Bachelor of Arts: Elementary Education-Special Education Emphasis
University Requirements
General Education
UMKC Essentials is the university-wide curriculum that all undergraduate students will complete. The 30-credit hour program includes a First Year Experience course; three critical thinking courses in the areas of Arts & Humanities, Natural & Physical Sciences, and Social & Behavioral Sciences; a course in Culture and Diverse Perspectives; a course in Civic & Urban Engagement; two courses in Written Composition and one course in Oral Communication; and a Math Pathway course. Transfer students entering UMKC will elect from the UMKC Essentials General Education Program or the Missouri Core 42 General Education Curriculum. Academic advisors will meet with incoming transfer students to determine which option best serves the student’s educational needs. More information about General Education may be found here: https://catalog.umkc.edu/undergraduate-academic-regulations-information/general-education-requirements/
Constitution Course
Every undergraduate student must take a course covering the United States Constitution and the Missouri State Constitution before graduation. Course options are included in the program requirements section below.
Exit Examinations
Information on exit examinations is available in the Undergraduate Academic Regulations and Information section of the catalog.
Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination
In accordance with Missouri Senate Bill 807 (section 170.013.1), 'any student entering a public institution of higher education for the first time after July 2019 who is pursuing an associate's or bachelor's degree from such institution shall successfully pass an examination on the provisions and principles of American civics with a score of seventy percent or greater as a condition of graduation from such institution'. To satisfy this requirement at UMKC, students access the exam through the Canvas site. This requirement will be listed in the degree audit system as, 'Take State Mandated Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination', and listed on the transcript as 'Missouri Civics Examination'.
Admission to the Teacher Education Professional Program
Initial admission at the freshman or sophomore level will be as a pre-professional elementary education major to the School of Education, Social Work, and Psychological Sciences in accordance with regular UMKC admissions standards.
Students completing the professional program in special education at the bachelor’s level will earn a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education with an emphasis in special education. The application process to the professional Teacher Education program occurs in the Spring semester, with admission to the professional program occurring in the Fall semester only. Current UMKC students seeking entry into professional Teacher Education program in special education should apply for admission during the Spring semester prior to when they anticipate completion of the majority of their pre-professional coursework.
Transfer students who enter with 60 credit hours or an earned associate’s degree may be admitted directly into the professional teacher preparation program in special education provided that they meet all program requirements listed below. Applicant transcripts will be reviewed to ensure that students have completed pre-professional courses. If a student is missing specific required courses, the student will be advised to take them upon entry into UMKC. Complete transfer student applications, including submission of the Missouri Substitute Teacher Certification, must be received two weeks prior to the start of the fall semester in order for an applicant to be considered for entry into the professional program. Transfer students who do not meet these requirements may enter as a pre-professional major with opportunity to be considered for the professional program at a later date.
Full admission into the profession-level Teacher Education program requires:
- Completion of pre-professional requirements with a GPA of 3.0 or higher in all TCH-ED courses and 2.75 or higher overall (cumulative).
- Completion of interview with TCH-ED faculty (to be scheduled once the intention to apply survey is submitted or complete transfer application is received).
- Completion of all General Education classes.
- Missouri Substitute Teacher Certification.
For more information, visit https://seswps.umkc.edu/current-students/how-to-become-a-teacher/teacher-education-application.html
NOTE: During the student teaching semester, teacher candidates follow the school district’s calendar, not the UMKC academic/semester calendar. Teacher candidates begin student teaching according to the school district's calendar and not the first day of the UMKC academic/semester calendar.
Student Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from this program will:
- Understand how learners grow and develop, recognizing that patterns of learning and development vary individually within and across the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas, and designs and implements developmentally appropriate and challenging learning experiences.
- Understand individual differences and diverse cultures and communities to ensure inclusive learning environments that enable each learner to meet high standards.
- Work with others to create environments that support individual and collaborative learning, and that encourage positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation.
- Understand the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline(s) he or she teaches and creates learning experiences that make these aspects of the discipline accessible and meaningful for learners to assure mastery of the content.
