Education (BA) with an Emphasis in Middle School |
2024-2025 UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES CATALOG
Effective 1 June 2024 through 31 May 2025
Please see the Undergraduate Catalog Archives for PDF versions of past catalogs.
This program is offered by the School of Education/Department of Teacher Education and is only available at the St. Louis main campus.
Program Description
The bachelor of education program provides candidates with a strong knowledge base
of content, child and adolescent development and current research that supports best
practices in education. This program is centered around contemporary design-based
research principles with a focus on how students learn within inquiry-based environments.
This undergraduate degree program is designed to provide the foundation for teacher
preparation leading to initial Missouri teacher certification and is approved by the
Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
The bachelor of education program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation
of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
Learning Outcomes
- Education candidates will demonstrate knowledge of the subject matter, knowledge of the learner and knowledge of pedagogy based on inquiry and scholarship. This includes knowing content that supports conceptual understanding, applying tools of inquiry to construct meaningful learning experiences, identifying developmental factors in student learning and understanding theoretical principles of effective instruction to plan learning experiences.
- Education candidates will incorporate multiple assessment and instructional strategies to support effective educational practices based on research and theory. This involves designing curriculum based on students' prior knowledge, learning styles, strengths and needs, understanding and uses a range of instructional strategies, using a variety of communication modes, media and technology to support student learning and employing a variety of formal and informal assessments to monitor learning and modify instruction.
- Education candidates will reflect on the roles educators take as leaders of change through collaboration with colleagues, students and families in schools and communities. This is demonstrated through valuing and integrating reflection to grow as a professional, promoting communication and collaboration with colleagues, families and community leaders, seeking relationships with families and students to support student learning and initiating change that benefits students and their families.
- Education candidates will demonstrate respect for diversity through responsive teaching and learning that values individual differences. This includes understanding and responding appropriately to issues of diversity, acknowledging social and cultural context to create effective teaching and learning environments, adapting instruction to the learner's knowledge, ability and background experience, and identifying resources for specialized services when needed.
Degree Requirements
For information on the general requirements for a degree, see Baccalaureate Degree Requirements under the Academic Policies and Information section of this catalog.
- 33 required credit hours
- Applicable University Global Citizenship Program hours*
- Additional required certification coursework and electives
*Students should consult with their advisor to determine Global Citizenship Program (GCP) coded courses that meet required certification competencies.
Required Major Courses
- EDUC 2000 Beginning Practicum in Education (B or better required) (1 hour)
- EDUC 2800 Foundations in Education (B or better required) (3 hours)
- EDUC 2900 Education of Students with Exceptionalities (3 hours)
- EDUC 3100 Learning, Teaching, and Assessment (3 hours)
- EDUC 3375 Behavior Management (3 hours)
- EDUC 3440 Digital Pedagogy and Assistive Learning Technologies (3 hours)
- EDUC 3001 Practicum: MDSC Language Arts (2 hours)
or EDUC 3002 Practicum: MDSC Math (2 hours)
or EDUC 3003 Practicum: MDSC Science (2 hours)
or EDUC 3004 Practicum: MDSC Social Science (2 hours) - EDUC 3099 Practicum Seminar (1 hour)
- EDUC 4000 Apprentice Teaching Seminar (1 hour)
- EDUC 4965 Apprentice Teaching: MDSC Language Arts (13 hours)
or EDUC 4966 Apprentice Teaching: MDSC Math (13 hours)
or EDUC 4967 Apprentice Teaching: MDSC Science (13 hours)
or EDUC 4968 Apprentice Teaching: MDSC Social Science (13 hours)
Additional Education and Content Courses for Certification
All Areas:
- EDUC 2110 Communication in Education (3 hours)
- EDUC 2140 Writing for Teachers (B- or better required) (3 hours)
- A second course with GCP coding for Written Communication (3 hours)
- EDUC 2240 Middle School Philosophy and History (3 hours)
- EDUC 4380 Teaching Reading and Writing in the Content Areas (3 hours)
- EDUC 4390 Differentiated Reading Assessment and Intervention (3 hours)
- EDUC 4435 Inclusive Practices and Methods for Teaching English Learners (3 hours)
- PSYC elective (3 hours)
- Additional required certification coursework and electives to total minimum degree requirements
Language Arts:
- EDUC 3190 Young Adult Literature (3 hours)
- EDUC 4130 Writing Instruction (3 hours)
- EDUC 4350 Arts and Humanities Methods (3 hours)
- ENGL 3100 Modern Drama (3 hours)
or ENGL 3130 Contemporary Drama (3 hours)
or ENGL 4150 Shakespeare (3 hours) - ENGL 2050 U.S. Literature (3 hours)
- ENGL 2086 U.S. Literature of Diversity (3 hours)
- ENGL 2020 British Literature I (3 hours)
or ENGL 2030 British Literature II (3 hours)
or ENGL 3900 Myth and Classical Literature (3 hours) - ENGL 2600 Introduction to Linguistics (3 hours)
Social Science:
- HIST 1100 World Civilization before 1500 (3 hours)
or HIST 2200 History of Medieval Society (3 hours) - HIST 1300 Colonial and Revolutionary America (3 hours)
- HIST 1310 Nineteenth-Century America (3 hours)
- HIST 1320 Twentieth-Century United States (3 hours)
- HIST 2230 The Age of Total War: Europe 1890-1945 (3 hours)
or HIST 2240 Contemporary Europe: 1945-Present (3 hours)
or INTL 1500 World Systems since 1500 (3 hours) - EDUC 4350 Arts and Humanities Methods (3 hours)
- EDUC 4250 Economics and Geography for Global Sustainability (3 hours)
or Macro/Micro Economics and ANSO 1095 Introduction to Geography: World and Regional (6 hours) - POLT 1060 Introduction to American Politics (3 hours)
- Social science elective (3 hours)
Mathematics:
- EDUC 4360 STEM Methods (3 hours)
- MATH 1430 College Algebra (3 hours)
- MATH 1440 Trigonometry (3 hours)
- MATH 1610 Calculus I (5 hours)
- MATH 1620 Calculus II (5 hours)
- MATH 3530 Modern Geometry (3 hours)
- ONE of the following (3 hours):
- STAT 1100 Descriptive Statistics (3 hours)
- STAT 3100 Inferential Statistics (3 hours)
- MATH 2200 Statistics (3 hours)
- TWO of the following (6 hours):
- MATH 2410 Discrete Mathematics (3 hours)
- MATH 3130 Real Number System (3 hours)
- MATH 3210 Data Mining Foundations (3 hours)
- MATH 3220 Data Mining Methods (3 hours)
- MATH 3610 Probability (3 hours)
If a student begins the College Mathematics sequence with Calculus I, the student needs to ensure they have 24 hours of mathematics (MATH) content.
