Undergraduate Catalog 2015-2016 > School of Education > Teacher Education Department

Teacher Education Department

Introduction

The Lindenwood University Educator Preparation Program (EPP) is 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) and was reviewed for national accreditation by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP www.caepnet.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 a degree in Educational Studies.

Application

A student who seeks entrance into the teacher education program typically does so after successful completion of 12 hours of education coursework. Many students apply during EDU 21501 Teacher Education Seminar I. Applications are available on the School of Education website.

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.

Stage One

1. The student has been accepted to Lindenwood University.
2. The student has completed a majority of general education requirements, at least 12 hours but not more than 15 hours of coursework from the School of Education.
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 courses. The student has demonstrated evidence of competency in communications by passing ENGL 15000, ENGL 17000, and general education oral communications classes with a grade of C or better. Additionally the Lindenwood University Writing Proficiency Assessment or ENGL 21000 must be passed.
4. The student has passed the criminal background clearance(s) required by Lindenwood University and the school district (s) in which the teacher candidate is seeking placement.
5. The student has taken the Missouri Educator Profile (MEP) and developed a professional goal plan with their advisor.
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. This test will only be accepted by MoDESE by program completers until December 2016. Students must have completed the program, including student teaching by December 2016; 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). *These qualifying cut scores are currently determined by individual educator preparation programs but are subject to future changes statewide by the MoDESE.

Stage Two acceptance, required for admittance into student teaching, consists of the following additional requirements:

Stage Two

The teacher candidate has obtained a passing score on the PRAXIS II, or the Missouri Content Assessment (MoCA).

1. The Missouri Content Assessment (MoCA) are tests required for all student teacher candidates. The test should be taken after most of the content courses for the desired program have been successfully completed and prior to student teaching. Candidates must also pass the appropriate Missouri Content Assessment in order to be recommended for certification. The MoCA exams replace the Praxis II exams. Students who passed the Praxis II exam in their content area before August 31, 2014 will have until December 31, 2016 to complete the program, including student teaching in order to use the PRAXIS II for certification. After that date, the Praxis II exam scores will expire.

DESE will not accept the PRAXIS II score if taken after August 31, 2014.

The correct MoCA exam is posted on the Missouri Educator Gateway Assessment (MEGA) website (www.mo.nesinc.com). If you are unsure of which test to take after reviewing the list, contact the Teacher Certification Office at 636-949-4844 for more assistance.

A passing score on the MoCA exam demonstrates that the teacher candidate has mastered the subject area that he/she will teach.

 2. Candidates are also 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 submission will be required for Task 4. The task categories are:

Task 1: Knowledge of Students and the Learning Environment

Task 2: Assessment and Data Collection to Measure and Inform Student Learning

Task 3: Designing Instruction for Student Learning

Task 4: Implementing and Analyzing Instruction to Promote Student Learning 

Note: As the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (MoDESE) continues to develop the 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 Lindenwood University and other institutions across the state. This newly required assessment began in Fall 2014 for all teacher candidates. As part of these new procedures, Lindenwood has a Memorandum of Understanding with most school districts. However, candidates should confirm with their cooperating teacher and principal what the district’s policy is for securing permission to videotape in the classroom. Policies may include the use of permission slips for students in the classroom. More information will be made available from the Office of Field and Clinical Experiences, as this component is still being developed by DESE.

3.The teacher candidate must earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75, a minimum content area course GPA of 3.0, and a minimum professional education coursework GPA of 3.0, with a minimum grade of C in all professional education coursework.

4. The teacher candidate must successfully complete the student teaching course, EDU 41000, including all seminar sessions and portfolio requirements.

5. 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 must be 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 Lindenwood University School of Education student applies for certification to teach in Missouri. The student who wishes to pursue certification in other states should seek advice from the Department of Education within the state he or she is seeking certification. A list of those contacts are located on the School of Education webpages.

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

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 English 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

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).

Notes: (1) Each of the degrees above leads to certification upon the student’s successful completion of the requirements 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.

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 Educational Studies
• Minor in education (non-certification)