Mission Statement
The School of Teacher Education at Missouri Baptist University seeks to develop reflective, problem-solving, professional educators of excellence from a Christian perspective; to enhance the lives of students in the classroom intellectually, spiritually, physically, and socially; and to significantly influence students through the demonstrated integration of Christian faith and learning in the classroom, so that they may become positive change agents in a globally and culturally diverse society.
This means more than simply valuing human diversity; it includes an imperative to promote equity and social justice and to intentionally prepare candidates to develop the knowledge bases, interpersonal skills, and dispositions for serving diverse populations. Preparing candidates to become agents of social change is consistent with the Christian perspective and is reflected not only in the classroom, but also in field experiences in diverse settings. Based on its mission, the unit has undertaken the task of ensuring each candidate has experiences in schools with students from varied socioeconomic backgrounds, varied racial and ethnic groups, English language learners, and exceptional learners.
The following nine standards serve as the guiding principles by which MBU’s educator preparation programs are measured:
Missouri Baptist University prepares licensure candidates who:
- Consistently demonstrate the content, pedagogical, and pedagogical content knowledge necessary to facilitate learning for all students, and to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, competencies, and dispositions defined as appropriate to their area of responsibility.
- Analyze and reflect on their practice using a variety of assessment strategies, including action research, and are committed to continued professional development.
- Observe and practice solutions to problems of practice in diverse clinical settings and with diverse PK-Grade 12 student populations.
- Use their self-awareness and knowledge of diversity to create learning environments that support their belief that through active hands-and-mind-on learning, all students can learn challenging curricula.
- Demonstrate and promote the strategic use of technology to enhance learning and professional practice.
- Support schools, students, and community through leadership, service, and personal involvement.
- Develop effective and supportive relationships that enhance communication among students, parents, and colleagues to facilitate learning.
- Exhibit empathy for and sensitivity to students and colleagues.
- Actively practice the profession’s ethical standards.
Drawing from a rich combination of broad-based experiences and academic preparation, the professional education faculty seeks to facilitate in each student:
- The development of an educational posture which is child-centered, experientially and authentically based, and consistent with a Christian perspective;
- The enhanced awareness of Christian moral and ethical responsibilities relative to education in a diverse and changing society;
- The development of critical thinking and effective problem-solving skills through a variety of traditional technologically-based experiences;
- The application of experiential and research-based theories into the pedagogical process.
This program fosters in students a reflective and problem-solving heuristic (model) so that Missouri Baptist University graduates are able to make informed decisions as professional educators. The program consists of a planned, integrated system (pattern) of coursework and authentic learning (field) experiences designed to enable the student to acquire a strong knowledge base and core of subject competencies, as well as to develop constructive social and personal attitudes to serve as a reflective professional in the education field. To that end, all students seeking state certification within the School of Teacher Education at Missouri Baptist University are expected to know and to be able to demonstrate their competency.
Those seeking initial certification to teach must demonstrate their competency in nine (9) standards as adopted by the Missouri State Board of Education as a part of the Missouri Teacher Standards.
- Content Knowledge Aligned with Appropriate Instruction
- Student Learning, Growth, and Development
- Curriculum Implementation
- Critical Thinking
- Positive Classroom Environment
- Effective Communication
- Student Assessment and Data Analysis
- Professionalism
- Professional Collaboration
Those seeking initial certification as a Library Media Specialist must demonstrate their competency in the seven (7) Missouri Standards for School Librarians as adopted by the Missouri State Board of Education:
- Teaching for Learning
- Reading and Literacy
- Information and Knowledge
- Leadership and Advocacy
- Program Management and Administration
- Technology Integration
- Professional Development
More detailed information concerning the Professional Development Folio requirements will be presented in EDUC 200 Continuing Portfolio Development for Teacher Candidates. Students will enroll in this course concurrently with EDUC 201 Professional Growth and Folio Development I in the second semester of the sophomore year or first semester of enrollment for students transferring with junior standing or better. Additional resources will be available in Canvas.
Conceptual Framework
Programs Offered in the School of Teacher Education
The undergraduate degree programs offered by the School of Teacher Education, with the exception of Child Development and Studies in Teaching and Learning, are designed to meet Missouri State Teacher Certification requirements. The Child Development major is intended for those individuals who desire to work in settings not requiring state teacher certification, such as daycare centers and non-public preschools. Studies in Teaching and Learning is available for students who are not in a position to complete certification but are otherwise ready to graduate. An undergraduate Trauma Informed Educator Certificate is also available.
The Master of Arts in Teaching degree is available with initial post-baccalaureate certification or add-on certification options. The Trauma Informed Educator Certificate and Graduate Certificate in Library Media Specialist are also offered at the graduate level.
The Missouri Baptist University Teacher Education Program prepares professional educators for certified teacher positions in both public and private educational settings at the following levels:
| Early Childhood |
Birth-Grade 3 |
| Elementary |
Grades 1-6 |
| Middle School |
Grades 5-9 |
| Secondary |
Grades 9-12 |
| K-12 |
Kindergarten-Grade 12 |
Special Education:
- Early Childhood
- Cross-Categorical Disabilities Mild to Moderate
|
Birth-Grade 3
Kindergarten-Grade 12
|
| Driver Education* |
Grades 9-12 |
| Special Reading* |
Kindergarten-Grade 12 |
*Requires initial certification in another field
At the middle school level, certification is offered in the following areas of concentration: Business Education, Language Arts, Mathematics, General Science, Social Science, and Speech/ Theatre. At the secondary level, certification is offered in Biology, Business Education, Chemistry, English, Marketing Education, Mathematics, Social Science, and Speech/Theatre. At the K-12 level, certification is offered in the following areas: Health, Music (vocal or instrumental), Physical Education, and Library Media Specialist (available at the graduate-level only). Special education certifications include Early Childhood (birth-grade 3) and Cross-Categorical Disabilities Mild to Moderate (K-12). Driver Education and Special Reading (graduate only) are programs which require previous Missouri certification in another field. The Special Reading certificate also requires two years of teaching experience and recommendation from an educator preparation program.
