Teacher Education Department
Dr. Patricia Leitsch, Assistant Dean
Introduction
The Lindenwood University teacher education programs are accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE http://dese.mo.gov/). The School of Education is also a member of the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC www.teac.org).
Students who enroll in the School of Education may select one of two pathways to completion of the program:
- Successful completion of the Lindenwood University teacher education program qualifies the student for recommendation for teaching certification, issued by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
- Those students who desire to work in an educational field but do not desire teaching certification may pursue an educational studies degree.
Application
A student who seeks entrance into the teacher education program typically does so in EDU 10000 Orientation to Educational Experiences. Students who have transferred in credit for EDU 10000 and EDU 11100 may apply to the teacher education program while taking EDU 21501 PRAXIS II-Foliotek Seminar for Teacher Education.
Admission
Acceptance into the teacher education program is divided into two stages and is the result of action by the Council of Teacher Education (CTE). The council, broadly representative of all schools at the University, considers the student’s application to the teacher education program to be in Stage One after the student has completed the six steps outlined below.
- The student has been accepted to Lindenwood University.
- The student has completed a majority of general education requirements but not more than 15 hours of education coursework.
- The teacher candidate has achieved a cumulative minimum GPA of 2.75, a content area coursework GPA of 3.0, and a professional education coursework GPA of 3.0, with a minimum grade of C in all professional education coursework. The student has demonstrated evidence of competency in communications by passing the Lindenwood University Writing Proficiency Exam or ENG 21000.
- The student has passed a criminal background clearances required by Lindenwood University and the school district (s) for which the teacher candidate is seeking placement.
- The student has submitted a Disposition Survey to his or her academic advisor/instructor during EDU 10000 and/or EDU 215XX, EDU 21501 for all incoming student for the 2013-14 school year.
- The student has attained a qualifying score of 235 on all subsections of and composite of the College Basic Academic Subjects Examination (CBASE), administered by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and/or other required Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary assessment requirement.
Stage Two acceptance, required for admittance into student teaching, consists of the following additional requirements:
- The teacher candidate has obtained a passing score on the PRAXIS II, and/or other required Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary assessment requirement. The PRAXIS II is the subject area exit assessment (which should be taken 1-2 semesters prior to student teaching in order for scores to be returned to meet the student teaching application deadline). A passing score on the PRAXIS II assessment demonstrates that the teacher candidate has mastered the subject area that he/she will teach.
- The teacher candidate has achieved a cumulative minimum GPA of 2.75, a content area coursework GPA of 3.0, and a professional education coursework GPA of 3.0, with a minimum grade of C in all professional education coursework,
International students or students who have completed high school outside of the United States are also required to complete coursework in the following areas:
- English composition, two courses, each a minimum of three credit hours
- U.S. history, three credit hours
- U.S. (National) government, three credit hours
Note: Students in the teacher education program who have taken the suggested coursework before taking the PRAXIS II and do not pass the PRAXIS II can seek assistance from the LU Counseling Center for guidance in test-taking. The Student Counseling Resource Center will advise the Dean for the School of Education of student eligibility for up to 18 additional hours of tuition-free courses in order to further prepare the student for the PRAXIS II. These additional hours do not apply to student teaching. Students also must have followed all proper procedures throughout the program.
Student Teaching Portfolio
The teacher candidate must complete an impact to student learning project/portfolio approved by the School of Education before a grade for student teaching is recorded. This portfolio is completed according to the standards outlined by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Missouri Standards for the Preparation of Educators (MoSPE), as specifically outlined in the 9 beginning standards for teacher educators. Additionally, students must successfully demonstrate competency in Lindenwood University School of Education Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs).
Certification
Each state issues its own teaching certificates, based on its own requirements. Upon passing the state-mandated exit assessment and successfully completing the planned degree program, each student applies for certification to teach in Missouri. The student who wishes certification in other states should seek advice from the certification officer in the School of Education concerning requirements in other states.
Degrees and Programs Offered
The Department of Teacher Education offers the following undergraduate degrees:
Degrees and Programs Leading to Certification
Early Childhood Education (Birth-Grade 3)
- Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education
- Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Special Education
Elementary Education (Grades 1-6)
- Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education
- Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education with special education (K-12) add-on
Middle School Education (Grades 5-9)
- Bachelor of Arts in Middle School Education with business emphasis
- Bachelor of Arts in Middle School Education with language arts emphasis
- Bachelor of Arts in Middle School Education with technology and engineering emphasis
- Bachelor of Arts. in Middle School Education with mathematics emphasis
- Bachelor of Arts in Middle School Education with science emphasis
- Bachelor of Arts in Middle School Education with
- social science emphasis
- Bachelor of Arts in Middle School Education with
- speech and theatre emphasis
Notes: (1) Each of the degrees above leads to certification upon the student’s successful completion of the appropriate PRAXIS exam(s) and successful application for certification, submitted to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
(2) The technology and engineering degree is offered only at Saint Louis Community College-Florissant Valley. For information concerning this program, consult an advisor in the Department of Undergraduate Teacher Education.
Secondary Education (Grades 9-12)
Students seeking certification at the secondary (9-12) level must complete the requirements for a degree in the desired content instructional area, along with the requirements for a minor in secondary education (9-12).
K-12 Education
Students seeking K-12 certification must complete the requirements for a degree in the desired content area, along with the requirements for a minor in education (K-12).
Minors Leading to Certification
- Minor in education (K-12)
- Minor in secondary education (9-12)
- Minor in special education* (K-12)
*A minor in special education can only be attained through completion of the special education cross-categorical add-on. For more information, see Special Education section of this catalog.
Degrees and Minors Not Leading to Certification
- Bachelor of Arts in Education Studies
- Minor in education (non-certification)