Requirements for the Master of Arts

Requirements for a master's degree include a minimum of 30 credit hours but vary according to the major and emphasis area. Regardless of program length, at least 60 percent of the coursework on the degree program must be numbered 5500 or above. At least a 3.0 GPA must be maintained, with no grade lower than a C earned in any 5500-level course. Any courses on the 300 and 400 level to be included in a master of arts program must be taken for graduate credit and only by arrangement with the advisor. No grade lower than B- may be earned in any 300- or 400-level course to be used toward a graduate degree. In addition, 80 percent of the credits for the degree must be passed with a grade of B (3.0) or better.

As soon as possible after regular admission to graduate study, the student should meet with a faculty advisor to develop a program of study. This program must be filed with the Education Student Services Office prior to the completion of 50% of applicable degree coursework for further approval by the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and filing with the Registrar. Program revisions may be requested later but also must be approved by the student's advisor, the dean's representative, and the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies.

Twenty percent of resident graduate coursework may be transferred from other accredited universities' graduate programs. A maximum of 49 percent of acceptable graduate work (no grade below B) may be transferred from other campuses of the University of Missouri. Credits are transferred only with the recommendation of the advisor and the consent of the dean's representative in the School of Education, Social Work, and Psychological Sciences. Transfer credit must not be more than seven years old at the time of program completion.

Transfer credit may be allowed for correspondence courses, provided the credits meet the above criteria. A maximum of six semester hours of continuing education courses that have been taken for graduate credit (workshops, special topics) may be included on a master's program. Students must provide a letter from the transfer institution clarifying the grade equivalent for transfer work posted as "credit" or "pass."

For regular courses taken through continuing education at UMKC to apply on degree programs, the student must be admitted to graduate study and have an approved program on file, including the continuing education courses.

Credit more than seven years old at the time of degree completion must be validated. To validate a course, the student must meet with the instructor of the current equivalent course to devise a plan in which the student's current knowledge of the coursework can be assessed. Faculty may ask the student to write a paper, review current literature, or take examinations to determine whether the student's knowledge of the subject is acceptable. A maximum of 30 percent of the student's program of study may be validated under this procedure. All validation must be completed prior to the completion of the final semester of enrollment for the degree.

A thesis is not required for the master of arts degree, although the option for a thesis is available. A final integrating experience or independent or group research study may be required of those not selecting the thesis option.

Requirements for Retention

Students must:

1. Meet all admission requirements.
2. File a planned program of study in consultation with a faculty advisor, securing approvals from the dean's representative and the School of Graduate Studies. 
3. Complete all coursework listed on the approved program of study.
4. Maintain an acceptable graduate GPA with no grades below B- (3.0) in 300- or 400-level courses, no grades below C (2.0) in any 5500-level course, at least 80 percent of the degree program completed with a grade of B (3.0) or above, and a 3.0 average maintained in all graduate coursework, regardless of whether the courses are on the actual degree program.
5. Apply for the degree (graduation) by the posted deadline during the final term of enrollment.
6. Enroll in at least one credit hour during the term they intend to graduate.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from this program will:

• Understand how learners grow and develop, recognizing that patterns of learning and development vary individually within and across the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas, and designs and implements developmentally appropriate and challenging learning experiences.
• Understand individual differences and diverse cultures and communities to ensure inclusive learning environments that enable each learner to meet high standards.
• Work with others to create environments that support individual and collaborative learning, and that encourage positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation.
• Understand the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline(s) he or she teaches and creates learning experiences that make these aspects of the discipline accessible and meaningful for learners to assure mastery of the content.
• Understand how to connect concepts and use differing perspectives to engage learners in critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative problem solving related to authentic local and global issues.
• Understand and use multiple methods of assessment to engage learners in their own growth, to monitor learner progress, and to guide the teacher’s and learner’s decision making.
• Plan instruction that supports every student in meeting rigorous learning goals by drawing upon knowledge of content areas, curriculum, cross-disciplinary skills, and pedagogy, as well as knowledge of learners and the community context.
• Understand and use a variety of instructional strategies to encourage learners to develop deep understanding of content areas and their connections, and to build skills to apply knowledge in meaningful ways.
• Engage in ongoing professional learning and use evidence to continually evaluate their practice, particularly the effects of their choices and actions on others (learners, families, other professionals, and the community), and adapt practice to meet the needs of each learner.
• Seek appropriate leadership roles and opportunities to take responsibility for student learning, to collaborate with learners, families, colleagues, other school professionals, and community members to ensure learner growth, and to advance the profession.

Program Overview

The UMKC School of Education, Social Work, and Psychological Sciences department of Teacher Education and Curriculum Studies subscribes to the Missouri Teacher Standards (MoTS), which can be found on the website of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education – https://dese.mo.gov/.

The School of Education, Social Work, and Psychological Sciences requires all teacher candidates to have current professional liability insurance during all field experiences and student teaching. Students must provide verification of current professional liability insurance to the Educational Field Experiences office or the coordinator or lead of the MAT Program. Students can obtain this insurance by becoming a “student member” of educational organizations (e.g., MSTA or NEA) that provide such insurance or by purchasing coverage through an independent insurance agent.