Educator Preparation Assessments
Students will be required to complete any new assessments that are implemented during the course of their certification program as required by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
The Praxis exam will replace the Missouri Content Assessments (MoCA) as the content area exams required for certification beginning July 1, 2024. However MoCA exams passed as of June 23, 2024, will continue to be valid. The one exception to this is the Elementary Multi-Content exam. If only one subtest of the EMC MoCA has been passed by June 23, 2024 then a candidate for certification in Elementary Education will have to pass the entire Praxis Elementary Education battery of tests.
Candidates for certification must also achieve a passing composite score on their Missouri Educator Evaluation System (MEES) summative evaluation from their cooperating teacher and field supervisor completed during student teaching (or in conjunction with EDCL 4700 CPL Student Teaching MEES Evaluation for students petitioning for credit for prior learning) before being recommended for certification.
Watermark
The Missouri Baptist University School of Teacher Education (SOTE) utilizes Watermark software in its initial teacher certification programs. Watermark is used by initial certification candidates throughout their education coursework. A one-time course registration for EDAS WM7 Watermark 7-Year License provides a 7-year license to Watermark and is required of all initial certification students. This software provides a centralized system for the following:
- Field Experience and student teaching observations/evaluations
- Professional disposition evaluations (as part of education coursework)
- Professional Development Folios
- Managing and organizing coursework and key assignments across multiple courses
- Storing academic files and work samples
Candidates purchase the 7-year license by being registered in the course EDAS WM7 during the semester of their first education course.
Teacher Education Admission Procedures:
All candidates for Missouri State Teacher Certification must be formally admitted into the Teacher Education program at Missouri Baptist University. This process begins with the Teacher Education Admission Packet (TEAP) completed in conjunction with EDUC 201 - Professional Growth and Folio Development I. No student will be allowed to student teach unless he or she has been formally admitted into the Teacher Education program. Candidates must be formally admitted in order to enroll in EDUC 401 Professional Growth and Folio Development II and EDCL 411/511 Teaching Field Experience II.
The Teacher Education Admission Packet includes the Teacher Education Program Release/Waiver Form, Application for Admission to the Teacher Education Program, Initial Certification Dispositions Usage and Purpose Agreement, Teacher Education Timeline Acknowledgment Form, and Self-Assessment of Diversity Proficiencies (Admission), along with submission of an autobiographical sketch.* While a specific general education assessment is no longer required for admission, candidates will need to submit any ACT, SAT, MoGEA, Paraprofessional, or ParaPro Assessment scores with their TEAP.
GPA Requirements for admission to the Teacher Education Program, approval to student teach, and recommendation for certification:
- 2.500 overall GPA (including all coursework from all colleges and universities attended) **
- 3.000 content area GPA with no grade lower than C for those pursuing middle, secondary, or K-12 content area certification **
- 3.000 professional education GPA with no grade lower than C for those pursuing middle, secondary, or K-12 content area certification (B or better for Gateway courses) **
- 3.000 program GPA (all courses in major) with no grade lower than C for those pursuing certification in early childhood, elementary, or special education (B or better for Gateway courses) **
Students may take the following 20 credit hours prior to completing the process for admission to the Teacher Education Program:
- EDUC 200 Continuing Portfolio Development/Teacher Candidates (Must be enrolled concurrently with EDUC 201 Professional Growth and Folio Development I)
- EDUC 201 Professional Growth and Folio Development I (Must be taken by the second semester of the sophomore year or first semester of enrollment for students transferring with a class rank of junior or higher) †
- EDUC 203 Teaching in a Diverse Society †
- EDCL 211 Teaching Field Experience † ‡
- EDUC 210 Field Experience I Seminar (must be taken concurrently with EDCL 211 Teaching Field Experience) †
- EDUC 303 Methods of Teaching and Differentiated Instruction†
- ECTA 323 Curriculum, Assessment, and Data-based Decision Making
- EDUC 373 Technology and Instrumental Media † (OR EDUC 573 Applications of Technology for graduate students †)
- EDPS 383 Psychology of Teaching and Learning †
- PSYC 313 Human Growth and Development (OR PSYC 553 Advanced Human Development for graduate students)
In accordance with School of Teacher Education policies, students who are not admitted to the Teacher Education Program are not permitted to register for 400/500-level education classes without written approval from the Associate Dean of the School of Teacher Education (or designee) as noted on the Teacher Education Program Admission Probation Form.**
†Requires enrollment in EDAS WM7 Watermark 7-Year License as co-requisite/pre-requisite
‡ Students who transfer in a course for EDCL 211 Teaching Field Experience I with a grade of B or better, but who do not have a MEES evaluation (or equivalent), must take EDCL 220 Transfer Field Experience. Students who transfer in a course for EDCL 211 with a grade of C or lower must take EDCL 211 Teaching Field Experience I at MBU.
*This document will be reviewed for mechanical errors (grammar, punctuation, spelling, formatting, etc.) as well as content. The TEAP will not be considered complete until final recommended revisions have been made and accepted at the time of the admission interview.
**Candidates who have not met the GPA requirements for admission – or who have not achieved a B or better on the Gateway courses EDUC 201, EDCL 211 (or CR on EDCL 220), and/or EDUC 303) – may also be permitted to take education courses at the 400-level provided they have completed a Teacher Education Program Admission Probation Form and have been approved to continue by the Associate Dean of the School of Teacher Education. Approval to continue on probation for either the general education assessment measure or either the GPA or Gateway course grade issues must be approved on a semester-by-semester basis.
All candidates must be fully admitted before they will be allowed to register for EDCL 411/511 Teaching Field Experience II and EDUC 401 Professional Development Folio II.
School of Teacher Education Gateway Courses
- EDUC 201 Professional Growth and Folio Development I
- EDCL 211 Teaching Field Experience I
- EDCL 220 (required for students transferring in a course equivalent to EDCL 211 with a grade of B or better but without a MEES evaluation or equivalent from a cooperating teacher or field supervisor) *
- EDUC 303 Methods of Teaching and Differentiated Instruction
- EDUC 401 Professional Growth and Folio Development II
- EDCL 411/511 Teaching Field Experience II
A grade of B or better is required for these courses with the opportunity to repeat the course once to achieve the minimum grade.
