Missouri State University

Office of the Registrar

2013-2014 Undergraduate Catalog

Preliminary Edition
published April 2013

College of Education

Interim Dean: Professor David L. Hough, Ph.D.

Interim Associate Dean: Professor Sue George, Ph.D.

Office: Hill Hall, Room 304
Phone: (417) 836-5254, Fax: (417) 836-4884
Email: CollegeofEducation@missouristate.edu
Website: http://education.missouristate.edu

Academic Units

Center for Research and Service

Institute for School Improvement

The mission of the Institute for School Improvement (ISI) is to achieve improved learning through research and development collaborations between PreK-12 schools, community constituents, and higher education institutions. Located at Missouri State University (MSU), ISI is a research arm of the College of Education. The Dean of the College of Education serves as head of the Institute, a senior faculty member serves as director of research and evaluation, and an experienced staff member serves as coordinator of school and community partnerships. The director and ISI staff work collaboratively with faculty associates and graduate assistants in programs and projects that link theory and research to practice. ISI activities take place in programs and projects for the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based practices. 

Among its goals, ISI strives to: 

  • Improve student learning and educational practices.
  • Contribute to the development of sound educational policy.
  • Create and field test evidence-based practices for teaching and school leadership.
  • Generate new knowledge and improvements in theory.
  • Facilitate dialogue and mutual beneficial relationships among educators and researchers.
  • Initiate and respond to requests for project proposals.
  • Support the continuing professional development of teachers, administrators, and other educational personnel.
  • Develop, use, and promote trustworthy methods for conducting educational research and evaluation.
  • Assure protection of human subjects through highly ethical and clearly defined methodologies for inquiry.
  • Enhance dissemination of research findings and evaluation results to practitioners, policymakers and other researchers. 

Current programs and projects within ISI include the Ozarks Educational Research Initiative (OERI), the Teacher Education Alliance (TEA), Enhancing Children’s Healthy Opportunities (ECHO), the Laubach Way to Reading, and new initiatives underway.

Teacher Certification

Students who have already obtained a bachelors degree and are seeking Missouri state teacher certification should contact the Office of Teacher Certification Compliance, Hill Hall, room 200B, (417) 836-8772. This office provides a program evaluation and transcript analysis service for initial certificates ($50 fee required), advisement and assistance to gain certification and/or additional endorsements.

Missouri State Board of Education Approved Programs

The following professional education programs have received continuing accreditation by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for purposes of teacher preparation and certification. More information on accredited programs.

Childhood Education and Family Studies, Dr. Cynthia K. Wilson Hale, 836-3262

  • Early Childhood Education (Birth-grade 3)
  • Elementary Education (1-6)

Communication Sciences and Disorders, Dr. Letitia White, 836-5368

  • Speech/Language Specialist (K-12)
  • Deaf/Hearing Impaired (K-12) 

Counseling, Leadership, and Special Education, Dr. Tamara J. Arthaud, 836-5449

  • Special Education:
    • Mild/Moderate: Cross Categorical (K-12)
    • Blind and Partially Sighted (K-12)*
    • Early Childhood Special Education (K-12)*

Reading, Foundations, and Technology, Dr. Cathy Pearman, 836-6769

  • Middle School (5-9):
    • Language Arts
    • Social Studies
    • Mathematics
    • Science
  • Additional Endorsements can be added in:
    • Agriculture*
    • Business*
    • Drama*
    • Speech*

Secondary Education (9-12 and K-12), Dr. Rebecca Woodward, 836-6204

  • Agriculture (9-12)
  • Art (K-12)
  • Business
  • English (9-12)
    • English for Speakers of Other Languages (K-12)*
  • Family and Consumer Sciences (Birth-12)
  • Foreign Language (K-12)
    • French
    • German
    • Spanish
  • Mathematics (9-12)
  • Music (K-12)
    • Instrumental
    • Vocal/Choral
  • Physical Education (K-12)
    • Driver's Education (9-12)*
    • Health (K-12)*
  • Science (9-12):
    • Biology/Categorical
    • Biology/Unified Science
    • Chemistry/Categorical
    • Chemistry/Unified Science
    • Earth Science/Categorical
    • Earth Science/Unified Science
    • Physics/Categorical
  • Social Studies (History) (9-12)
  • Speech/Theatre (9-12)

*Only available as an additional area of certification. Student must be concurrently enrolled in another area of Elementary, Middle School, or Secondary Education.