Washington University Secondary Education
http://education.wustl.edu/undergraduate/secondary/major
Secondary Education MajorWashington University offers undergraduate secondary teacher certification programs in the areas listed below. Art and foreign languages are K-12 certifications; all other areas are for grades 9-12. In each case, the certification program involves a major in Education and a major in the appropriate academic area. Art students have the same Education requirements as students in other teaching areas, but Art students take individual courses rather than the Secondary Professional Semester.
If you would like information about a specific subject area major please refer to the appropriate Department below and consult an education advisor as soon as possible.
Art
Asian & Near Eastern Languages & Literatures
Biology
Chemistry
Classics
Earth & Planetary Sciences
English
History
Mathematics
Physics
Political Science
Romance Languages & Literatures
Washington University's teacher preparation programs provide the professional and subject area education that qualifies a student for certification to teach in the public schools. Requirements for secondary certification are mandated by the State of Missouri and can be found on the state Department of Education web site.
Regarding subject area education, teacher education majors must select specific courses within their undergraduate content major to meet specific Missouri certification requirements; please consult an education advisor about these requirements as soon as possible, preferably by the end of your second year.
On the recommendation of the Department of Education, the Missouri State Department of Education will issue a teaching certificate to an individual who successfully completes a Washington University teacher preparation program. In the case of other states, additional study may be required to qualify for a certificate. Please see the teacher certification page for more information.
Middle School
Middle school certification (grades 5-9) in your subject area may be added with minimal additional course work and an additional student teaching experience. Students interested in this option should check with a Department of Education advisor. Please see the Middle School page for more information.
Philosophy
At Washington University the elementary and secondary teacher education programs are designed to produce teachers who take an inquiry-oriented approach to education. Based upon the belief that teaching is a complex, normative, and changing activity, teacher education is viewed as an on-going, problem solving process as opposed to a search for the "one right" answer or "one best" way. Therefore, our students are expected to develop the ability and the inclination to look at educational policy and classroom decision making from multiple perspectives and to raise fundamental questions about the purposes, processes, and inequities of the current system. In addition, they are expected to act in ways that have a sound and defensible rationale rooted in research, ethical standards, and personal experience and to reflect upon and reconsider that practice in the interest of all of their students.
For more information, please contact Natalia Kolk.