*Since EDCL 220 is a zero-credit course, the grading scale to achieve a CR in EDCL 220 will be aligned with a grade of B for EDCL 211.
General Certification Requirements
- A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university1;
- Must have the recommendation of the designated certification official from a baccalaureate or higher-level educator preparation program approved by DESE;
- Must possess a grade point average of 3.00 or higher in professional education and the specific content area for which certification is sought (with no grades below a “C” in professional education or content area requirements);
- Must pass the content area test(s) and performance assessment designated by the State Board of Education with a score equal to or greater than the Missouri qualifying score*;
- Completion of professional requirements, as determined by the recommending college or university, which may exceed the minimum requirements established by DESE; and
- Individuals who are not U.S. citizens must complete coursework in the following:
- English Composition, two (2) courses, each a minimum of two (2) semester hours;
- U.S. History, three (3) semester hours; and
- U.S. Government, three (3) semester hours.
DESE also requires specific coursework to be completed for each subject area and level, which is subject to change. Such changes supersede published catalog requirements. Current requirements may be found in the University Catalog on their corresponding Program of Study page. Additionally, 4-year plans are accessible through academic advisors. To ensure that all state certification requirements are being met, candidates are required to have a graduation certification check completed in the Teacher Education Office during their junior year or following their interview for admission.
*DESE requires a passing score on the state mandated content assessments(s) in the certification area(s) being sought before recommendation for certification.
DESE requirements are subject to change. Candidates must meet all course, GPA, and assessment requirements in effect at the time that recommendation for certification is made.
1If a baccalaureate degree from a foreign country has been officially documented as equivalent to a U.S. baccalaureate degree, then it can be accepted to fulfill the minimum degree requirement for certification. An official credentialing agency report that verifies the equivalence of the coursework to U.S. credits is required. Missouri Baptist University requires that students have this evaluation done through the following agency, which is approved by DESE:
World Education Services, Inc.
Bowling Green Station
Post Office Box 5087
New York, New York 10274-5087
Phone: 212-966-6311
Fax: 212-739-6100
Fee: $160.00 (course-by-course evaluation and grade point average)
Contact the agency for instructions before sending documents.
www.wes.org
The results from the evaluation must be mailed to Missouri Baptist University. This process will take 30 to 60 days.
There is a fee for this evaluation. Students may obtain an application for evaluation of transcripts either by contacting the service listed above or through the Missouri Baptist University International Student Services Office by calling (314) 744-5301. Official transcripts, the application, and the fee must be submitted to the above address. If required, this request must be made immediately after application for admission to Missouri Baptist University so that results will be received in time for registration. Once the baccalaureate degree is verified, then a student is able to pursue certification as a graduate student.
Program Completion Requirements for Initial Teacher Certification
(required for both degree-seeking and certification-only students)
- Successful completion of the Professional Development Folio the semester prior to student teaching.
- Successful completion of certification program required coursework.
- An overall cumulative grade point average of at least 2.50 on a 4.0 scale, including a minimum 3.0 GPA within the content area with no grade lower than a C and a minimum 3.0 GPA in professional education courses with no grade lower than a C (for middle, secondary, and K-12 content programs), or a program (all courses in the major) GPA of 3.00 with no grade lower than a C for early childhood, elementary, and special education certifications.
- A passing score on the state mandated content assessment(s) in the certification area(s) being sought
- Successful completion of Student Teaching, which includes the following:
- Satisfactory Formative Evaluations; and
- A passing composite score on the Missouri Educator Evaluation System (MEES) summative performance evaluation.
Teacher Education Timeline
| Task |
Required Completion Timeline |
| Enroll in EDAS WM7 Watermark 7-year License |
In conjunction with enrollment in first professional education course(s) |
Enroll in EDUC 201 Professional Growth and Folio Development I and EDUC 200 Continuing Portfolio Development/Teacher Candidates (EDUC 201 is a Teacher Education Program Gateway Course and requires a grade of B or better for full admission to the Teacher Education Program. It may be repeated once.)
|
Must be enrolled in these classes in the second semester of the sophomore year or first semester of enrollment for students transferring with junior standing or better. EDUC 201 must be in progress or completed prior to first interview. |
| Complete autobiographical sketch and introduction to School of Teacher Education (SOTE) Professional Dispositions assessment instrument and review process, including signing Initial Certification Dispositions Usage and Purpose Agreement* |
EDUC 201 Professional Growth and Folio Development I |
| Revisit SOTE Professional Dispositions assessment instrument and review process, including signing Initial Certification Dispositions Usage and Purpose Agreement* |
Throughout program as needed |
Complete EDUC 303 Methods of Teaching and Differentiated Instruction, including instructor and self SOTE Professional Dispositions assessment *
(EDUC 303 is a Teacher Education Program Gateway Course and requires a grade of B or better for full admission to the Teacher Education Program. It may be repeated once.) |
All candidates except for Music Education majors should be enrolled in this class prior to first interview, completion preferred. As part of this course, candidates will complete their first dispositions self-assessment, have their instructor complete a dispositions assessment, and will have a meeting to review and compare those two results. (Music Education candidates will complete self-assessment in conjunction with MUED 313 Early Childhood/Elementary School Music Methods.) |
Complete EDCL 211 Teaching Field Experience I, including Cooperating Teacher SOTE Professional Dispositions assessment*
(EDCL 211 is a Teacher Education Program Gateway Course and requires a grade of B or better for full admission to the Teacher Education Program. It may be repeated once.)
Students who transfer in a course equivalent to EDCL 211 who do not have a MEES evaluation (or equivalent) must take
EDCL 220 Transfer Field Experience and earn a grade of CR.
(EDCL 220 is a Teacher Education Program Gateway Course and requires a grade of CR for full admission to the Teacher Education Program. It may be repeated once.) |
Complete at least two semesters prior to student teaching. (Music Education candidates enroll in EDCL 211 in conjunction with MUED 313.) As part of this course, the candidate’s Cooperating Teacher will complete a dispositions assessment on the candidate, submitting it in Watermark as a course assignment. |
| Submit Teacher Education Admission Packet* |
Complete prior to first interview in conjunction with EDUC 201 |
FIRST INTERVIEW: Approval for admission
- All items listed above must be completed before interview is scheduled.
