A collage of teachers teaching in classes
 

Teacher Education Program

The Columbia College Beacon program is for students who wish to complete a bachelor’s degree along with Missouri teacher certification requirements.

The Columbia College teacher certification programs are offered through these Missouri venues: the main campus in Columbia, Jefferson City, Lake of the Ozarks, Rolla, St. Louis, Kansas City, and Springfield. Not all certificate options are available at all of these locations.

Students obtain a degree in a content area (such as psychology, English, math, history, etc.) and minor in a certification area such as elementary, middle school, secondary, art K-12 or music K-12.

Understanding how young children learn is central to becoming an effective elementary teacher. To prepare for this vital educational role, pair this certification minor through our Beacon Program with a bachelor's degree in a content area of your choice. Continuing with Columbia College's philosophy of offering certification as a minor in conjunction with a degree in a content area, an additional option for students seeking elementary education certification is a degree in the content area of General Studies with a minor in Elementary Education Certification. This specialized degree includes the elementary education minor plus elementary content area minors (English/language arts, mathematics/science and social/cultural studies).

Students learn about child and adolescent development and the factors that shape it both inside and outside the classroom, such as nutrition, health, and more.

The professional education requirements prepare students to provide instruction in all elementary school subjects, to manage a classroom and to conduct meaningful assessments of learning.

Immerse yourself in the content area for your bachelor's degree - and pair it with a minor in middle school education certification through our Beacon program.

Aspiring middle school teachers, students delve into the topic they will be teaching (language arts, math, science, social studies, or speech/theatre), preparing them for instructing grades 5-9.

Students also learn effective strategies for teaching young adolescents, including managing a classroom, supporting literacy, and conducting meaningful assessments of learning.

Immerse yourself in the content area for your bachelor's degree - and pair it with a minor in secondary education certification through our Beacon program.

To prepare for the high school classroom, students go into depth on the topic they will be teaching (biology, business, chemistry, English, math, social studies, or speech/theatre), preparing them for instructing grades 9-12.

Students also learn effective strategies for engaging and instructing high schoolers. Professional education coursework includes adolescent development, classroom management, and techniques for measurement and assessment.

All K-12 certification areas include professional education requirements that prepare students for effective teaching, with courses from educational philosophy to classroom management, to child and adolescent development.

Art education — This minor equips art students to plan lessons, teach, and assess children in kindergarten to grade 12. It's part of our Beacon program for students who wish to complete a bachelor's degree along with a minor in Art Education certification.

Students explore drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, and more, building their understanding of art as a means to critically engage with one's surroundings. They create their own works, experimenting with different techniques and mediums.

Music education — This minor equips students to plan lessons, teach, and assess music across elementary, middle, and high school. It's part of our Beacon program for students who wish to complete a bachelor's degree in a content area along with a minor in music education certification.

Students explore music history, theory, performance and conducting, building their personal musical proficiency as well as a deeper understanding of musical techniques and literature.

Special Education (grades K-12) - Columbia College also offers a program for special education (K-12), but this certificate cannot be completed with the Beacon undergraduate program. Students may choose to take many of the undergraduate courses listed on MAT post-baccalaureate checklist. Special education (K-12) certification must be completed at the MAT post-baccalaureate level.

Early Childhood Education certification

Courses within the education certification minors may also meet general education or major requirements, and at least half of the required professional education hours must be earned in Columbia College coursework. (Transfer courses equivalent to courses designated are accepted toward the minor.)

Majors and minors may not be added to an already earned degree. Those who already hold a bachelor’s degree could pursue teacher certification through one of our post-baccalaureate programs or our alternative certification program.

View admission requirements