Frequently Asked Questions
Click here to download a PDF file of frequently asked questions & answers regarding the Teach in Residency program.
What are the program entrance requirements?
- Completed an undergraduate bachelor’s degree and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 calculated from all prior college coursework
- Pass the current educator exam for the area that you will teach and are seeking certification.
- Apply for and be admitted to the UMSL Graduate School for the UMSL Teach in Residency program.
- Be able to obtain a position of teacher of record upon entrance to the program.
- Be able to obtain a provisional certification from DESE after being hired.
When should I submit the Eligibility Screening Form?
- Please submit for eligibility screening as soon as possible. The sooner, the better.
- I realize that the upcoming semester seems like it is a long way away, however, there are several steps and requirements that must be completed between now and then in order for you to be fully eligible. It is important that we get going with this process as soon as possible.
Are the classes online?
- YES! The courses for the Teach in Residency are ALL online and asynchronous. This means that there are no live classes.
- The professors will post the course content online and you will be able to work on the coursework whenever works for your schedule as long as you meet the assignment deadlines. The professors review student work and provide feedback on assignments. They are also available to schedule a meeting via zoom if you need additional assistance, need clarification on the coursework, or have questions about the content.
- We know that you will be teaching all day and everyone has different school schedules.
- This program is designed for the working teacher.
What about salary and pay?
- You will apply and be hired by the school district as a full-time teacher od record in your certification area.
- You will receive teacher pay and benefits from the school district that hires you.
How much is tuition?
- The current rate of tuition for graduate students in the College of Education is $694 per credit hour. Tuition information can be found here.
- The total cost per program is determined by your chosen certification area and the number of required hours.
- Graduate students are able to apply for Graduate Financial Aid by completing the FAFSA.
- Some school districts also offer teachers tuition reimbursement. Each district can provide you with information on if they offer tuition reimbursement and how much.
- Depending on your district and certification area, you may be eligible for the Teach Grant which offers up to 1,500 per semester. Click here for more information. To be considered, you must fill out the FAFSA.
How many credit hours are required for my certification area?
- Early Childhood: 43 credit hours (18 classes)
- Elementary: 32 credit hours (15 classes)
- Middle School: 27 credit hours (12 classes)
- Secondary: 27 credit hours (12 classes)
- SPED: 42 credit hours (18 classes)
Do I get to choose the courses I will take?
- Each certification area has a predetermined schedule of courses that meet the State of Missouri’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)’s requirements for Missouri teacher certification.
- The advisor will provide you with the full program course plan for your cert area after you submit for eligibility screening.
How many additional classes are required for me to add on a Master of Education degree?
- In this program you are working on earning your teaching certification.
- The certification coursework you take is at the graduate level and can count towards the hours required for a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree.
- To add on a Master of Education degree, you would take an additional 4 classes (9 credit hours).
Can the work that I previously took at another university count towards certification credit in UMSL’s Teach in Residency program?
- Yes, if you have already taken a course that is required for certification at another university, it is possible that it could count towards UMSL certification requirements.
- We will review your transcripts as part of the screening process to determine if any prior coursework meets our program requirements.
- There are a few course, such as practicum, that must be taken with our program so that we can later recommend candidates for initial certification.
Are there any academic requirements once I am in the program?
- The UMSL graduate school requires that all students maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA during the program.
- DESE requires that all candidates maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA during the program and earn a ‘C’ or better in each certification course. If a candidate earns below a ‘C’ in a certification course, it is required that they retake it.
- Candidates must complete all requirements within the 2 year time frame of the provisional certification in order to be recommended for their full initial certification at completion of the program.
- Since courses are only offered once per year in this program, it is imperative that candidates successfully complete their courses as scheduled and remain in good-standing.
What districts work with the Teach in Residency program?
- The Teach in Residency program is able to work with any DESE-accredited school district in Missouri that accepts provisional certifications.
- There are several districts that we work with frequently that we consider to be “district partners.” These districts are familiar with the Teach in Residency program and provisional certification process. They are eager to have candidates from our program apply for teaching positions after they pass the MOCA. Some of our district partners are:
- Louis Public Schools
- Hazelwood
- KIPP
- Confluence
- The School District of University City
- Ritenour
- Ferguson-Florissant
- Jefferson City
- Normandy
- Jennings
- Riverview Gardens
- Northside Community School
- Warren County R-III
- Charles School District
- Fort Zumwalt
Can I take semesters off?
- During the Teach in Residency program, you will be teaching on a provisional certification. This provisional certification is a temporary certification that covers you to teach for 2 years while you are taking the required certification coursework at UMSL.
- You must complete all of the certification requirements as outlined in the academic contract during that two-year time frame.
- If you do not enroll, you will be in breach of contract and your provisional certification will be ended with DESE. This could impact your employment with the district.
Can I switch to a different school district during the program?
- Participants in this program will be on a provisional certification that covers them to teach for 2 years while they are in the program. The provisional certification is only valid at the school district that approved it.
- During the 2 year provisional certification, you MUST stay with that school district.
- Once you have completed the program and have earned your full initial certification, then you can move to any school district in the entire state of Missouri.
I’m concerned that my GPA might not meet the 2.5 cumulative entrance requirement, what should I do?
- We still encourage you to submit for screening. We will review your transcripts and let you know if you are eligible. If not, then we will give you advice on what options are available and how to best move forward.
When are the start dates for this program?
- Start dates for this program coincide with the start of the fall semester (August) and spring semester (January).
- Application deadline for Fall is July 1.
- Application deadline for Spring is December 1.
- Important Note: Candidates should be in contact with the program advisor as far in advance as possible to start the process of completing the various steps so that they are fully eligible to start their desired semester.
What are the steps to be completed so that I’m eligible by the next start date?
- Becoming fully eligible for the UMSL Teach in Residency is a PROCESS that requires several steps for full eligibility. It is important that you submit for screening ASAP and maintain frequent communication with the advisor through the process of becoming fully eligible.