- In addition, a 2.50 overall cumulative GPA as well as a content area GPA of 3.00 and professional education GPA of 3.00 are required for admission (with no grades below a “C” in professional education or content area requirements).
|
In conjunction with enrollment in EDUC 201 for all students:
- Candidates with less than a 2.50 overall cumulative GPA or less than a 3.00 in the content area or professional education must have an approved plan to raise GPA. The GPA requirement must be met to be fully admitted.
- Undergraduate degree-seeking students, who have not met the general education testing requirement for admission may be accepted for probationary admission only. The testing requirement must be met to be fully admitted.
- Students who have not achieved a final grade of B or better in the Gateway courses EDUC 201, EDUC 303, and EDCL 211 (or a CR in EDCL 220) may be accepted for probationary admission only.
|
| Faculty Vote and Formal Approval for Admission |
An email will be sent to student with notice of formal faculty approval for admission |
| Graduation/Certification Check |
When enrolled in EDUC 201 or first semester of junior year |
| Completed SOTE Professional Dispositions assessments to date are reviewed, with follow up as needed with the candidate for any identified areas of question/concern* |
Required before candidate begins EDCL 411/511 Teaching Field Experience II. Candidate must be fully admitted to the Teacher Education Program to enroll in EDCL 411/511. |
Complete EDCL 411/511 Teaching Field Experience II, including Cooperating Teacher and University Supervisor SOTE Professional Dispositions assessments.*
(EDCL 411/511 is a Teacher Education Program Gateway Course and requires a grade of B or better to progress to the student teaching semester. It may be repeated once.) |
Complete prior to student teaching, generally the semester before. (Music Education majors enroll in EDCL 411/511 the semester prior to student teaching.) As part of this course, the candidate’s Cooperating Teacher and University Supervisor will each complete a dispositions assessment on the candidate as course assignments. Candidate must be fully admitted to the Teacher Education Program to enroll in EDCL 411/511.
|
Complete EDUC 401 Professional Growth and Folio Development II*
(EDUC 401 is a Teacher Education Program Gateway Course and requires a grade of B or better to progress to the student teaching semester. It may be repeated once.) |
Complete the semester prior to student teaching. Candidate must be fully admitted to the Teacher Education Program to enroll in this course. |
Final Professional Development Folio Evaluation *
Complete final draft of reflections for all 9 Missouri Teacher Standards (or all 7 Missouri Standards for School Librarians) in conjunction with EDUC 401 Professional Growth and Folio Development II. |
The final Professional Development Folio Evaluation must be “Pass” or “Pass with Distinction” prior to the student teaching semester. Candidates must achieve a passing grade of CR in EDUC 200 Continuing Portfolio Development/Teacher Candidates for program completion. |
| FOLIO EXIT INTERVIEW: Approval for student teaching |
At least one semester before student teaching in conjunction with EDUC 401 Professional Growth and Folio Development II:
- For August (fall semester) student teaching, Folio exit interview are scheduled from mid-February through March.
- For January (spring semester) student teaching, Folio exit interview are scheduled from mid-September through October.
Any request for Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) must be submitted no later than the time of the Folio exit interview.
|
| Complete background check(s) and any additional district-specific requirement for student teaching placement |
- Family Care Safety Registry (FSCR) background check is a co-requisite for student teaching and is required for all candidates.
- See the handout School Districts That Require Additional Information for Student Teaching Placement for district-specific requirements
- Complete FBI Fingerprint Background Check before the end of student teaching semester (required by DESE for certification; see handout Help Guide for DESE’s Online Certification System)
|
|
Placement Deadlines for Student Teaching
|
Must be fully admitted and have passed the Folio exit interview by April 1st for Fall placements or by November 1st for Spring placements.
Placement requests will NOT be sent out until Folio exit interview has been passed.
Any request for Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) must be approved by the above deadlines.
|
| Take DESE required content assessments(s) for each area in which certification is being sought. |
Complete prior to student teaching (Passing score required for conferral of professional education degrees and completion of certification program requirements.) |
| Complete all coursework |
Prior to student teaching (Students will not be allowed to student teach if all education courses have not been satisfactorily completed with a final grade of C or CR or better. Music Education majors must successfully pass the hearing for their Senior Recital before they can be approved for their Student Teaching semester and must complete the Senior Recital before beginning the Student Teaching semester.) |
| Enroll in EDUC 470 Student Teaching Professional Development Seminar and EDTR 413/513 Trauma Informed Classroom I with either Student Teaching or EDCL 4700 CPL Student Teaching MEES Evaluation, including Cooperating Teacher and University Supervisor Professional Dispositions assessment* |
Final Semester |
| Achieve passing composite score on Missouri Educator Evaluation System (MEES) summative evaluation |
Student Teaching or EDCL 4700 CPL Student Teaching MEES Evaluation (required for conferral of professional education degrees and completion of certification program requirements) |
- Create job profile using AppliTrack (district specific websites)
- Create job profile on Missouri REAP http://www.moreap.net/
|
When enrolled in EDUC 470 Student Teaching Professional Development Seminar |
Application for Certification
https://apps.dese.mo.gov/DESEApplicationsSignin/Index |
After successful completion of all coursework, including student teaching, and passing all required exit assessments |
| Commissioning Service |
Held at the end of the Spring semester prior to Commencement. |
*Related to School of Teacher Education Professional Dispositions Assessment
The Missouri Baptist University (MBU) School of Teacher Education (SOTE) identifies specific professional dispositions, defined as categorized descriptions of teacher behavior that affect positive influence in the professional setting and promote gains in P-12 student learning. Initial teacher certification candidates are expected to meet proficiency expectations for each of these defined dispositions as part of program completion in the MBU SOTE. Candidates will complete dispositions assessments at specific checkpoints in coursework during their program to measure their progress toward proficiency. In addition, at any time a SOTE instructor may require completion of a dispositions assessment if a dispositions concern arises in his/her course, whether in the university setting or in practicum experiences.
