In addition to the criteria established for general admission to graduate studies, applicants must have the following: 

• An undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale 
• A valid professional teaching certificate OR a qualifying score on the state content exam appropriate for that certificate OR be in the 50th percentile verbal and analytic components of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Note: This program does not lead to initial teacher licensure. 

International applicants must have a minimum IELTS score of 7.0 OR TOEFL score of 95. This requirement is for non-United States citizens who are not native English speakers. Students from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are exempt from English proficiency verification. 

Required core courses:

• EL615 Research in Action (3)
• EX601 Educational Assessment (3)
• GR698 Master's Final Comprehensive Examination (0)

Choose one emphasis area:

Early Childhood Emphasis

• CE605 Issues and Trends in Early Childhood Education (3)
• CE610 Curriculum, Methods, & Program Management in Early Childhood Education (3)
• CE634 Assessing Young Children's Learning and Development (3)
• EL606 Curriculum Construction (Elementary) (3)
• Electives: 6 hours (Suggested electives related to young children)

Choose one course:

• EX556 Communication Intervention and Strategies for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (3)
• EX602 Language Acquisition for the Exceptional Child (3)

Choose one course:

• CE614 Family / School Partnerships in Early Childhood (3)
• EX507 Family and Child with Exceptionalities (3)

Math/Science Emphasis

• EL603 Teaching Elementary School Mathematics (3)
• EL604 Techniques of Teaching Science & Mathematics in the Elementary School (3)
• EL606 Curriculum Construction (Elementary) (3)
• EL608 Diagnosis and Remediation of Difficulties in Learning Mathematics (3)
• Electives: 9 hours (Suggested electives in math/science)

Choose one course:

• CE614 Family / School Partnerships in Early Childhood (3)
• EX507 Family and Child with Exceptionalities (3)

Math Specialist Emphasis

• EL667 Mathematical Leadership for Elementary Mathematics Specialists: Foundations (2)
• EL668 Mathematical Leadership for Elementary Mathematics Specialists: Influencing and Facilitating Improvement (3)
• MD611 Internship in Numbers and Operations (1)
• MD612 Internship in Rational Numbers and Proportional Thinking (1)
• MD616 Internship in Geometry and Measurement (1)
• MD617 Internship in Algebraic Reasoning (1)
• MD621 Numbers and Operations (3)
• MD622 Rational Numbers and Proportional Thinking (3)
• MD624 Data and Probability (3)
• MD626 Geometry and Measurement (3)
• MD627 Algebraic Reasoning (3)

Reading Emphasis

• EL611 Emergent Literacy Learners Practicum (3)
• EL615 Action Research (3)
• EL623 Intermediate and Upper-Level Literacy Learners Practicum (3)
• EL624 Literacy Leadership (3)
• EL644 Creating and Fostering Literate Environments (3)
• EL647 Diagnosis and Correction of Reading Difficulties (3)
• EL648 Dyslexia and Reading Disabilities (3)
• SE602 Effective Literacy Instruction at the Middle and Secondary Level (3)
• EX601 Educational Assessment Techniques (3)

Choose one course:

• EL629 Advanced Studies in Children's Literature (3)
• EL646 Aspects of Literacy Development and Acquisition (3)

• Additional courses are required for MO Special Reading Certification (K –12), depending upon undergraduate course work completed. This certificate also requires valid MO Teaching Certificate and two (2) years teaching experience. 
• Additional requirements for those seeking the MO Elementary Math Specialist (1 – 6) certificate:
  • A valid Missouri permanent or professional certificate of license to teach; and 
  • Two (2) years of successful mathematics teaching experience; 
  • Must have recommendation of designated official for teacher education in the college or university with an approved program of study 
  • Must complete the content knowledge or specialty area test designated by the State Board of Education with a score equal to or greater than the Missouri Qualifying Score. 

• EL647 Diagnosis and Correction of Reading Difficulties (prerequisites – EL 644 Understanding and Applying the Multi-dimensional processes of Reading and EL 646 Inquiry & Research Model Used to Improve Reading) 
• EL 611 and EL 623 Early and Older Literacy Practicums (prerequisite – EL 647 Reading Assessment) 
• EL 615 Research in Action (prerequisite - EX 601 Educational Assessment) 
• GR 698 Action Research Project (prerequisite - EL 615 Research in Action) 

Additional Note

• The Reading Emphasis Area requires practicums with young children and older students. These may be completed in the graduate students’ school setting.