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Teacher Education

Undergraduate Programs

Answer your calling to teach by learning proven practices to help you excel in the pre-K, elementary, or secondary classroom.

Call for Third Party Comments

Teacher walking with students outside

The School of Education at MidAmerica Nazarene University is hosting an accreditation visit by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) on March 31, 2025, through April 2, 2025. Interested parties are invited to submit third-party comments to the evaluation team. Please note that comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of professional education programs offered and should specify the party’s relationship to the provider (i.e., graduate, present or former faculty member, employer of graduates).

Please use the button below for more information on submitting your testimony.

Play Video about Teacher reading a picture book to elementary students

We Prepare You

Develop your teaching skills through hands-on learning and data-driven methods. You’ll be equipped to serve diverse learners, lead in various subjects, contribute to your professional community, and create student-centered instruction. All of this is offered with a spiritual focus at MNU.

Accredited by KSDE and CAEP.

Application to the teacher education program is a separate admission process from applying to MNU.

Get Started at MNU

Student with a teacher at the teacher's desk
Elementary Education Unified
Complete your degree or licensure in elementary education and special education
Children studying at a desk in a classroom
Elementary Education
Teach diverse students with care and concern
Theatre teacher and students reading scripts
Speech/ Theatre Education
Develop creative abilities & effective communication skills
Coach and elementary aged soccer players
Physical Education
Teach a love for exercise, wellness, & healthy lifestyles
Teacher and students in music class
Music Education
Teach foundational & advanced concepts in music
Mid-level math student solving equations
Middle-Level Mathematics Education
Teach mid-level students highly complex math concepts
Students in a classroom with a teacher
Mathematics Education
Teach diverse students highly complex math concepts
Books on a shelf
Social Studies & History / Government Education
Empower citizens to be come change-agents in our society
Books on a shelf
English Language Arts Education
Share your love of the English language & literature with students
Biology students at a microscope
Biology Education
Study living organisms and develop teaching skills
Kansas Teaching Pathway Program

If you completed a Kansas Teaching Pathway program in high school, you are ready to seamlessly move into MNU’s Teacher Education program.

MNU honors the early learning you’ve completed. By participating in an MNU approved pathway through your high school, you can qualify to receive six credit hours of coursework, which count towards an education degree. For more information related to transfer courses and the steps required to receive course credit, contact our Licensure and Assessment Coordinator, Janelle Hoffpauir, at jdhoffpauir@regaloteas.com or 913.971.3526.

Impacting and Transforming Students

Do you want to be a person who influences and transforms lives? MNU prepares dynamic teachers through transformative technology, creative courses and innovative instructors. Learn how to make a difference in your future students’ lives and prepare them for fulfilling lives.

Majors:

  • Biology Education (6-12)
  • Elementary Education (K-6)
  • English Language Arts Education (6-12)
  • History/Government and Social Studies Education (6-12)
  • Mathematics Education (6-12)
  • Middle-Level Mathematics (5-8)
  • Music Education (P-12)
  • Physical Education (P-12)
  • Speech Theatre Education (6-12)

While MNU no longer offers the middle level science program, School of Education advisors can provide an overview of two available pathways to help you meet your professional goals.

Program Highlights

MNU provides opportunities to complete Areas of Emphasis to add endorsements or to grow your expertise as a professional educator. Gain rich field experiences in a variety of local classrooms before student teaching, as well as opportunities to visit Costa Rica and complete part of your student teaching in an international school.

Our program provides instruction on innovative strategies and teaches you how to effectively infuse technology in your classroom. You’ll have access to an education-specific honor society and a student-led professional development organization. Your path to success starts here—since spring 2011, our students have an overall 98% pass rate for the exams required for teacher licensure.