If an instructor determines that a disposition is at the “Needs Improvement” level and requires further intervention, the candidate will be referred to the MBU SOTE Educator Review Committee (ERC), comprised of select SOTE administrators and faculty members, for intervention and/or remediation. The committee will recommend specific interventions intended to help the candidate achieve the expected targets and benchmarks. Intervention/remediation activities may include, but are not limited to, reduced course load, retake of same course, and guided study. Intervention/remediation may also require enrollment in a 0-6 credit hour SOTE course: EDCL 370-376 Professional Development. As acknowledged when candidates sign the SOTE Initial Certification Dispositions Usage and Purpose Agreement during their EDUC 201 Professional Growth and Folio Development I course, candidates are aware that their professional dispositions will be assessed throughout the teacher education program and will have a bearing on decisions made regarding eligibility to complete the program in a successful manner.
Background Checks for Field Experience and Student Teaching Placement
A completed background check is required by most school districts prior to beginning observations in all field experiences* and for student teaching. All students participating in a field experience or student teaching are required to request a background check through the Family Care Safety Registry of the Department of Health and Senior Services. A new FCSR background check is required each semester.
Family Care Safety Registry
Missouri’s Family Care Safety Registry (FCSR) was established by law to promote family and community safety. The registry helps to protect children, seniors, and the disabled by providing access to background information. Background information consists of Missouri data only and is accessed through the following state agencies:
- State criminal background records maintained by the Missouri State Highway Patrol
- Sex Offender Registry information maintained by the Missouri State Highway Patrol
- Child abuse/neglect records maintained by the Missouri Department of Social Services
- The Employee Disqualification List maintained by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
- The Employee Disqualification Registry maintained by the Missouri Department of Mental Health
- Child-care facility licensing records maintained by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
- Foster parent licensing records maintained by the Missouri Department of Social Services
The DHSS provides convenient registration via the internet at http://health.mo.gov/safety/fcsr/.
First-time registrants:
- Upon entering the DHSS website, click the “Register Online” link and follow all instructions. A social security number and valid credit or debit card are required. “Under Type of Worker,” click on “Voluntary.”
- The registration cost of $14.00 is the responsibility of the student requesting the background check. Debit and credit cards are the forms of payment accepted. There is a $1.25 processing fee.
- If an emailed copy is requested, it will usually be sent within 15 minutes.
- It is the student’s responsibility to submit a copy to the Teacher Education Office.
- This emailed notification should also be taken to the school where the student is observing.
If you are already registered:
- A person needs to register only one time. Click on the link, “Is A Person Already Registered?” and type in the Social Security number to verify that a person is registered with the Family Care Safety Registry.
- Requests for updated background screenings may be made by phone using the toll-free access line, 1-866-422-6872, between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- If an emailed copy is requested, it will usually be sent within 15 minutes.
- It is the student’s responsibility to submit a copy to the Teacher Education Office.
- This emailed notification should also be taken to the school where the student is observing.
*To expedite placement, all students should complete the background check process before the start of the semester in which they will be participating in a field experience or at the time of the Folio exit interview. Questions related to background checks for student teaching should be directed to the Teacher Certification and Compliance Liaison. If the background check is required for Field Experience I or II, please contact the Assistant to the Dean of the College of Education. If the background check is required for a course other than field experience or student teaching, please contact the instructor for that course.
Background Checks for Certification
An FBI background check must be completed before the state of Missouri will issue a professional teaching certificate.
To complete a criminal history check and clearance, candidates must first register with the Missouri Automated Criminal History Site (MACHS). MACHS is located at: www.machs.mo.gov. Those without access to the Internet may contact IDEMIA directly at 1-844-543-9712 to have a Fingerprint Services Representative conduct this registration on their behalf. The four-digit registration number to use for DESE, by those are not currently employed by a Missouri school district, is 2300. (Those who are employed, or are in the process of being hired, should contact the school district for the appropriate registration code.) An expanded number of fingerprint services sites and expanded hours of operation to include evening and weekend hours are available online at https://www.identogo.com/.
Fingerprints captured electronically are more accurate and the results can be expected within three weeks. The cost of electronic fingerprinting with IDEMIA is currently $41.75. The results of the criminal history check and clearance are valid for one year after the clearance date posted on the DESE website. You can find more information on the fingerprint process at the following website: http://www.dese.mo.gov/eq/cert/eq-cert-fingerprint-background.htm.
Questions may also be addressed to DESE Conduct and Investigations at 573-522-8315 or 573-522-8761.
Candidates will be responsible for the background check; DESE will not process the request for certification until the results of the Background Check are received. DESE anticipates the turn-around time will be three weeks from the time the fingerprints are captured. It is recommended that candidates wait to complete their background check until they have passed all exit assessments, since the background clearance is only effective for one calendar year.
Field Experience and Student Teacher Placement Practices
Students requesting field experience and student teacher placements through Missouri Baptist University are hereby advised of the following field experience and student teacher placement practices. The participant’s understanding of and adherence to these practices will enhance the placement process for the student, the school districts, and the School of Teacher Education (SOTE) staff responsible for securing the placements.
- Preparation for Student Teaching begins long before students ever reach the “student teaching” semester. Students should be aware that school district administrators carefully review students’ transcripts and philosophies of education as part of the placement process. A few school districts now have a minimum GPA requirement of 3.0-3.5 for student teaching candidates. Students’ requests for student teacher placement have been denied as a result of even just a few D’s and F’s on their transcripts, even when those courses were repeated and/or if they did not apply to the students’ education major. Students are highly encouraged to be responsible for maintaining academic excellence in all coursework. This is especially important for professional education, field experience, and major content area requirements (for K-12, middle, or secondary majors), as a cumulative 3.000 GPA in professional education courses and in content area courses is required for certification.
- Missouri Baptist University strongly believes that the student teaching experience is vital to the student’s authentic preparation for professional practice; therefore, students must be able to commit to student teaching for an entire school day, Monday-Friday, for a full semester. Students seeking certification in a single content area will complete one full semester teaching experience. Students seeking certification at more than one level (K-12) or in more than one content area must student teach twelve weeks at one level or content area and four weeks at the other level or content area as approved by the Director of Field Experiences. Students will be enrolled online in EDTR 413/513 Trauma Informed Classroom I concurrently with student teaching or CPL Student Teaching MEES Evaluation. All students are also expected to attend the Student Teaching Professional Development Day.
