Program Overview

Elementary and Special Education Teaching Graduate Certificate

The Elementary and Special Education Teaching Graduate Certificate program is designed for individuals with a bachelor's degree who wish to prepare for teacher certification in Elementary Education and Special Education. This program leads to Missouri Initial Teacher Certification in Elementary Teaching 1-6 with an add-on in Mild/Moderate Cross-Categorical Disabilities, K-12 Special Education.

Admission Requirements

• A passing score on the designated Missouri Content Examination or an approved program of study
• A 2.75 or higher overall GPA
• Approved results of the Family Care Safety Registry
• A clear TB test or chest x-ray, if appropriate Applicants must meet the application deadlines set by the Graduate School.

Certificate Requirements

The program consists of the following required certification courses:

• TCH ED 5001: Advanced Mid-Level Clinical Experience: Diverse Learners (1 hour)
• TCH ED 6030: Instruction, Learning, and Assessment (3 hours)
• TCH ED 6565: Integrating the Fine Arts into Elementary Classrooms (2 hours)
• TCH ED 6566: Teaching Health and Physical Education Skills and Concepts for the Elementary Teacher (2 hours)
• ED PSY 6222: Advanced Studies in Child and Adolescent Development (3 hours)
• TCH ED 5310: Instructional Design and Technology Integration for Educators (3 hours)
• ELE ED 6337: Teaching and Learning Literacy in the Elementary Classrooms: Teaching Reading and Writing (3 hours)
• SPEC ED 6412: Foundations of Inclusive Education (3 hours)
• SPEC ED 6325: Positive Behavior Interventions for Individual, Classroom, and School-wide Systems (3 hours)
• ELE ED 6338: Literacy Assessment for Guided Instruction (3 hours)
• ELE ED 6241: Science Content, Inquiry-Based Instruction, and Assessment: STEM-Integrated Pedagogy (2 hours)
• ELE ED 6246: Math Content Pedagogy, Inquiry-Based Instruction, and Assessment (3 hours)
• ELE ED 6253: Teaching Social Studies through Reading, Writing, and English Language Learning (3 hours)
• ELE ED 5989: Practicum I: Elementary/Special Education Site-Based Experience (2 hours)
• ELE ED 5990: Practicum II: Elementary/Special Education Site-Based Experience (8 hours) Total Hours: 44

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

• Continually reflect on professional growth to improve student learning outcomes/enhance student learning.
• Integrate technology to create meaningful student learning within the context of a global digital society.
• Apply content and pedagogical knowledge to create authentic and deep learning experiences.
• Use learning science principles to design, implement, and evaluate curriculum based on learning standards.
• Foster effective working relationships with students, school colleagues, families, and community members to enhance student learning and well-being.
• Design and establish a safe, inclusive, and respectful learning environment that nurtures the intellectual, social, and personal development of all students.
• Use equitable frameworks and inclusive practices to create a variety of instructional and assessment opportunities adapted to diverse learners to encourage all students' critical thinking, problem solving, and performance skills.