Admission to Teacher Education Program
Description
The TE Professional Program is the final 1-2 years of a student's teacher certification program. Students who have been admitted to UMKC as an education major and have completed all pre-education requirements and subject-area coursework are ready to apply to the TE Professional Program. If these requirements are uncertain and/or unmet, applicants will need to complete a transcript evaluation or meet with an academic advisor prior to applying.
If you have any questions regarding the TE Professional Program, please contact Student Services or your academic advisor.
Admission Requirements
Before applying to the TE Professional Program:
-
Complete required pre-education and/or subject-area coursework- a minimum of 56 hours for students pursuing their first bachelor's degree
-
Students pursuing their first bachelor's degree must complete (with grades of C or better) an oral communications course, English Composition I and II, and the college-level math courses required for their degree
-
A minimum cumulative college Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.75 (4.0 scale)
-
Pass the College Basic Academic Subjects Examination (C-BASE) with scores of at least 235 on the English, Writing, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies sections
-
Those who have completed high school within the past five years must submit scores from the ACT/SAT. Scores are typically found on high school transcripts.
-
Middle School, Secondary and K-12 program students must:
-
have a minimum subject-area GPA of 2.5 (4.0 scale)
-
pass the appropriate subject-area Praxis II exam
-
Applications will not be processed until Steps 1-3 have been met/submitted:
Step 1
- Apply to UMKC: If applicant is not a current UMKC student, apply for admission to UMKC as a pre-education major based on the University's admission guidelines.
- Plan of Study: Complete a Program of Study to include all courses for each semester from start of program until anticipated graduation date. For assistance, schedule an appointment with an academic advisor by calling (816) 235-2234 or education@umkc.edu.
- FBI Background Check: Complete an FBI background check as required by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The background check process is $52.20, and an appointment is required prior to completing the Teacher Education application form. For specific directions on how to schedule an appointment, please review the instruction form. Further instructions for the process are on the last page of the TE application.
Step 2
- Personal essay (400-word limit) submitted via the TE application link below, please choose only one of the following:
- Share your experience with diverse populations (i.e. ethnic, racial, special needs, socioeconomic status, international experiences, et al.)
- What do you hope to learn in the UMKC Teacher Education program that will benefit you as a teacher?
- What significant event(s) in your own life influenced your desire to become a teacher?
- Resume and cover letter: An electronic copy of your resume and cover letter addressing why you would like to become an educator and your future education career goals submitted when prompted on the TE application. For assistance in constructing a resume/cover letter, contact Career Services. We also recommend converting this document to a .pdf file prior to submission, contact the TLL if you need assistance.
- Two references: Two professional references are required, at least one of which is an educator or someone who can attest to your ability to work with children or youth. Applicants will submit an email address for each reference on the TE application and an email will be generated on her/his behalf from the Student Services office.
- TE Professional Program Application: A separate School of Education application. All requirements need to be submitted prior to beginning the TE Professional Program; therefore, we recommend preparing all of the steps in advance and then utilize pertinent information for placement in the electronic application.
- Complete the Early Childhood application for Early Childhood (PreK - Grade 3)
- Complete the Elementary application for Elementary Education
- Complete the Middle School, Secondary and K-12 application for Middle School (Grades 5-9), Secondary (Grades 9-12), and K-12 subject areas.
- College Basic Academic Subject Examination (C-BASE) Scores: If you took the C-BASE at UMKC, we will automatically receive your results; otherwise submit a photocopy of your scores. The registration fee for the exam is $60: C-BASE Registration Form Please see passing score requirements above.
-
For Middle School, Secondary and K-12 Education applicants only: Passing scores from the Praxis II content-area examination. Registration is $50, and the exam fee is $90. Registration is available online at www.ets.org/praxis.