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.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Studies | ||
| Major Requirements | ||
| EDU 150 | Psychological Development for Children & Adolescents for Educators | 3 |
| EDU 202 | Introduction to Education | 3 |
| EDU 203 | Participation in Teaching I | 1 |
| EDU 225 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| EDU 303 | Experience in Teaching II | 2 |
| EDU 304 | Applied Methods and Management | 3 |
| EDU 308 | Multicultural Education | 3 |
| EDU 311 | Secondary Reading Techniques | 3 |
| EDU 315 | Psychology and Education of the Exceptional Child | 3 |
| EDU 365 | Instructional Methods for the K-12 Learner | 3 |
| EDU 370 | Behavior Management | 3 |
| EDU 404 | Seminar in Secondary Education and Human Relations | 3 |
| EDU 409 | Secondary Student Teaching III | 9 |
| EDU 430 | Teaching Students with Reading Deficits | 3 |
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
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements | ||
| ACC 201 | Introductory Financial Accounting | 3 |
| ACC 202 | Introductory Managerial Accounting | 3 |
| ACT 102 | Introduction to Web Page Development | 3 |
| COM 210 | Presentational Communication | 3 |
| ECO 260 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ECO 261 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| EDU 322 | Implementing Business Education Programs | 3 |
| EDU 323 | Coordination of Cooperative Education | 3 |
| ENT 201 | Entrepreneurship I | 3 |
| or FIN 210 | Personal Finance | |
| or GBA 110 | Introduction to Business | |
| GBA 211 | Business Law I | 3 |
| MGT 350 | Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| MKT 301 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| MKT 370 | Digital Marketing | 3 |
Social Science
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements | ||
| HIS 140 | American History to 1865 | 3 |
| HIS 150 | American History since 1865 | 3 |
| HIS 200 | Ancient and Medieval Civilization | 3 |
| HIS 210 | Early Modern Europe | 3 |
| HIS 230 | Modern Europe: 1789 to the Present | 3 |
| HIS 365 | Methods of Teaching Social Studies | 5 |
| HIS 300 or above - Choose any two (2) American History courses at the 300 or above level | 6 | |
| ECO 260 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| GEO 100 | World Geography | 3 |
| PSC 101 | American National Government | 3 |
| PSC 110 | American State and Local Government | 3 |
| PSC 200 | International Politics | 3 |
| PSY 101 | General Psychology | 3 |
| SOC 110 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
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
- Earn a minimum of 120 credit hours (100 level and higher, maximum of 6 CED credit hours applicable).
- 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.
- Earn 30 of the last 45 credit hours at MWSU in institutional coursework (exclusive of credit by examination).
- Participate in required departmental and campus wide assessments.
- Fulfill the Missouri Constitution requirement.
- Successfully pass the Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement exam.
