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Secondary Education

Secondary Education2022-04-20T09:18:48-05:00

To succeed in the classroom as a secondary school teacher, you need a specific skill set that not only prepares you to teach teen-aged students, but also equips you with a level of expertise in your chosen subject.

The Department of Education is state and nationally approved to offer courses in the following areas: K-12 Music (Instrumental and Vocal), 9-12 Social Science, and 9-12 Business. Students must have a grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in their content area and in education coursework and an overall GPA of 2.5.

The Department of Education also offers alternative certification in additional 9-12 and K-12 fields through an alternative certification route, at the graduate level. This certification route is for those who already have a bachelor’s degree in an content area. Please see the MAT – Secondary website for more details: https://www.missouriwestern.edu/education/mat/

Contact the Education Department to learn more or schedule an appointment with an advisor today!

Secondary Education (Bachelor of Science in Education, B.S.E.)

The Department of Education faculty is committed to the professional preparation of teachers for employment in early childhood education programs. The goals are to prepare teachers who are:

  • Classroom leaders, professionally prepared to accept responsibility for student learning (MWSU Conceptual Framework);
  • Highly knowledgeable in their cognitive areas (MoSPE/MWSU/INTASC Standards);
  • Skilled in the techniques and methods of teaching across a diverse student population (MoSPE/MWSU/INTASC Standards);
  • Practiced in the application of six domains of positive teacher dispositions (MWSU Disposition).

The Professional Semester

EDU 409 Secondary Student Teaching III is to be taken during the senior year. EDU 404 Seminar in Secondary Education and Human Relations is taken concurrently with Secondary Student Teaching III.  This semester is designated as a professional education semester.  A passing score on the Content Area Assessment is required before enrollment in EDU 404 Seminar in Secondary Education and Human Relations or EDU 409 Secondary Student Teaching III.

Coursework during the professional education semester is usually limited to EDU 404 Seminar in Secondary Education and Human Relations and EDU 409 Secondary Student Teaching III.  Petition for any additional coursework must be submitted to the Coordinator of Clinical Experiences in the semester prior to Secondary Student Teaching III.  If granted, approval will be endorsed by the cooperating teacher whom the student is assigned.

Students enrolled in Secondary Student Teaching III will assume the daily teaching schedule of the cooperating teacher.

Admission Requirements

  • ACT composite score of 20 or higher or successful completion of the Missouri General Education Assessment (MoGEA)
  • Overall GPA of 2.50
  • Professional GPA of 3.0
  • Content GPA of 3.0
  • Satisfactory completion of EDU 202/203

*Alternative avenues to Teacher Education available for recruitment of historically under-served populations.  Contact the Department Chairperson for guidelines and procedures.

General Studies
Major Requirements
EDU 150Psychological Development for Children & Adolescents for Educators3
EDU 202Introduction to Education3
EDU 203Participation in Teaching I1
EDU 225Educational Psychology3
EDU 303Experience in Teaching II2
EDU 304Applied Methods and Management3
EDU 308Multicultural Education3
EDU 311Secondary Reading Techniques3
EDU 315Psychology and Education of the Exceptional Child3
EDU 365Instructional Methods for the K-12 Learner3
EDU 370Behavior Management3
EDU 404Seminar in Secondary Education and Human Relations3
EDU 409Secondary Student Teaching III9
EDU 430Teaching Students with Reading Deficits3

NOTE: In addition to the above major coursework, students may be required to take an Orientation Workshop, EDU 110.  Also, upon Education Department determination, some students will be required to enroll in EDU 200 for state certification requirements.

Concentrations:

Business
Social Science

Business

Concentration Requirements
ACC 201Introductory Financial Accounting3
ACC 202Introductory Managerial Accounting3
ACT 102Introduction to Web Page Development3
COM 210Presentational Communication3
ECO 260Principles of Macroeconomics3
ECO 261Principles of Microeconomics3
EDU 322Implementing Business Education Programs3
EDU 323Coordination of Cooperative Education3
ENT 201Entrepreneurship I3
or FIN 210 Personal Finance
or GBA 110 Introduction to Business
GBA 211Business Law I3
MGT 350Organizational Behavior3
MKT 301Principles of Marketing3
MKT 370Digital Marketing3

Social Science

Concentration Requirements
HIS 140American History to 18653
HIS 150American History since 18653
HIS 200Ancient and Medieval Civilization3
HIS 210Early Modern Europe3
HIS 230Modern Europe: 1789 to the Present3
HIS 365Methods of Teaching Social Studies5
HIS 300 or above - Choose any two (2) American History courses at the 300 or above level6
ECO 260Principles of Macroeconomics3
GEO 100World Geography3
PSC 101American National Government3
PSC 110American State and Local Government3
PSC 200International Politics3
PSY 101General Psychology3
SOC 110Introduction to Sociology3

Program Graduation Requirements

1. Earn a grade of C or higher in all major and concentration coursework.

2. Earn an overall GPA of at least 2.50 and a major GPA of 3.0.

University Graduation Requirements 

  1. Earn a minimum of 120 credit hours (100 level and higher, maximum of 6 CED credit hours applicable).
  2. Earn a minimum of 30 credit hours in upper-division courses.  Lower-division transfer courses accepted as meeting upper-division departmental course requirements cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.
  3. Earn 30 of the last 45 credit hours at MWSU in institutional coursework (exclusive of credit by examination).
  4. Participate in required departmental and campus wide assessments. 
  5. Fulfill the Missouri Constitution requirement.
  6. Successfully pass the Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement exam. 
High school teacher with students