Teacher Certification Program (TCP)

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Why Choose Our Teacher Certification Program?

Our TCP program is uniquely designed for students who want to earn a bachelor’s degree and meet the requirements for the teacher certification in Missouri. Offered at multiple venues across Missouri, our program gives you the flexibility and opportunities you need to achieve your academic and career goals.

What You'll Learn

With the TCP program, you will obtain a degree in a content area of your choice (such as psychology, English, math, history and more) while minoring in a certification area such as elementary, middle school, secondary, art K-12, or music K-12.

Not only will you gain a deep understanding of your subject area, but you will also develop the skills and knowledge needed to complete Missouri’s teacher certification requirements. Not all certificate options are available at all locations.

Program Requirements

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 the core requirements needed for the Teacher Certification Program at Columbia College.

ConnectUP! Program, Powered by DEWEY Grant

Elevate your journey with the Columbia College ConnectUP! program, specifically crafted to empower new teachers and students from regions facing teacher shortages in Missouri.

Certification Area

Early Childhood Education Certification

Students will develop the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary for a career working with children. Coursework includes infant, child, and adolescent development; family and community partnerships; observation and assessment; children’s health and safety; and educating young children.

Early Childhood Education certification

Elementary education (grades 1-6)

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.

K-12 certification areas

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.

Middle school education (grades 5-9)

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.

Secondary education (grades 9-12)

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.

Meet Dr. Mary Miller – Education Department – CC Faculty Focus

Flexible Education

Columbia College Global offers traditional classroom instruction for many courses at nationwide locations. Students at nationwide locations are expected to engage with multiple learning methods, including online and virtual while completing their degree. Columbia College offers on-campus programs with traditional classroom instruction at the Residential Campus in Columbia, Missouri.

Online

Missouri

In-seat

Day Campus - Columbia, MO