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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 (MoDESE).
  • 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.

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.

  1. The student has been accepted to Lindenwood University.
  2. The student has completed a majority of general education requirements but not more than 15 hours of education coursework.
  3. 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 Assessment or ENG 21000.
  4. The student has passed the criminal background clearance(s) required by Lindenwood University and the school district (s) for which the teacher candidate is seeking placement.
  5. The student has submitted a Missouri Educator Profile (MEP) to his or her academic advisor/instructor during EDU 21501.
  6. The student has attained the qualifying cut scores on one of the following Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary required assessments:
    1. 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; OR
    2.  The student has attained a qualifying score of 186 on the English subtest, 167 on the Writing subtest, and 183 on the Math, Science, and Social Studies subtests of the Missouri General Education Assessment (MoGEA).

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 requirements, including the MoPTA.

  1. 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. This assessment was replaced by another assessment in June 2014, however, passing scores from the PRAXIS II will be accepted until 2016.
  2. Candidates are required to complete the Missouri Performance Teacher Assessment (MoPTA) which employs a range of strategies and builds on each candidate's strengths, needs, and prior experiences.  The MoPTA consists of four assessment tasks.  The tasks will demonstrate performance in content coursework and clinical experience.  All of the tasks will require a written commentary and submission of artifacts.  A video submssion will be required for Task 4.  The task categories are:
    1. Task 1 Knowledge of Students and the Learning Environment
    1. Task 2 Assessment and Data Collection to Measure and Inform Student Learning
    2. Task 3 Designing Instruction for Student Learning
    3. Task 4 Implementing and Analyzing Instruction to Promote Student Learning 

Note: As the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (MoDESE)continues to develop new assessments to be used in Missouri’s teacher preparation programs, one component of the MoPTA will be videotaping of the candidate’s lessons for assessment and evaluation by faculty at Southeast Missouri State University and other institutions across the state. This newly required assessment begins in Fall 2013 for all teacher candidates. As part of these new procedures, candidates should discuss with their cooperating teacher and principal the district’s policy for securing permission to videotape in the classroom. This may include the use of permission slips for students in the classroom. More information will be made available from the MoDESE as this component is developed, including providing a secure website for uploading of videotaped content to protect student confidentiality.

 

The teacher candidate has achieved a cumulative minimum GPA of 2.75, a content area course 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 required assessments and do not pass the assessments 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 required assessments. 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 Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (MoDESE) 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

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 certification exam(s) and successful application for certification, submitted to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (MoDESE).

(2) The technology and engineering degree is offered at Lindenwood University in conjunction with an agreement 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 be attained only 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)