- Understand how to connect concepts and use differing perspectives to engage learners in critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative problem solving related to authentic local and global issues.
- Understand and use multiple methods of assessment to engage learners in their own growth, to monitor learner progress, and to guide the teacher’s and learner’s decision making.
- Plan instruction that supports every student in meeting rigorous learning goals by drawing upon knowledge of content areas, curriculum, cross-disciplinary skills, and pedagogy, as well as knowledge of learners and the community context.
- Understand and use a variety of instructional strategies to encourage learners to develop deep understanding of content areas and their connections, and to build skills to apply knowledge in meaningful ways.
- Engage in ongoing professional learning and use evidence to continually evaluate their practice, particularly the effects of their choices and actions on others (learners, families, other professionals, and the community), and adapt practice to meet the needs of each learner.
- Seek appropriate leadership roles and opportunities to take responsibility for student learning, to collaborate with learners, families, colleagues, other school professionals, and community members to ensure learner growth, and to advance the profession.
The educator preparation program in the UMKC School of Education, Social Work and Psychological Sciences subscribes to the Missouri Standards for the Preparation of Educators (MoSPE) which can be found on the website of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education - dese.mo.gov. The student learning outcomes for the BA in Elementary Education program listed above reflect the Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC) standards that are required as the basis for teacher preparation programs by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
Completion of this program leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree in the School of Education, Social Work and Psychological Sciences. Contingent upon satisfactory completion of all degree coursework and state testing requirements, teacher candidates may be eligible for certification upon recommendation of the Teacher Education faculty.
A 3.00 cumulative GPA and 3.00 professional education GPA is required at completion of the program. Grades of C (2.00) or better are required in pre-education and professional education courses. Prospective students and teacher candidates should meet each semester with an academic advisor to determine specific course requirements.
The School of Education, Social Work and Psychological Sciences requires all teacher candidates to have current professional liability insurance during all field experiences and student teaching. Verification of current professional liability insurance must be provided to the Education Student Services office. Insurance can be obtained through “student membership” in an educational organization (e.g., MSTA or NEA) that provides such insurance or purchased coverage through an independent insurance agent. The University does not promote membership in any specific educational organization.
Candidates admitted to the Professional Teacher Education Program must uphold all academic and social regulations and policies established by the School of Education, Social Work, and Psychological Sciences. Candidates are subject to any Missouri legislative action or State Board of Education policy that may become effective during the lifetime of this catalog. The responsibility of the School of Education, Social Work and Psychological Sciences is to recommend qualified candidates for licensure to the state and to ensure our candidates meet or exceed these requirements. While the degree programs outlined in the catalog are aligned with state requirements, certification is dependent on both the degree requirements and successful completion of all state assessments required by the Missouri State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
UMKC Essentials
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First Semester Experience Course (GEFSE) | 3 | |
| Written Communication: | ||
| ENGLISH 110 | Introduction to Academic Prose | 3 |
| ENGLISH 225 | English II: Intermediate Academic Prose | 3 |
| Oral Communication (choose one of the following): | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Effective Speaking and Listening | ||
| Introduction to Communication | ||
| Argumentation And Debate (offered via dual credit only) | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Math Pathway (choose one of the following): | 3 | |
| Mathematics For Liberal Arts | ||
| Statistical Reasoning | ||
| Precalculus Algebra | ||
| Precalculus (5 credit hours) | ||
Any 200-level MATH or STAT course | ||
ACT Math Subscore of 28 or higher; or SAT Math Subscore of 660 or higher | ||
| Critical Thinking in Arts & Humanities (GECRT-AH) | 3 | |
| Critical Thinking in Natural & Physical Sciences (GECRT-SC) | 3 | |
| Critical Thinking in Social & Behavioral Sciences (GECRT-SS) | 3 | |
| Culture & Diverse Perspectives (GECDV) | 3 | |
| Civic & Urban Engagement (GECUE) | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Constitution Course Requirement
Section 170.011.1 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, 2015, states that all candidates for a degree issued by a college or university in the state of Missouri must have “satisfactorily passed an examination on the provisions and principles of the Constitution of the United States and of the state of Missouri, and in American history and American institutions.”