The structure and general operation of the Teacher Education Program are designed to meet the regulations and requirements of the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The operation of the Teacher Education Program is the responsibility of the Department of Teacher Education. The policies, programs, and licensure requirements for P-12, elementary, and secondary education are reviewed by the Teacher Education Committee. The MidAmerica Nazarene University Teacher Education Program meets the requirements for licensure in the state of Kansas. Professional licensure varies from state to state. Therefore, students planning to teach in other states are advised to consult the appropriate State Department of Education to determine requirements for licensure.
Criteria for Admission into the Teacher Education Program:
For students to be recommended for admission to the Teacher Education Program they must have met the following requirements.
  1. “B-”or better in EDUC 1001 Education Seminar
  2. Acceptable, formal application to the Teacher Education Program. (Application filled out in EDUC 1001)
  3. Three satisfactory recommendations by faculty members
  4. At least 28 semester hours of college work
  5. A minimum GPA of 2.75 in all program stipulated coursework
  6. “C” or better in MATH 1223 College Algebra or MATH 2503 Engaging with Math and Data
  7. “C” or better in ENGL Eng. Comp I: Writing & Rhetoric or ENGL Eng. Comp II: Writing & Research
  8. “C“ or better in COMM 1303 Public Speaking or COMM 1103 Strategic Communication. Both Public Speaking and Strategic Communication are accepted.
  9. Approval by the Teacher Education Department and Teacher Education Committee
  10. New: Candidates not meeting requirements may apply for provisional admittance. Candidate success during the provisional semester may provide evidence for full program admittance.
*Program stipulated coursework is defined as all coursework specified to meet a state standard, excluding BLIT 1103, BLIT 1203 & THEO 2003.
Major and Professional Education Grade Requirements
A student must meet the following requirements in order to be placed in a student teaching assignment or be recommended for licensure. Elementary: A minimum grade of “B-” and a GPA of 2.75 is required for all courses in professional education and the elementary content area courses. Secondary: A minimum grade of “B-” and a GPA of 2.75 is required for all courses in professional education. A minimum grade of “C” and a GPA of 2.75 for all courses in the secondary major is required. Admission into the Teacher Education Program allows a student to register for upper-division coursework in education. Failure to make application or complete admission requirements in a timely manner will result in a delay in the student’s progress. Admission into the Teacher Education Program does not guarantee the student will be allowed to student teach or be recommended for licensure/endorsement. A student may not be admitted to Teacher Education and Student Teaching during the same semester. Summer school is not considered a semester. *Program stipulated coursework is defined as all coursework specified to meet a state standard. This includes all courses specified in the program except Discovering the Bible and Christian

In order to be licensed, students must achieve a passing score on both the Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) Exam and the appropriate Praxis II Content exam. Information for the exams are available from the Department of Teacher Education.

Elementary Education K-6 Licensure

Elementary Education majors transferring to MidAmerica Nazarene University from a regionally accredited college or university must complete at least 21 semester hours at MidAmerica before being placed in Student Teaching. Fifteen of these hours must be from the professional education block (exclusive of student teaching) and at least six semester hours must be from the major. MidAmerica Nazarene University does not accept transfer credit for Elementary and Professional Education courses from non-accredited institutions. The School of Education’s licensure officer reviews all transcripts. Persons who have not previously held a Kansas teaching certificate will be required to pass pre-licensure exams prior to issuance of a Kansas license. These examinations include the Principles of Learning and Teaching examination and the Praxis II Content examination.

Middle-Level Education 5-8

Students who plan to teach in the public school system (middle school level) are advised to major in the academic field of their choice and to take the required professional education courses. The following academic program has been approved by the Kansas State Department of Education for licensure in middle school education:

  • Mathematics Education (5-8)

 

Middle school education majors transferring to MidAmerica Nazarene University from a regionally accredited college or university must complete at least 21 semester hours at MidAmerica before being placed in Student Teaching and/or recommended for licensure. Fifteen of these hours must be from the professional education block (exclusive of student teaching) and at least six semester hours must be from the major. MidAmerica Nazarene University does not accept transfer credit for the major and Professional Education courses from non-accredited institutions. The School of Education’s licensure officer reviews all transcripts. Persons who have not previously held a Kansas teaching license will be required to pass pre-licensure exams prior to issuance of a Kansas license. These examinations include the Principles of Learning and Teaching examination and the Praxis II content examination.

While MNU no longer offers the middle level science program, School of Education advisors can provide an overview of two available pathways to help you meet your professional goals.

Secondary Education 6-12, P-12

Students who plan to teach in the public school system (secondary grades) are advised to major in the academic field of their choice and to take the required professional education courses. The following academic programs have been approved by the Kansas State Department of Education for licensure in secondary education:

  • Biology Education (6-12)
  • English Language Arts Education (6-12)
  • Social Studies & History/Government Education (6-12)
  • Mathematics Education (6-12)
  • Music Education (P-12)
  • Physical Education (P-12)
  • Speech/Theatre Education (6-12)

Secondary Education majors transferring to MidAmerica Nazarene University from a regionally accredited college or university must complete at least 21 semester hours at MidAmerica before being placed in Student Teaching and/or recommended for licensure. Fifteen of these hours must be from the professional education block (exclusive of student teaching) and at least six semester hours must be from the major. MidAmerica Nazarene University does not accept transfer credit for the major and Professional Education courses from non-accredited institutions. The School of Education’s licensure officer reviews all transcripts.