- Students must be fully admitted to the Teacher Education Program [including submitting and having approval for all required documents for the Teacher Education Admission Packet, passing scores on all sections of the required general education assessment (undergraduate degree-seeking students only), 3.00 GPA in professional education and content areas (or higher for those districts which require a higher GPA for student teacher placement), both interviews completed, and all probationary statuses from interviews cleared by April 1 for Fall placements and by November 1 for Spring placements. Failure to be fully approved for student teaching by these dates will result in the student’s application for student teaching being moved to the following semester, which may delay the student’s graduation date, and/or eligibility for teacher certification. These deadlines are crucial to give the SOTE staff appropriate time to request and confirm student teacher placements for students. For optimal placements, students are encouraged to complete all requirements to be approved for student teaching as early as possible in the semester prior to student teaching, as many districts reach their capacity for student teacher requests by mid-semester. [Certain districts and/or schools (including Parkway, Festus R-VI, and Hillsboro Primary) have established specific deadline dates for applications. Students should consult the School Districts That Require Additional Information for Student Teaching Placement for more information.] Please be aware that Students must have an overall cumulative GPA of 2.50 as well as a content area GPA of 3.00 and a professional education GPA of 3.00 for middle, secondary, or K-12 content areas or a 3.00 program GPA for early childhood, elementary, or special education (with no grades below a “C”) in order to be fully admitted and placed for student teaching.
- Students must complete Teaching Field Experience I and Teaching Field Experience II in two different districts. Early Childhood Stand-Alone candidates must complete one Field Experience in grades Pre-K/K and one Field Experience in grades 1-3. Elementary Education candidates must complete one Field Experience in grades 1-3 and one Field Experience in grades 4-6. Students seeking certification in both Early Childhood and Elementary Education should complete one Field Experience in Pre-K/K OR Grades 1-3 and one Field Experience in grades 4-6. Those seeking K-12 or dual certification should complete Field Experiences in Elem and MS/Sec. for K-12 certification and in appropriate grade levels/ subjects for each area of dual certification. Students enrolled in EDCL 211 Teaching Field Experience I must be concurrently enrolled in EDUC 210 Field Experience I Seminar. Students enrolled in EDCL 411/511 must be concurrently enrolled in EDUC 410/510 Teaching Field Experience II Seminar. Successful completion of both seminar courses with a final grade of CR is required for degree completion and/or satisfaction of certification requirements. Candidates who transfer in a course equivalent to EDCL 211 Teaching Field Experience I will be required to enroll in EDCL 220 Transfer Field Experience concurrently with EDUC 201 Professional Growth and Folio Development I. Students may be exempt from EDCL 220 if they can produce documentation of a MEES evaluation or other cooperating teacher or university supervisor evaluation of a lesson or lessons they taught during their field experience course.
- Students who will complete the traditional Field Experience II and student teaching must complete their student teaching in a district different from their Field Experience I and II placements. Students will be placed in the most highly diverse settings possible within MBU’s geographic service area and should carefully plan Field Experience and Student Teaching assignments accordingly. Students will not be permitted to complete all of their Field Experience/ Student Teaching in the same district due to their children’s enrollment in that district or non-academic contractual employment in that district (such as coaching, before or afterschool employment, bus driving duties, etc.). Students should consider these obligations and make preparations as needed well in advance of applying for student teaching, so that they are prepared for the various “life” adjustments that may be required during their student teaching experience. Students may ONLY complete all of their student teaching in the same district if they are employed by the district as a paraprofessional or on a Temporary Authorization or Provisional Certificate. In these cases, the student will be responsible for demonstrating sufficient experiences working with diverse populations. In rare cases, the SOTE staff may approve a student to complete his/her student teaching in the same district and/or same classroom ONLY if all other attempts to place the student elsewhere have failed. In such cases, the SOTE staff will first examine the diverse experiences the student has already accumulated to determine if the student has had sufficient opportunities to work with diverse populations. Therefore, it is vital that students carefully plan all field experiences prior to student teaching, both formal (Teaching Field Experience I and II) and informal (those field experiences embedded in another course), to include diverse populations so that alternative accommodations can be considered, if necessary, during student teaching.
- Students who apply and are accepted to complete the School of Teacher Education Spartan Academy will complete Field Experience II and student teaching in the same district in consecutive semesters. SOTE Spartan Academy students will follow the calendar of the district rather than the Missouri Baptist University calendar and will commit to two full days per week for the field experience and the traditional five days per week during student teaching. Students will select from the approved partner schools as outlined in the SOTE Spartan Academy application.
- Placement requests will be submitted to only ONE district at a time. Students should be aware that a verbal “approval” from a potential cooperating teacher for placement does not guarantee official approval of the placement from the principal or district central office. The SOTE staff is responsible for contacting the appropriate district personnel in writing to officially request student teacher placements. Due to the busy schedules of school administrators who partner with Missouri Baptist University in student teacher placements, it can take a MINIMUM of three to four weeks to confirm a single placement. If a district is not able to place a student teacher, the process begins all over again with a new district, thereby once again, extending the time it may take to confirm a placement. Students will be notified via email when a placement has been confirmed. Once students have been informed of their confirmed placement(s), they are expected to contact the cooperating teacher and building principal as soon as possible, well in advance of the start date, to get acquainted and to begin making any preparations (at the cooperating teacher’s discretion) for the student teaching experience.
