Teacher Education

The descriptions of the Teacher Education programs and the requirements that are listed for each program in Teacher Education in this catalog are subject to change during the period that this catalog is in use as required by external agencies. Candidates in the program will be alerted through the advising process as changes are made by the State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), legislative and regulatory bodies and accrediting agencies. Teacher Education candidates are responsible for their programs of study. They are encouraged to obtain degree plan sheets for the program they are pursuing and work closely with their advisors.

Eligibility for current certification is a requirement for graduation. Transfer students with a Missouri Associate of Arts degree will need to meet several MSSU General Education/Core 42 Requirements. The Assistant Teacher Certification Officer, Taylor Hall 221, must complete a transcript evaluation as the general education requirements are not automatically complete for certification.

The Teacher Education Program consists of the Teacher Education Department, Arts & Science faculty, the Teacher Education Advisory Council and CAEP sub-committees. The Teacher Education Department oversees all Teacher Education programs and is specifically responsible for the elementary education program grades 1 through 6; early childhood education program, birth through grade 3; middle school program, grades 5 through 9; special education programs, grades K through 12 and English Language Learners, grades K through 12.

The Dean of the School of Education is the chief spokesperson for the Teacher Education program and in this capacity is the chief administrator responsible for the Teacher Education programs. The Dean serves under the direction of the President of the University and the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs.

The Teacher Education Program defines the role of the teacher as a reflective decision maker. In this role, the teacher must make decisions about pedagogical design and lesson design. Teachers must think critically, formulate decisions related to the multiple roles of teaching for its successful achievement and become reflective educators for a global society.

Preparation for teaching includes professional knowledge, skills and dispositions that have been gathered from research, reported effective practices, learned societies in such areas as human growth and development, learning theory, assessment, cultural diversity and special needs, curriculum content, psychological, sociological, historical and philosophical foundations, principles of effective instruction and school effectiveness.

In order to be an effective educational decision maker, the teacher must possess certain knowledge, cognitive abilities and pedagogical skills. Program outcomes are the current Missouri Standards for Teachers

The teacher candidate understands the central concepts, structures, and tools of inquiry of the discipline(s) and creates learning experiences that make these aspects of subject matter meaningful and engaging for students.
The teacher candidate understands how students learn, develop, and differ in their approaches to learning. The teacher candidate provides learning opportunities that are adapted to diverse learners and support the intellectual, social, and personal development of all students.
The teacher candidate recognizes the importance of long-range planning and curriculum development. The teacher candidate develops, implements, and evaluates curriculum based upon standards and student needs.
The teacher candidate uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage students’ critical thinking, problem solving, and performance skills including instructional resources.
The teacher candidate uses an understanding of individual and group motivation and behavior to create a learning environment that encourages positive active engagement in learning, positive social interaction, and self-motivation.
The teacher candidate models effective verbal, nonverbal and media communication techniques with students and parents to foster active inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interaction in the classroom.
The teacher candidate understands and uses formative and summative assessment strategies to assess the learner’s progress, uses assessment data to plan ongoing instruction, monitors the performance of each student, and devises instruction to enable students to grow and develop.
The teacher candidate is a reflective practitioner who continually assesses the effects of choices and actions on others. The teacher actively seeks out opportunities to grow professionally in order to improve learning for all students.
The teacher candidate has effective working relationships with students, parents, school colleagues, and community members.

Admission to the Teacher Education Program

After the candidate declares a major in Teacher Education, two levels of admission to the Teacher Education Program exist.

The first level is application for tentative admission, which may be after the candidate has declared a teacher education major and successfully completed 60 semester hours of prescribed course work or department chair approval.

Students must have tentative admittance before courses can be taken in professional education. Courses with an EDUC prefix cannot be taken until the Junior Block (EDUC 0321 , EDUC 0329 , & EDUC 0423 ) has been completed.

