Student Teaching & Certification
To be certified in the state of Missouri, CMU students must earn a 3.0 GPA in professional education classes and all content classes related to their certification area.
Students must attempt the state Qualifying Assessment in their certification area prior to being enrolled in student teaching. They must also earn a qualifying score on the state Performance Assessment during their student teaching semester.
The student teaching semester is typically the students' last semester of attendance. Students are encouraged to enroll in no other classes while they student teach as they will be in a full-time teaching placement. Placements are determined by the Director of Clinical Experiences and/or extended campus site coordinator and often begin before the university semester officially begins. Student teachers must complete a background check and obtain a substitute teaching certificate before beginning their clinical experience. Student teachers are also required to join either S-MSTA or S-MNEA in order to obtain liability insurance before they begin their clinical experience. Throughout the clinical experience students are evaluated by both their cooperating teacher and their university supervisor.