- Once the SOTE staff has submitted a student teaching request to a district, requests from students to make a change to their placement may not be considered until/unless the original district indicates that they are not able to accommodate the request. After a placement is confirmed, requests from students to make a change to their placement will not be considered, except in very rare circumstances, which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. If students encounter unforeseen circumstances which they believe will prevent them from fulfilling their student teaching in the district assigned, they have the option to choose to withdraw from student teaching. However, that does not constitute a necessity for the SOTE staff to reassign the student to another district in that same semester. Voluntary, self-imposed withdrawal or dismissal by the school district from a student teaching placement may result in the student’s forfeiture of eligibility to complete student teaching in that semester, and may require that the student reapply for student teaching in a subsequent semester, if more adequate time is needed to devote to securing a new placement for the student. All requests for reassignment must be discussed in person with the Director of Field Experiences before any further action regarding reassignment will be taken. Please note that proximity of the placement to the student’s home/daycare provider is NOT considered a valid reason for withdrawal from a confirmed placement. While the SOTE staff will make every effort to place students as close to their residences/daycare facilities/children’s schools as possible, due to shortages in districts with available openings for student teachers, it is not always possible to place students in neighboring school districts. Students should be prepared to travel up to 30-45 minutes to and from student teaching.
- All students are REQUIRED to attend Student Teaching Orientation held on the Main Campus (usually the end of July/beginning of August for Fall semester student teachers and during Fall semester finals week in December for Spring semester student teachers) prior to beginning their student teaching. Letters are mailed to students approximately one month prior to the Student Teaching Orientation date informing students of the date, time, and location of the meeting. Students who cannot attend the established orientation, should notify the Director of Field Experiences as soon as possible and will be required to attend a make-up orientation, scheduled by the Director of Field Experiences, before they may begin student teaching. Failure to attend the initial orientation meeting may result in the student having to delay the start date of his/her student teaching; therefore, extending the ending date (which may occur after the semester officially concludes and/ or graduation).
Missouri Baptist University is committed to providing pre-service students with a quality student teaching experience and desires to make the placement process as smooth as possible for all parties involved. Please understand that we strive to maintain positive relationships with the partnering school districts and value their time, effort, and hospitality involved in this process as well. It is only through their cooperation that field experience and student teaching placements are possible. These practices are as much to respect the school districts’ needs for timely requests and quality candidates as they are to accommodate the needs of the SOTE students. If students should have any questions regarding field experiences, student teaching, and/or the placement process, please feel free to contact the Director of Field Experiences. MBU desires for all of the student teachers to be successful, and that begins with mutual collaboration in the placement process to ensure quality placements for all students.
Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) Portfolio Credit for Student Teaching Students desiring to petition for credit for a portion of their student teaching experience must have a minimum of two years of classroom instructional experience in the grade level and/ or subject area for which they are seeking certification in order to apply. The experience must be in a public or accredited private school and must be concurrent with enrollment in the Teacher Education Program. To determine eligibility, the student must first complete a CPL conference with the Associate Dean of the School of Teacher Education or his/her designee at least one semester prior to the anticipated student teaching semester. Students must be fully admitted to the Teacher Education Program and have passed the Folio exit interview before CPL credit may be awarded. Students pursuing credit for the full 16 weeks of student teaching through CPL will be observed teaching a minimum of three lessons by an MBU supervisor during their final semester. Candidates will actively participate in the classroom and complete required assignments, with the guidance of the classroom mentor teacher and university supervisor. All students, including those receiving credit for prior learning, will be concurrently enrolled in EDTR 413/513 Trauma Informed Classroom I and EDUC 470 Student Teaching Professional Development Seminar.
School of Teacher Education Spartan Academy
Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle School, Secondary, and K-12 teacher certification candidates may apply to complete Field Experience II and Student Teaching in a Missouri Baptist University partner school. Students who are accepted for the SOTE Spartan Academy program will agree to the following:
- Forego the traditional Missouri Baptist University academic calendar and follow the district school calendar for both semesters.
- Attend the regular school day for the two required days during the Field II experience, spending time in various classrooms at the site.
- Attend the co-requisite seminar course for Field Experience II.
- Attend the regular school day five days a week during the student teaching semester.
- Will have opportunities to participate in school and district-based professional learning, participate in grade level and data team meetings, attend parent teacher conferences and Individual Education Plan meetings, and substitute for the school/district (if eligible for a substitute certificate), among others.
SOTE Spartan Academy gives students the opportunity to experience a complete school year from beginning to end. Students will work with and support teachers who have a variety of teaching styles and methods that will enhance the student’s development as a teacher, while supporting student learning and achievement.
Information and application materials can be obtained from the student’s advisor, the Director of Field Experiences, or online. To access the online application click here.
Student Teaching Load Limit Policy
Students may not be registered for more than 16 credit hours during the semester in which they are enrolled in student teaching or CPL Student Teaching MEES Evaluation. Music Education majors may not be enrolled in any ensemble during their student teaching semester. Candidates on a provisional teaching certification cannot be registered for more than 15 credit hours.
Recency Rule for Student Teaching
Candidates returning to complete their teacher certification program more than five years after completing the student teaching requirement may be required to complete an additional internship. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration whether candidates have been working in a classroom in any capacity during the five years since they student taught (or petitioned for CPL credit for student teaching) and whether it is necessary to collect Missouri Educator Evaluation System (MEES) summative evaluation data. Those that do need to complete an internship must have passed all content assessment(s) required for the certification area(s) for which recommendation is being sought prior to being placed for the internship.
Undergraduate Certification Courses
Students enrolled in the combined Classroom Teaching/Post-Baccalaureate Certification track may count prerequisite undergraduate courses as meeting certification requirements. However, students must still take the minimum number of graduate hours (36) to receive the MAT degree in Classroom Teaching. In most cases, unless they are transferring graduate courses into the program, students will need to complete more than 36 hours in order to meet both certification and degree requirements. Graduate students taking undergraduate courses for certification will pay undergraduate tuition and fees.
Master of Arts in Teaching
Overview
The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) is a 36-hour degree program designed for certified teachers who are interested in adding an additional area of certification, as well as for individuals who would like to complete initial certification in conjunction with a master’s degree, including students on a Temporary Authorization Certificate (TAC). While the MAT degree itself requires only 36 hours, the number of hours in each program will depend on the teaching certificate being sought. (See the Post-Baccalaureate Certification section of this bulletin for areas and levels of certification offered at Missouri Baptist University.) All students in the MAT, including those seeking initial certification, must complete GRED 543 to satisfy the graduate research requirement.
