Degrees and Areas of Concentration
The School of Education offers work leading to the B.S. in education with specialization in any of the following: early childhood education, elementary education, special education, physical education, and secondary education. Courses are also available for those seeking certification for middle school. In cooperation with other schools and colleges of the university, the School of Education provides a program for students pursuing other degrees but planning on a teaching career in secondary education.

General Education Requirements
Students in the School of Education must meet university and departmental general education requirements specified for their degrees.

Academic Residence
Students must be in residence for 30 of the last 30 semester hours of credit. Courses graded on a satisfactory/ unsatisfactory basis are not accepted within these last 30 semester credit hours. This residency requirement applies to students seeking a degree or teacher certification.

Attention Education Majors: Professional education courses must be completed with a grade point average of 2.5 and no grade lower than a C (2.0). A C grade is not acceptable.

Admission Policies
Admission to the School of Education
Any students who designate education degree programs as their intended degree paths will have Education as their assigned academic unit.  Students admitted to the School of Education must also be admitted to the teacher education program.

Application and Admission To The School of Education  All students (pre and postdegree) who wish to become teachers must be admitted to the teacher education program regardless of the college or school in which they are enrolled. The admission program requires student action at the following levels.

Applications to the teacher education program are processed through the office of teacher education. Eligibility is based upon fulfillment of the following requirements:

  1. Submitted qualifying scores on C-BASE in areas of English, writing, mathematics, science and social studies, as mandated by the Missouri Excellence in Education Act of 1985.  Consult the office of teacher education, School of Education, for test descriptions, cost, required scores, dates of administration, retest policies, etc. Acceptable CBASE scores are required in addition to acceptable ACT or SAT scores. (CBASE not applicable to students with a bachelor's degree. Graduates of the general studies program in the UMSt. Louis Evening College, however, must take the CBASE).
  2. Scored either 20 on the ACT Composite (18, when taken prior to 11189) or 800 on the SAT (verbal plus math)*.
  3. Completed 60 hours of college or university courses (at UMSt. Louis or another accredited school).
  4. Accumulated a grade point average of 2.5 or better.
  5. Completed Educ 101, Introduction to Classroom Teaching, or the equivalent, with a grade of C or better. (Not applicable for secondary education or early childhood education majors).
  6. Completed Ed Fnd 111, The School in Contemporary Society, or the equivalent, with a grade of C or better.
  7. Received screening test in hearing (at nominal cost at the UMSt. Louis Health Center or off campus at personal expense).
  8. Received screening test in vision (at no cost at UMSt. Louis Optometry Clinic or off campus at personal expense).
  9. Agreed to adhere to ethical codes which have particular pertinence during clinical  experiences. (These codes are available in the office of teacher education, School of Education.)
  10. Agreed to subscribe to a standard of preprofessional behavior which will enhance greater selfawareness if social or emotional difficulties arise which may affect future teacher  effectiveness. (This standard is available in the office of teacher education.)
  11. Submitted a notarized Affidavit of Moral Character which includes a criminal check and child abuse/neglect screening

* Policy for Students Scoring Below ACT and SAT Qualifying Requirements  Students who do not achieve satisfactory scores of 20 on the ACT or 800 on the SAT may retake the test(s) until the requirement is met. Students who initially score below the required ACT score of 20 or SAT score of 800 may petition the dean of education to attest that basic educational competencies are met if their grade point average from 60 hours of college or university courses is at least 2.5 and they have performed satisfactorily on a normreferenced achievement test other than ACT or SAT. Students must produce evidence that the ACT or SAT was initially completed and a score recorded.

Students with a documented disabling condition, preventing valid test administration of the ACT or SAT, may be evaluated for basic educational competencies through appropriate testing instruments and/or procedures designated and approved by the dean of the School of Education.

Students who do not meet the initial ACT or SAT qualifying scores may seek assistance in upgrading basic competencies through contact with one or more of the following University of MissouriSt. Louis services:

    Center for Academic Development
    Women's Center
    Counseling Service
    Veteran Affairs Office
    Video Instructional Program
    Horizons (Peer Counseling Center)

In addition, assistance may be available through correspondence courses, University of MissouriColumbia. Copies of this policy are available in the office of teacher education.