Students who are interested in working with special education students in a public or accredited private school in kindergarten - grade 12 should consider certification in Special Education.   Special Education teachers will work with students with identified disabilities (learning disabilities, behavior disorders, mental disabilities, physical or other health impairments).  Special Education teachers are also responsible for assessing students to determine their disability and the required accommodations in the classroom (IEP), and meet with family to discuss appropriate educational goals and support.

There are currently several different certification programs available in Special Education at Missouri State University.  If you are interested in Special Education, you will need to choose one of the programs below:

Cross Categorical, Mild/Moderate Special Education (K-12) 
Cross Categorical, Mild/Moderate Special Education is the most common area of Special Education, and is considered one of the highest need areas of certification in the State of Missouri and throughout the country.  Students who pursue certification in Cross Categorical, Mild/Moderate Special Education as a post bac or masters student are eligible for a Provisional Teaching certificate and may work as a teacher while completing their coursework.  Because most students teach full-time while pursuing the certification, it is considered a 3-year program.

Students in this area of Special Education work with students who have mild to moderate disabilities.  They do not work with students who are severely disabled, and do not work with Visually Impaired or Autistic students. 

Visually Impaired Certification (Birth - Grade 12)
While many Visually Impaired teachers have chosen to add this certification to their existing certificate in Cross Categorical Special Education, Visually Impaired certification can be completed at Missouri State as an initial certificate program.  Teachers with certification in Visually Impaired (Blind and Partially Sighted) [Birth - Grade 12] work specifically with students who have visual impairments.  This program was designed to allow students to earn initial certification in Missouri, however since the program is offered online candidates from other states may access the coursework and then could transfer their certification from Missouri to their home state*. 

*(Missouri State does not guarantee the transferability of this certification to other states.  Students are encouraged to investigate the requirements to transfer this certificate to their home state prior to beginning this program). 

Severely Developmentally Disabled Certification (Birth - Grade 12) 
MISSOURI STATE IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING APPLICATIOS FOR THIS PROGRAM.  Until additional faculty and administrative resources can be developed, we are unable to continue offering this program.  Please contact Dr. Paris DePaepe at 417-836-4761 for more information on this program. 

Due to a shortage of both teachers in Severely Developmentally Disabled and Institutions offering certification programs in this area, Missouri State University has developed an “Alternative Certification Program” approved by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) for initial or added certification in Special Education, Severely Developmentally Disabled (Birth – Grade 12).

This combined certification/master’s degree program allows students to work on a Provisional Teaching Certificate while pursuing coursework for full certification. Because students usually complete this program while working full-time, it is considered a “3-year” program.

This program will prepare students to research and implement effective practices in the school districts with emphasis on the following areas:

• Conducting ongoing functional behavioral analysis to support development of positive behavioral supports and classroom management systems

• Implementing various standardized and curriculum based assessments to support identification and individualized programming

• Program outcome assessment aligned to District and State standards

• Least restrictive environment, socialization and normalization
• Functional, adaptive curriculum
• Life skills and community based instruction

• Non-symbolic and symbolic communication assessment and augmentative communication systems

• Family and inter-professional collaboration

• Intervention and assessment for students with significant sensory, motor and severe/chronic health needs

• Leadership and clinical skills in assessment and intervention
• Professional writing and applied research