Students who have previously earned a Master of Science in Education: Curriculum and Instruction degree from Missouri Baptist University may not pursue a subsequent Master of Arts in Teaching degree. Students who have previously earned a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from Missouri Baptist University may not pursue a subsequent Master of Science in Education: Curriculum and Instruction degree. Students who have earned a master’s degree in education from another college or university will have their transcript evaluated on a course-by-course basis to determine eligibility for a subsequent degree at Missouri Baptist University.
Summary of the MAT Degree Process
To earn the MAT degree, a student must complete each of the following steps:
- The student must develop a comprehensive plan of study with the Graduate Advisor.
- The student must complete all coursework included in the plan of study.
- The student must complete an action research project in conjunction with GRED 543 .
- An Application for Graduation, signed by the student, Graduate Advisor, and Vice President for Graduate Studies, must be filed with the Graduate Office and the Records Office. Students must pay the required graduation fee. All graduate candidates for graduation during an academic year – Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer – are encouraged to attend the commencement exercises which are held at the close of the Spring Semester. Students must pay the graduation fee whether they attend commencement or not.
- All graduate students must have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average in order to graduate from the program.
Transfer Students and Transfer Credit
Transfer credits must have been earned within the seven (7) years prior to entry into the Graduate Studies Program. Transfer credits must be approved by Graduate Admissions or Advising and the Dean or Program Director and must have grades of A, B, S, CR, or P.
Students may not take courses from other graduate programs while enrolled at Missouri Baptist without written approval from the Vice President for Graduate Studies.
Students entering the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree program may transfer up to nine (9) graduate credits into the Missouri Baptist University Graduate Studies Program from another regionally accredited college or university. The total hours transferred to Missouri Baptist, including courses from other programs while enrolled, may not exceed nine (9) hours.
The University only recognizes institutions accredited by the current edition of Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education published by the CHEA and the American Council on Education.
Directed Studies
Qualified students are permitted to engage in directed studies under supervision of graduate faculty. Under this arrangement, students are enabled to explore subjects in depth, or examine new areas of study, beyond the opportunity afforded by the University’s curriculum. In some cases, catalog courses may be offered as directed studies. Graduate students may not earn more than six (6) credit hours of directed study in their master’s program unless special permission is received in writing from the Vice President for Graduate Studies. Certain courses may not be taken by directed study, as specified in the course description.
Directed study forms are available through the Records Office and approval must be obtained from the student’s Graduate Advisor, the instructor of the course, Dean, and Vice President for Graduate Studies before the beginning of each term. The student and graduate faculty are expected to present the following items as part of the directed study: objectives, detailed description of the study, procedures for student-instructor interaction, method of evaluation, and anticipated resources needed for the study, or a course syllabus may be attached to the directed study form.
Exit Exam
There is no exit exam required for the Master of Arts in Teaching, however, to be considered a program completer and be eligible for certification, students seeking initial certification must pass state mandated assessments.
The Praxis and School Leadership Series (SLS) exams will replace the Missouri Content Assessments (MoCA) as the content area exams required for certification beginning July 1, 2024. However, MoCA exams passed as of June 23, 2024, will continue to be valid. The one exception to this is the Elementary Multi-Content exam. If only one subtest of the EMC MoCA has been passed by June 23, 2024, then a candidate for certification in Elementary Education will have to pass the entire Praxis Elementary Education battery of tests.
Candidates for certification must also achieve a passing composite score on their Missouri Educator Evaluation System (MEES) summative performance assessments from their cooperating teacher and field supervisor completed during student teaching (or in conjunction with EDCL 4700 CPL Student Teaching MEES Evaluation for students petition for credit for prior learning) before being recommended for certification.
Master of Arts in Teaching with School Psychological Examiner Certification
In order to be eligible for the School Psychological Examiner program in conjunction with the Master of Arts in Teaching degree, the candidate must hold a valid Missouri professional teaching certificate or student services certificate of license to teach as an elementary or secondary school counselor. Completion of a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology, Educational Psychology, Guidance and Counseling, or Education is a requirement for this student services certification.
Graduate Certificate in Library Media Specialist
Students pursuing Library Media Specialist Stand-Alone certification must pass the state mandated content assessment for LMS and achieve a passing composite score on the Missouri Educator Evaluation System (MEES) summative evaluation to be eligible for certification. Candidates may pursue this in conjunction with the Master of Arts in Teaching if they are pursuing initial certification as a library media specialist. Candidates must also satisfy the following professional requirements and field experience core in addition to the Library Media Specialist Core in order to be eligible for their initial professional certificate (IPC) from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE):
Professional Requirements: 32 hours (includes 6 hours applicable toward MAT core + 9 hours applicable toward MAT electives)
Field Experience Core: 14 hours (includes 12 hours applicable toward MAT electives)
*(one student teaching placement must be in an elementary school and the other in a middle or secondary school)
**Students must complete at least one field placement in each of the three levels (elementary, middle, high school)
1Undergraduate-only courses required for admission to the Teacher Education Program.
2Undergraduate-only course required in preparation for approval to student teach.
3Courses taken at the 500-level are applicable toward the Master of Arts in Teaching
4Course applicable toward Graduate Certificate in Library Media Specialist
‡Students who transfer in a course for EDRD 423/523 , which does not include an equivalent field experience, must complete EDCL 420/520 .
Graduate Certificates
A graduate certificate may be earned in the field of Trauma Informed Educator. This certificate is a stand-alone certificate and may not be earned concurrently with a master’s degree in the same discipline or track. Students who begin a certificate program and wish to switch to a master’s program must make application to the master’s program through the Graduate Admissions Office and submit all documentation for full admission. Classes may not be transferred in for the certificate programs, and students must complete the required twelve (12) hours through Missouri Baptist University.
Students returning to pursue a master’s degree after earning a certificate may transfer up to six (6) hours from their certificate program into the master’s program. Six (6) alternative hours will replace completed core classes. The student and advisor will decide on appropriate classes with the approval of the Dean of the College of Education.
The graduate certificates require a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale to be granted.
Programs of Study
Specific course requirements can be found on the corresponding program page.
Master
Graduate Certificate
Post-Baccalaureate Certification
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