EXCEPTIONS: EDUC 0100 , EDUC 0280 , EDUC 0302 , EDUC 0305 , EDUC 0315 , EDUC 0316 , EDUC 0348 , EDUC 0380 , EDUC 0381 , and EDUC 0387 should be taken prior to the Junior Block. EDUC 0385 and EDUC 0422 may be taken concurrently with the Junior Block classes. Students may take EDUC 0480 (concurrent enrollment with Junior Block) rather than EDUC 380.

Qualifications for tentative admission include the following:

Have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 in all course work. Additional department/content requirements may apply.
Have a composite ACT enhanced score of 20 (for candidates with an SAT score see the department of Advising, Counseling and Testing Services for conversion). Residual ACT test cost: $65. An ACT super score of 17 may qualify for an approved waiver, see your Teacher Education advisor.
All applicants must complete a required background check, receive clearance and obtain a substitute teaching certificate.
Complete and submit an online application.

When candidates attain these qualifications, they will receive tentative admission to the Teacher Education program and subsequent notified. At this point all applicants must complete a required background check, receive clearance, and obtain a substitute teaching certificate.

The second level is formal admission, which is granted after the candidate successfully completes the eight credit hour Junior Block: EDUC 0321 , Microteaching; EDUC 0329 , Pedagogical Theory, Methods and Practices; and EDUC 0423 , Classroom Management. Candidates are approved by the Teacher Education faculty.

The candidate must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75. If at any point in the program a candidate’s GPA drops below accepted levels, the candidate will be dismissed from the Teacher Education program.

Grades below a ‘C’ in professional education courses will not be accepted for the degree requirements in Teacher Education. These classes are listed in Degree Works as supporting requirements, professional education, and content knowledge. Specific examples include:.

The following list are courses at MSSU that must have a grade no lower than a ‘C’.

A) ALL “EDUC” prefix classes

B) Psychology classes:

PSY 0100 - General Psychology
PSY 0310 - Educational Psychology

C) Elementary Education Requirements:

GEOG 0111 - World Regional Geography 3

ECON 0101 - Economics of Social Issues 3

MATH 0119 - Math for Elementary Teachers I 3 (or equivalent)

MATH 0120 - Math for Elementary Teachers II 3

ENG 0325 - Children’s Literature 3

ART 0220 - Art for the Elementary School Teacher 2

MUS 0332 - Music for the Elementary School 1

KINE 0311 - Physical Education for the Elementary School 2

KINE 0370 - School Health Education 2

GEOL 0211 - Fundamentals of Earth and Space Science 4

Candidates qualifying for formal admission to the program will be notified in writing. The date of formal admission will be entered on the candidate’s record by the Registrar. Candidates who have not met the criteria will also be notified and corrective measures suggested.

Admission to the Professional Semester

After completion of EDUC 0329 , Pedagogical Theory, Methods and Practices, but before the professional semester, candidates in early childhood education, elementary education, middle school education and special education take approximately 26 or more hours of work in professional education and in a teaching specialty. During this time, the candidate must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better and a GPA of 3.0 or better in professional education and content knowledge areas (See DESE Matrix). The candidate must earn a ‘C’ or better in all professional education courses and must retake courses in which a grade lower than ‘C’ is earned. Additional department/content requirements may apply. The candidate is expected to maintain those personal and professional requirements that were met as part of the admission requirements to teacher education. Requirements that must be met prior to admission to the professional semester are:

Be fully admitted to the teacher education program.
Have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 and a GPA of 3.0 in professional education and content knowledge areas of DESE approved coursework.
Have all previous course work completed at the time of student teaching.
Have a completed application for student teaching on file at least one semester prior to the student teaching semester.
Have a grade of ‘C’ or better in each professional education course.
Show proof of liability coverage.
Hold a current substitute certificate.
Take the Missouri Content Assessment (MoCA-$30 for the degree-related certification area. Fees and review materials available at Missouri Educator Gateway Assessments www.mo.nesinc.com.

