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Teacher Education Department

Introduction

The Lindenwood University School of Education is divided into three departments:

Department of Counseling *

Department of Educational Leadership*

Department of Teacher Education

Note: Those departments marked with an asterisk offer graduate programs only. Students wishing to enter into one of the School of Education graduate programs should consult the Lindenwood University Graduate Catalog.

The Lindenwood University Educator Preparation Program (EPP) is accredited by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE https://dese.mo.gov/). The initial teacher education program is accredited by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC www.teac.org) through 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 10 hours of education coursework. Students should apply during EDU 21501 (Teacher Education Seminar I). All application for admission to the teacher education program and admission to student teaching must be completed and submitted in Foliotek.

Admission

The teacher education program is divided into two stages or benchmarks 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 seven steps outlined below. The student will not be allowed to enroll in most upper level or methods coursework until he/she has been formally admitted at Benchmark/Stage One to the teacher education program.

Benchmark/Stage One

  1. The student has been accepted to Lindenwood University.

  2. The student has completed 10 hours of coursework from the School of Education.

  3. The student 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. 

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. The student has completed three Rationale/Reflections that have been accepted in Foliotek.

  7. The student has attained the qualifying cut scores of 220 on all subtests of the Missouri General Education Assessment (MoGEA) test code (66-69). *These qualifying cut scores are currently determined by individual educator preparation programs but are subject to future changes statewide by the MoDESE. 

Benchmark/Stage Two

Acceptance into Benchmark/Stage Two is required for admittance into student teaching, and consists of the following additional requirements:

  1. The teacher candidate has obtained a passing score on the Missouri Content Assessment (MoCA).

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 correct MoCA exam is posted on the Missouri Educator Gateway Assessment (MEGA) website (www.mo.nesinc.com).

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

  1. The teacher candidate must earn a minimum professional education coursework GPA of 3.0. 

  2. The teacher candidate is expected to have a minimum content GPA of 3.0. If the teacher candidate has a content GPA between a 2.75-2.99 and has passed the Missouri Content Assessment in the appropriate certification area at one standard error of measurement above 220, the teacher candidate can still meet the content GPA requirement for admission to student teaching. 

  3. The teacher candidate is expected to have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75. This includes all coursework taken at Lindenwood and other institutions for college credit. If the teacher candidate has met all of the other requirements for admission to student teaching but does not have the minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and has demonstrated a strong academic track record and has the potential to meet the cumulative GPA at the end of student teaching, the teacher candidate may be accepted into student teaching with the understanding that a cumulative 2.75 must be obtained before being recommended for certification.

  4. Additional components for admission to Benchmark/Stage Two can be found on the Lindenwood University School of Education Teacher Education website at (http://www.lindenwood.edu/education/teacherEd/studentTeachingApplication.html).

Completion of Teacher Education Program

  1. The teacher candidate must earn a minimum professional education coursework GPA of 3.0.

  2. The teacher candidate is expected to have a minimum content GPA of 3.0. If the teacher candidate has a content GPA between a 2.75-2.99 and has passed the Missouri Content Assessment in the appropriate certification area at one standard error of measurement above 220, the teacher candidate can still meet the content GPA requirement for admission to student teaching.

  3. The teacher candidate is expected to have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75. This includes all coursework taken at Lindenwood and other institutions for college credit. 

  4. The teacher candidate must successfully complete the student teaching course, EDU 41000, including all seminar sessions and portfolio requirements. The portfolio must be completed before a grade will be issued for student teaching.

    5. 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 U.S. 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 Lindenwood University Counseling Center for guidance in test-taking. The Student Counseling Resource Center will advise the dean for the School of Education of student eligibility to repeat 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. In order to be considered for this support students must have followed all proper procedures throughout the program.

    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

    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 Teacher Education.

    Minors Leading to Certification

    • Minor in education (K-12)
    • Minor in education (non-certification)
    • 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)
    *Degree course requirements may require successful completion of appropriate prerequisites.