Program Description
For the Master of Arts in Teaching Program, Columbia College and the Education Faculty have endorsed national certification of teachers, and have adopted the core proposals of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards as goals of the program. When conducting best practice, teachers:
- Are committed to students and their learning;
- Know the subjects they teach and how to teach those subjects to students;
- Are responsible for managing and monitoring student learning;
- Think systematically about their practice and learn from experience; and
- Are members of learning communities.
To help students reach these goals, Columbia College believes that truly effective teaching must be modeled, not just taught. Therefore faculty are encouraged to engage students in active learning, problem solving, interactive dialogue and questioning, and constant exploration of what is and what could be. Students are supported in their efforts: to identify and evaluate relevant issues as they relate to various aspects of teaching and learning; to engage in critical and creative thinking with colleagues, peers and professors; to develop as whole persons, valuing individualism, uniqueness and diversity of others; to consistently use reflection and research as the foundation for decision making; and, to value and promote professionalism and a commitment to learning that is never ending.
Students who are seeking teacher certification and do not meet graduate admission requirements may qualify for the Undergraduate Post-Baccalaureate Certification Program offered at select campuses. In addition to Columbia College admission requirements, the state of Missouri requires a minimum grade point average (GPA) in certification content area, professional education coursework, and overall. Official admission to the Teacher Certification Program (TCP) requires an overall GPA of 2.75, a content area GPA of 3.0, and a professional education GPA of 3.0 (on a 4-point scale). Once admitted to the TCP, students are reviewed on a yearly basis until they complete or withdraw from the program. Areas for review could include GPA, conduct, and student progress. Note that teacher certification is not available online.
Add-On Certifications
Mild/Moderate Cross Categorical Special Education, Gifted Education, and Reading Specialist certificate programs are available at select campuses to students who are certified teachers. Students wishing to pursue an add-on certificate need to work closely with their academic advisors to fulfill certification requirements.
Columbia College offers Teacher Certification Programs in:
- Art Education (K-12)
- Music Education (K-12)
- Special Education (K-12)
- Elementary Education (1-6)
- Middle School Education (5-9)
(Content areas: Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Speech/Theatre)
- Secondary Education (9-12)
(Content areas: Biology, Business (non-vocational), Chemistry, English, General Science, Mathematics, Social Studies, Speech/Theatre)
Click here to view additional information about our certification programs.