Students who are interested in working as a teacher in a public or accredited private school in grades 9-12 should consider Secondary Education Certification.   Secondary Education teachers must choose a content area to teach (Agriculture, Business, English, Math, Social Studies, etc) and can only teach in their content area.  Students with a bachelor's degree in a field closely related to an area of Secondary Education who wish to teach in a High School setting would choose this program.

Students choosing Secondary Education certification (9-12) may also add Middle School (grades 5-9) in the same content area.  Post bac students may add middle school by completing an additional 12 credit hours of middle school coursework, and Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) students may add middle school for only 3 additional hours.   For those with a related degree, it is typically  faster to complete both Secondary and Middle School certification than to pursue the Middle School program at Missouri State.

Currently there are two different options for those wishing to pursue certification in Secondary Education:

Post - Baccalaureate Teacher Certification

The post baccalaureate teacher certification program at Missouri State University allow candidates with a 2.50 minimum GPA and a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university to pursue certification at the undergraduate, non-degree seeking level.  This program offers a flexible schedule, and most courses are offered both during the day and in the evening.    Please click here to review the Post Baccaulaureate Teacher Certification admission criteria.

Students can work at their own pace, attending classes part time or full time.  Post bac students complete the same courses as our undergraduate BSED majors, but the certification program may be streamlined to allow post bac students to complete the program in the shortest time possible.   The average amount of time to complete a post bac certification program if the student attends full time is 1 1/2 years. 

Who would choose the Post-Bac route to certification?

• Students who do not meet the minimum GPA requirement of a 2.75 for admission to the Master's level  program
• Students who cannot take evening courses
• Students who do not feel ready to complete a Master's Degree program, or already have a masters degree in another field.

What courses will I need to take?For a list of courses required for certification in Secondary Edcuation at the Post Bac level, you can view the appropriate Academic Program Guide for the area of certification you wish to pursue .

How do you apply for the Post-Bac program?Getting started couldn't be easier!  Just go to our Application Process website and follow the detailed instructions on that page.

Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Program

This program has now also been expanded to include a separate cohort for students who have recently graduated with a Bachelor's Degree, but have decided to pursue teaching as a career.  Students should have a minium of two (2) years of work experience in their field before being considered for admission to the MAT program.  For these students without significant work experience in their field, additional content and teaching methodology coursework may be required. 

Since the MAT program is an "Accelerated" or "Alternative" route to certification, as defined by DESE, it is strictly sequenced and cannot be completed one course at a time while working full-time outside the field of education.  However, this program WAS designed for those who desire to teach full-time in the high school setting on a Provisional Certificate while pursuing certification.

Who is it for? This program is currently offered at Missouri State University in Springfield, on the Missouri Southern campus in Joplin, and at Missouri State - West Plains.  All programs are classroom-based, so students are required to attend classes on that campus.  However, Joplin and West Plains students can complete their entire program (including content coursework) without ever coming to the Springfield campus. (Because West Plains is a Community College campus, any required 300 level or above content coursework will need to be taken at a 4 year institution.  See your advisor for options.)

Since the MAT program has a competitive admissions policy and can only admit a certain number of students each summer, the following criteria are considered when selecting students for this program:

• Those pursuing Secondary Education or K-12 certification.
• Those with a Bachelor's Degree in an area closely related to the area they wish to teach and have significant work experience in their field. 
• Those with an Overall Cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 and a content area (the area you will be teaching) GPA of at least 2.50.
• Those who are interested in teaching in high need areas (preference is given to candidates pursuing math, science and foreign languages, but candidates in all certification areas are considered).

What courses would I take?Those students who are accepted into the MAT will take a 39 hour core of education courses, and will have to complete content area coursework in the subject area they will be teaching.  (For recent graduates and those without significant work experience in their field, additional content and teaching methodology coursework may be required.)

• To view the 39 hour core of Master's level education courses,  you must first choose which campus you will be attending.

        MAT Springfield
        MAT Joplin
        MAT - West Plains

• To view the required content area coursework for each area of secondary education, go to the Academic Program Guide page, and then select the area of certification you wish to pursue.  The document will show general education and undergraduate level education coursework (those areas will NOT be required in the MAT) as well as the content area coursework required in the MAT.  You will be required to have completed the content area coursework. 

Steps to Apply: (Early application Deadline each year is February 15th, and applications are taken until the program is full.  Students are strongly encouraged to apply early.)

• Request a transcript analysis from the Teacher Certification Office in the area of Secondary Education you wish to teach.  For information on how to get a transcript analysis, click here.  
• Apply to the Graduate College.  You can either visit the Graduate College office on 3rd floor Carrington Hall, or visit their website by clicking here.  
• Take the Praxis II exam for your content area.  To register for the Praxis II online, click here. If you aren't sure which Praxis II exam to take, click here for a list of test codes by content area.  You do not need to pass the Praxis II in order to be admitted to the program, but taking the test is a requirement for admission to the MAT program.  Your score will also be one of the considerations when determining your remaining content area coursework.  You do have to pass the Praxis II exam before completing the MAT program in order to be recommended for certification.  
• Apply to the Director of Special Programs in Hill Hall, Room 207. The following documents must be included in your application materials:

  • A letter of interest describing your career goals and why you feel you would be a good candidate for the MAT program

  • A current resume'

  • Three letters of reference. If currently employed by a school district, one letter should be from a supervisor in that school.  At least one letter needs to be an academic reference.

• Once you are admitted to the Graduate College and to the MAT program, the Teacher Certification Office will complete a new Individualized Program of Study for you to reflect MAT coursework.

What if I want to get started before the summer session?

If you would like to start taking certification courses BEFORE starting the MAT program during a summer session, it is VERY important that you come in and talk with someone in the Teacher Certification Office.  We will advise you regarding which courses in your program will count toward both the traditional Post-Bac program and the MAT program.  Undergraduate education courses will NOT be applied to the MAT degree program.  For an appointment with an advisor, please call 417-836-8772.

For additional information please contact:

Dr. Emmett Sawyer, Director of Special Programs & Accreditation
836-3170
Hill Hall, Room 207
emmettsawyer@missouristate.edu