Courses at UMKC that satisfy this state requirement are:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| The Supreme Court And The Criminal Process | ||
| U.S. History to 1877 | ||
| U.S. History Since 1877 | ||
| Honors American Government | ||
| American Government | ||
| Total Credits | 3 | |
There are a few other ways this requirement can be satisfied for students transferring to UMKC:
- Take an equivalent course from the list above at a regionally accredited institution.
- Earn credit for one of the above courses through AP, IB, or CLEP.
- Take a course that directly satisfies the Missouri Constitution Requirement at another Missouri institution.
- Have a previous bachelors degree (or higher) from a regionally accredited institution.
- Have an Associate of Arts degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- Complete the 42 Hour Core at a Missouri institution and have it listed on the official transcript.
Pre-Professional Coursework
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| TCH-ED 130 | Number Systems and Related Topics 1,3 | 3 |
| TCH-ED 140 | Geometry for Elementary Teachers 1,3 | 3 |
| TCH-ED 160 | Introduction to Teaching 2,3 | 3 |
| TCH-ED 201 | Children's Literature | 3 |
| TCH-ED 251 | Child and Adolescent Development for Future Educators | 3 |
| or TCH-ED 400 | Child Development | |
| TCH-ED 403 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| TCH-ED 404 | Education of the Exceptional Child and Youth | 3 |
| Total Credits | 21 | |
- 1
For student’s completing the Core 42 general education curriculum, upon successful completion of the MOTR (Natural Sciences) knowledge area requirement, student’s will only be required to complete either TCH-ED 130 or TCH-ED 140.
- 2
For student’s completing the Core 42 general education curriculum, TCH-ED 160 will be satisfied upon successful completion of the MOTR (Social Sciences) knowledge area requirement. Please see the degree audit for specifics.
- 3
Students transferring with a completed Core 42 curriculum at a participating Missouri institution, or an Associate of Arts degree from any regionally accredited institution will be waived from TCH-ED 160, and will be required to take either TCH-ED 130 or TCH-ED 140.
Teacher Education Professional Program
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC-SP 401 | Theories of Behavior and Policies in Special Education | 3 |
| EDUC-SP 407 | Educating Exceptional Children And Youth | 3 |
| EDUC-SP 408 | Assessment and Data Literacy in Special Education | 3 |
| EDUC-SP 409 | Cognition and Language Development in Mild/Moderate Cross-Categorical Disabilities | 3 |
| EDUC-SP 410 | Teaching Students with Mild/Moderate Cross-Categorical Disabilities | 3 |
| EDUC-SP 414 | Behavioral Intervention and Instructional Support in Special Education | 3 |
| TCH-ED 310 | Classroom Climate and Organization | 3 |
| TCH-ED 314 | Cultural Diversity and Teaching English Language Learners | 3 |
| TCH-ED 316 | Reading and Language Arts I | 4 |
| TCH-ED 317 | Reading and Language Arts II | 4 |
| TCH-ED 318 | Literacy Assessment and Instruction | 3 |
| TCH-ED 385 | Teaching and Learning with Technology | 3 |
| TCH-ED 397 | Practicum I - Elementary | 1 |
| TCH-ED 398 | Practicum II – Elementary | 1 |
| TCH-ED 413 | Mathematics in the Elementary School I | 3 |
| TCH-ED 419 | Student Teaching in Elementary School | 9 |
| or TCH-ED 461 | Student Teaching In Middle School | |
| TCH-ED 429 | Mathematics in the Elementary School II | 3 |
| TCH-ED 438 | Culturally Responsive Strategies for Teaching Diverse Learners | 3 |
| TCH-ED 475 | Working with Families and Communities | 3 |
| TCH-ED 478 | Seminar - Elementary | 3 |
| TCH-ED 479 | Practicum III – Elementary | 1 |
| or TCH-ED 424 | Practicum III - Middle and High School | |
| Upper Level Teacher Education Elective (with departmental approval) | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 68 | |
Total Credits: 122
Year 1