Certification + Masters

Launch Your Career with Experience that Makes a Difference

Enrolling in the College of Education teacher preparation program actively and uniquely engages you throughout your studies in working with pre K-12 students as they learn and develop in informal and formal learning settings. The College of Education recognizes that we prepare educators for a variety of roles and a variety of contexts (i.e. P-12 schools, youth serving organizations, museums, zoos, gardens, nature centers, after school programs, tutoring/mentoring programs, businesses, legislative offices, etc.) all of which impact student learning. We want to prepare community educators as well as P-12 classroom teachers who can provide relevance, application, and meaning to student learning in developmentally, socially, and culturally responsive ways. As a teacher candidate, you will work with students in youth serving agencies to support them in non-traditional settings. You will also gain valuable practical knowledge by applying university course content to interactions with young learners in academically focused content-based community agencies such the St. Louis Chess Club, Powder Valley, and many United Way agencies.

Our teacher programs offer unique capstone experiences, two practica in “Studio Schools.” These are schools and districts where design happens, using a “differentiated staffing” plan. Specifically, teacher candidates will work in the school site as a faculty member, planning and teaching to provide in-depth support, flexibility, and intervention for pre K–12 students where it’s needed. The focus of this model is on K–12 student learning. Teacher candidates, supported by the supervisor and school site mentor, will impact Pre K–12 students in multiple, varied and wide ranging grade level, achievement and subject specific contexts. These can include small group settings, whole class lessons, enrichment and support lessons all focused learning experiences.

From your first course, “Effective Career Decision Making for Educators,” where you explore educational opportunities at all levels, to your courses directly connected to real world learning in youth serving agencies and content focused organizations and then throughout your practica as you participate in faculty roles and responsibilities, you will be excellently prepared. As a College of Education teacher candidate, you will have state of the art opportunities to make positive impacts on student learning and growth as you become a community educator for all learners.