The professional semester is designed for candidates who have met all of the requirements for student teaching at Missouri Southern State University. Attendance is required at an orientation held the semester prior to the professional semester. This orientation is held the second week of the semester. Attendance is also required at professional semester seminars in conjunction with EDUC 0432 Critical Issues course.

Note: In accordance with Mo. Rev. Stat. 168.400 (2005) and Mo. Code Regs. 5 CSR 80-805.40. Alternative clinical practice in lieu of conventional student teaching. Candidates must see the Teacher Education Clinical Field Director for eligibility requirements. All other university and departmental requirements for graduation still apply.

Graduation Requirements

In order to graduate from the Teacher Education Program, the candidate must successfully complete the following exit requirements, in addition to all other academic requirements of the University:

Demonstrate mastery of pedagogical knowledge and skills found in the Missouri Standards for Teachers.
Pass the Missouri Educator Evaluation System (MEES) assessment.
Have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher
Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in professional education and content knowledge areas of DESE approved coursework. Additional department/content requirements may apply.
Pass the Missouri Content Assessment (MoCA) for the degree related certification area. Fees and review materials available at Missouri Educator Gateway Assessments www.mo.nesinc.com.
Successfully complete the professional semester requirements.
Complete the exit interview.
Clear the state required background check (certification only).
Be eligible for current Missouri teacher certification.

*If a student does not earn the current Missouri passing score on the Missouri Educator Evaluation System (MEES), they will earn a ‘no credit’ in student teaching. They will be required to retake the 10-hour student teaching course (EDUC 442, EDUC 444, EDUC 452, EDUC 462, or EDUC 464) in full and can opt to retake EDUC 432 Critical Issues (if the student earned lower than an A). If the student earned an A in EDUC 432, they can make a request to the Teacher Education Department Chair to enroll in a 2-hour independent study to make a 12-hour schedule.

Advisement

Advisors will be assigned to candidates following admission to the University. For those without advisors, freshmen with declared majors in teacher education will have a Teacher Education advisor assigned as part of EDUC 0100 , Introduction to Teacher Education I. In addition, all secondary Teacher Education majors will have advisors in their content area, due to the many specific course requirements and entrance and exit requirements for Teacher Education. Effective academic advisement is a partnership, with advisees taking responsibility for course work and degree completion.

All students who enter Missouri Southern as freshmen teacher education candidates are strongly recommended to take EDUC 0100 - Introduction to Teacher Education I , during their freshman year. EDUC 0100 is a prerequisite for EDUC 0280 Education in a Global Society.

Psychology Requirements

All teacher education majors must take PSY 0100 General Psychology and PSY 0310 Educational Psychology.

Certification

Candidates majoring in elementary education, elementary education/early childhood education, elementary education/ special education, middle school education, secondary education or K-12 education, who successfully complete the requirements for this degree will be recommended to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for the Initial Professional Certificate (IPC). This is a probationary certificate that is granted for four years. Additional certification is granted by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Candidates with degrees from MSSU or another institution who wish to be certified in the State of Missouri must meet all of the requirements that are set forth in this catalog for the BSE degree. All programs are designed to exceed minimal requirements for certification.

Exceptions to the General Education/Core 42 Requirements:

Refer to Degree Works and the plan of study for exceptions specific to your teaching area.

Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE) Elementary Education

The BSE in Elementary Education consists of three pathways: Elementary Education (grades 1-6) with Early Childhood Education (birth-grade 3), Elementary Education (grades 1-6) with Special Education (K-12), and Elementary Education (grades 106) with English Language Learners ELL (K-12).

English Language Learners-ELL (grades K-12)

Any BSE Elementary (grades 1-6), Middle School (grades 5-9), or Secondary (grades 9-12 or K-12) graduate is eligible to add ELL certification.

Programs

Major Programs (Undergraduate)

Courses

Teacher Education