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, which should be taken the second semester of the candidate’s sophomore year or first semester of enrollment for those transferring with junior or higher class rank.
The TEAP 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*. Once the completed TEAP has been received, candidates may schedule their interview for admission to the Teacher Education Program.
A passing composite score on the ACT, SAT, or Paraprofessional exam (or passing score report for MoGEA subtests 066 – Reading Comprehension & Interpretation, 067 – Writing, and 068 – Mathematics) is also required only for undergraduate degree-seeking candidates. It must be noted that no undergraduate degree-seeking candidate will be admitted into the Teacher Education program without satisfying the required general education assessment measure. ** Post-baccalaureate students seeking initial certification, whether at the graduate- or undergraduate level, are exempt from the general education assessment requirement, per DESE rules.
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 (must have a B or better in 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 (must have a B or better in Gateway Courses) **
Undergraduate students may take the following 20 credit hours prior to completing the process for admission to the Teacher Education Program:
- EDUC 201 – Professional Growth and Folio Development I (Must be taken second semester of the sophomore year or first semester of enrollment for students transferring with a class rank of junior or higher) †
- EDUC 200 – Continuing Portfolio Development for Teacher Candidates (Must be enrolled concurrently with EDUC 201 – Professional Growth and Folio Development I)
- EDUC 203 – Teaching in a Diverse Society †
- EDCL 211 – Teaching Field Experience I † ‡
- EDUC 210 – Field Experience I Seminar (must be taken concurrently with EDCL 211 – Teaching Field Experience I) †
- EDUC 303 – Methods of Teaching and Differentiated Instruction †
- ECTA 323 – Curriculum, Assessment, and Data-Based Decision Making
- EDUC 373 – Technology and Instructional 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 fully 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 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 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.
**Undergraduate degree-seeking students who have not yet satisfied the required general education assessment measure, but who have submitted all materials required for admission listed above and have successfully passed their admission interview, may 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 (or designee). Likewise, students 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. Approval to continue on probation for either the general education assessment measure or GPA/Gateway course grade issues must be approved on a semester-by-semester basis.
School of Teacher Education Gateway Courses
- EDUC 201 – Professional Growth and Folio Development I
- EDCL 211 – Teaching Field Experience I
- EDCL 220 – Transfer Field Experience (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.
Formal Acceptance into the Teacher Education Program
Candidates who have passed their admission interview, achieved the above GPA requirements, satisfied the grade requirements for the Gateway Courses they have completed, and met the general education assessment requirement for admission will be recommended to the full-time faculty of the School of Teacher Education for official acceptance into the Teacher Education Program.
All candidates must be fully admitted before they will be allowed to register for EDCL 411 Teaching Field Experience II and EDUC 401 Professional Growth and Folio Development II, which are prerequisites for student teaching.
Candidates must complete an interview for admission after submitting their complete TEAP in order to be admitted into the program.