Beacon Elementary Education Certification Program (Grades 1-6)

General Education 38-41 hrs

The general education component is to be completed according to Columbia College degree requirements. In order to complete the requirements set forth by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the following courses must be included in your general education coursework. (Please refer to your entrance year catalog for specific degree requirements.)

  1. Basic Studies
    1. MATH 115 - Math for Elementary Teachers (not a General Education course)
    2. MATH 150 - College Algebra
  2. Arts and Humanities
    1. MUSI 122 - Music Appreciation or
      ARTS 105 - Art Appreciation or
      ARTS 111 - Art and Ideas I or
      ARTS 112 - Art and Ideas II
  3. Social and Behavioral Sciences
    1. PYSC 101 - General Psychology
    2. ECON 293 - Macroeconomics
    3. GEOG 101 - Introduction to Geography
Liberal Arts and Science Degree 39-63 hrs

Elementary Education majors may choose from the following recommended degree areas:

  • BA - American Studies
  • BA - Art
  • BS - Art
  • BA - English
  • BA - Environmental Studies
  • BA - History
  • BS - Mathematics
  • BA - Psychology
  • BA - Sociology

Students must complete the degree requirements as set forth by Columbia College. Hours required for completion will vary depending on area chosen. (Please refer to your entrance year catalog for specdific degree requirements.)

Please Note: certification will be Elementary Education, not content area certification.
Professional Education Coursework 38 hrs
EDUC 101 Intro to Education (must be taken w/first 9 hrs of EDUC classes) 1 hr
EDUC 105 Human Health 3 hrs
EDUC 200 Laws, Ethics and Education (meets college Ethics requirement) 3 hrs
EDUC 230 Educational Psychology 3 hrs
EDUC 270 Literature for Children and Adolescents 3 hrs
EDUC 300 Techniques of Teaching (NOTE: Must be admitted to Teacher Certification Program prior to enrolling in this course) 3 hrs
EDUC 302 Teaching Skills 3 hrs
EDUC 311 Classroom Management 3 hrs
EDUC 331 Teaching for Reading 3 hrs
EDUC 336 Creative and Language Arts in Elementary and Middle Schools 3 hrs
EDUC 358 Teaching Math in the Elementary School (Course will include 1 hr of field experience: 15 hr placement) 3 hrs
EDUC 380 Diagnostic and Corrective Reading 3 hrs
EDUC 390 Education and Psychology of Exceptional Individuals 3 hrs
EDUC 391 Child Psychology 3 hrs
EDUC 400 Senior Portfolio (This course to be taken concurrently with EDUC 420) 1 hr
SOCI 270 Minority Cultures & Relations 3 hrs

Field Experience Coursework 11 hrs
EDUC 251 Beginning Field Experience (To be taken concurrently with EDUC 101) 1 hr
EDUC 350/351 Advanced Field Experience I & II 2 hrs
EDUC 420 Student Teaching in the Elementary Schools [12 weeks] (Must receive a "B" or higher for certification) 8 hrs