Candidates admitted to the Professional Teacher Education Program must uphold all academic and social regulations and policies established by the School of Education, Social Work, and Psychological Sciences. Candidates are subject to any Missouri legislative action or State Board of Education policy that may become effective during the lifetime of this catalog. The responsibility of the School of Education, Social Work, and Psychological Sciences is to recommend qualified candidates for licensure to the state and to ensure our candidates meet or exceed these requirements. While the degree programs outlined in the catalog are aligned with state requirements, certification is dependent on both the degree requirements and successful completion of all state assessments required by the Missouri State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

During the student teaching semester, teacher candidates follow the school district’s calendar, not the UMKC academic/semester calendar.  Teacher candidates begin student teaching according to the school district's calendar and not the first day of the UMKC academic/semester calendar.

A 3.00 cumulative GPA, and 3.0 professional GPA are required at completion of the program. Grades of C or better are required in all professional education classes. Prospective students and teacher candidates should meet regularly with an academic advisor to determine specific course requirements.

Admission Requirements

• Undergraduate degree from an accredited university
• Transcripts which document successful completion of an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution
• Two letters of recommendation that address the candidate’s potential to be an educator
• Missouri Substitute Teacher Certification
• Candidate narrative statement describing the intentions and purposes for becoming a middle or high school teacher in a high-need school district
• Completion (with passing scores) of the state-required content assessment.

Program Requirements

Prerequisite Coursework

Academic work completed prior to admission will be reviewed on a course-by-course basis to determine which prerequisites have been completed. Any remaining prerequisites needed must be taken by the student and do not count toward MAT degree requirements. 

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
TCH-ED 251	Child and Adolescent Development for Future Educators	3
or TCH-ED 420	Adolescent Development
TCH-ED 312	Legal and Ethical Aspects of Teaching	1
TCH-ED 403	Educational Psychology	3
TCH-ED 404	Education of the Exceptional Child and Youth	3

Degree Requirements

1	Students in Art and Foreign Languages will take a total of 9 semester credit hours in either TCH-ED 5419 Student Teaching in Elementary School or TCH-ED 5437 Student Teaching in Secondary School.

Certification Requirements

• Complete DESE application for Initial PC license
• Pass all required state assessments
• Minimum GPA requirements: 3.00 cumulative and 3.00 professional education coursework

Licensure Disclosure

The Master of Arts in Teaching is considered an alternative pathway to certification in the state of Missouri, where content knowledge is demonstrated by earning of Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and passing of state content assessment relevant to the certification being sought (see MO CSR 20-400.530-550). Students completing the MAT meet educational requirements for Missouri licensure in one of the following areas depending on specific courses taken and field experiences completed: Middle School (5-9) Language Arts, mathematics, science, social science; Secondary (7-12) English, mathematics, social science, chemistry, biology, earth science, physics; or K-12 art, French, Spanish, or German.

UMKC’s teacher preparation program is approved by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and holds accreditation with the Council for the Accreditation of Education Preparation (CAEP). Students who complete one of our teacher preparation programs are highly recommended to apply for Missouri’s initial certification whether one plans to reside in Missouri or not. Regulations for each state provide licensing options to guarantee access to start who hold a valid initial license from the state a student completed an approved preparation program, and some require licensure in hand from the state in which the teacher preparation program was completed.

This Disclosure is limited to our best ability to determine whether our curriculum would sufficiently meet the educational requirements for certification in another State as a middle, secondary/high school, or K-12 educator in one of the content areas listed above. Comparability of state licensing will be based on official, approved compilation of rules and regulations. Students may need to complete additional requirements, such as, coursework, assessment, background checks or classroom experience before receiving full certification. A provisional license may be awarded while students complete these requirements. Please contact the state agency where you plan to licensure before   relocating to ensure you are fully aware of all licensure requirements.

Program Director

Jennifer Waddell, PhD

Questions about Licensure

Brad Martens

States in Which the Curriculum Meets the Educational Requirements for Licensure

AL*, AK*,  American Samoa**, AZ*, AR*, CA*^, CO^, CT~, DE*, DC*, Federated States of Micronesia**, FL, GA, Guam^ HI, ID~, IL*^, IN^, IA*, KS, KY*, LA, ME^~, MD, MA, MI^, MS, MN* MO, MT^, NE~, NV*, NH~, NJ~, NM, NY, NC*, ND*, Northern Mariana Islands^, OH, OK, OR*^, PA, PR^, Republic of Marshall Islands**, Republic of Palau**, RI, SC, SD*, TN^, TX*, USVI^~, UT*^, VT, VA~, WA^, WV*, WI~, WY.

States in Which the Curriculum Does Not Meet the Educational Requirements for Licensure

N/A.

* Must hold Missouri licensure
** None of the licensures that the MAT prepares for exist.
^ One or more of the licensures that the MAT can prepare for does not exist; see individual states for information.
~ Requires curriculum review of content-area coursework. Missouri licensure strongly encouraged, particularly for students who do not hold a content-area degree in their certification area.