Science:
- BIOL 1550 Essentials of Biology I (4 hours)
and BIOL 1551 Essentials of Biology I: Lab (1 hour) - CHEM 1100 General Chemistry I (3 hours)
and CHEM 1101 General Chemistry I: Lab (1 hour) - PHYS 1710 College Physics I (3 hours)
and PHYS 1711 College Physics I: Lab (1 hour)
or
SCIN 1400 Physics for Poets (3 hours)
and SCIN 1401 Physics for Poets: Lab (1 hour) - SCIN 1470 Earth and the Universe (3 hours)
and SCIN 1471 Earth and the Universe: Lab (1 hour) - SCIN 1520 Environment with lab (3 hours)
and SCIN 1521 Environment: Lab (1 hour) - SCIN 1600 Physical Geology (3 hours)
and SCIN 1601 Physical Geology: Lab (1 hour) - EDUC 4360 STEM Methods (3 hours)
Admission to the Major
Students may be fully admitted to the major when the following criteria have been met:
- A grade of B or better in EDUC 2800 Foundations in Education.
- A grade of B or better in EDUC 2000 Beginning Practicum in Education.
- A completed Candidate Responsibility Form.
- A departmental GPA of 3.0, based on all EDUC courses taken.
Admission to Teacher Certification
Students declaring Education as a degree major will pursue initial teacher certification as part of their degree. A Program of Study (POS) is designed to meet the Global Citizenship Program requirements, degree requirements, and certification requirements of both the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and Webster University.
Candidates must meet the following requirements for formal acceptance in the initial teacher certification program.
- Written Program of Study (POS) outlining the degree and program requirements.
- Completion of a college Composition course with a grade of B- or better.
- Completion of a college Mathematics course with a grade of B- or better.
- Completion of EDUC 2800 Foundations in Education with a grade of B or better.
- Completion of EDUC 2000 Beginning Practicum in Education with a grade of B or better.
- Successful completion of Passport Tasks 1-5.
- Minimum professional GPA of 3.0, and Content GPA (if applicable) of 3.0. This must be maintained throughout the program.
Note: Grades of C- or above are eligible for Certification requirements.
Candidates must be admitted to teacher certification in order to take specified EDUC or CMAT methods courses.
Students who have transferred in all these course requirements should apply for entrance to the Teacher Certification program when they first meet with an academic advisor in the department.
Background Checks
Students are required to obtain various annual background checks prior to field experiences. The state requires current fingerprint clearance prior to issuing the teaching certificate.
State Assessment
To obtain teaching licensure in Missouri, students are required to complete a number of state assessments. State-required assessments are administered by designated agencies, and students are required to pay all associated fees. All state assessments are administered in a digital format. Students must pass the state-required content assessment examinations prior to apprentice teaching.
Practicum
Students must complete a 3000-level practicum in a classroom setting appropriate to their intended content area and accompanying practicum seminar with a grade of B or better. Practicums require 45-135 hours involving observation, lesson planning and teaching during daytime school hours. To enroll in a practicum, students must submit an application by September 15 for a spring placement and by February 15 for a fall placement. No late applications will be accepted. Candidates must meet with the Coordinator of Field Placement prior to applying for practicum.
Apprentice Teaching
Apprentice teaching and the accompanying apprentice teacher seminar are required for all initial certifications. To enroll in apprentice teaching, students must submit an application by September 15 for a spring placement and by February 15 for a fall placement. No late applications will be accepted.
Prior to apprentice teaching students must have:
- Met all course and departmental assessment requirements, including formal acceptance to teacher certification status.
- Successfully completed practicum and practicum seminar with a grade of B or better.
- Passed the state-required content assessment examination.
Apprentice Teaching placements are made by the Field Experience Office. Placements will be arranged with the St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County and Jefferson County School Districts along with private and independent schools. All candidates for certification must complete either their practicum or apprentice teaching in a diverse setting.
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