Persons who have not previously held a Kansas teaching license will be required to pass pre-licensure exams prior to issuance of a Kansas license. These examinations include the Principles of Learning and Teaching examination and the Praxis II content examination.

Provisional Licensure in a Secondary Teaching Field

Kansas regulations currently permit a person who is licensed for teaching grades K-6, 6-12, or P-12 to be recommended for licensure in additional secondary area(s) if the applicant has met the specified licensure requirements and/or achieved a passing score on the appropriate Praxis II Content Exam. Contact the MNU Licensure and Assessment Coordinator for additional information

Policy on Working During Student Teaching and Seminar

Student teaching is a notably intense and demanding experience. Consequently, students are advised to suspend/avoid outside employment during the student teaching semester. In extreme or dire circumstances requiring students to maintain employment during student teaching, that employment must be reported by students to the cooperating teacher and the University Supervisor. The employment must not interfere in any way with student teaching. If a student’s performance during student teaching does not meet expectations, the student will be asked to stop working or to repeat the student teaching experience. Attendance at school faculty meetings, parent teacher nights, performance of other extracurricular duties and attendance at on-campus seminar sessions is expected of all student teachers.

Program Interruption Policy

If there is an interruption in a candidate’s Teacher Education Program of two semesters or more between the education coursework and student teaching, the student is required to meet with the Chair of Teacher Education and the appropriate advisor to seek approval for readmission into the program.

For students to be recommended for admission to Student Teaching they must have met the following requirements.
  1. Admission into the Teacher Education Program.
  2. Submit Intent to Student Teach Form to the Director of Clinical and Field-Based Experiences on August 30 for spring student teaching or January 30 for fall student teaching.
  3. Successful presentation to the Student Teaching Application Panel.
  4. A cumulative GPA of 2.75 in all college work attempted.
  5. A cumulative GPA of 2.75 in the content area major.
  6. A cumulative GPA of 2.75 in Professional Education coursework.
  7. Grade of “B-” or better in all Professional Education courses.
  8. Grade of “C” or better in all secondary content area courses in the major.
  9. Grade of “B-” or better in all elementary content area courses.
  10. Take at least 15 semester hours of Professional Education courses at MNU.
  11. Take at least 6 semester hours of courses from the content area at MNU.
  12. Completion of 60 hours of community service (total of 80 hours) required at the time of application.
  13. Completion of or enrollment in all coursework needed for licensure with the exception of Student Teaching.
  14. Approval of the Teacher Education Committee.
Admission into Student Teaching does not guarantee placement for student teaching or recommendation for licensure.

Initial teacher preparation programs approved by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) are:

  • Biology Education
  • Elementary Education
  • Elementary Education Unified
  • English Language Arts Education
  • History, Government & Social Studies Education
  • Mathematics Education
  • Middle Level Mathematics
  • Music Education
  • Physical Education
  • Speech Theatre Education

 

The advanced program approved by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) is:

  • School Counseling
CAEP Disclosures

The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) requires institutions to publish data annually on eight annual measures. The data demonstrates the quality of the provider’s programs and graduates to potential students, employers and media. CAEP examines the provider’s P-12 student learning impact, teacher effectiveness, employer satisfaction and completer satisfaction.

1. Completer Impact and Effectiveness

Kansas legislature has decided that P-12 student data from state assessments cannot be released.  Thus, MNU’s educator preparation program (EPP) is unable to collect data on how its graduates are performing in the field. The EPP created a case study plan to collect and analyze data from graduates’ classrooms to meet this expectation. In addition to our case study, MNU’s EPP collects data from our graduates through alumni surveys. The survey tracks the program’s ability to prepare candidates for the field and their ability to demonstrate effective teaching methods.

Measure 1a →

Measure 1b →

2. Satisfaction of Employers and Stakeholder Involvement

MNU’s EPP collects data through employer surveys, which MNU sends to employers of completers who are one to three years post-graduation. The employer survey tracks employer perceptions regarding the readiness of our graduates to perform effectively in the classroom.

Measure 2 →

3. Candidate Competency at Program Completion

Kansas State Department of Education requires completers to pass licensure exams. The exams measure completers’ content knowledge for their endorsement subject area and pedagogical knowledge. Per guidelines, in order for these test results to be made public, ten or more examinees are required.

Measure 3 →

4. Ability of Completers to be Hired in Education Positions for Which They Have Been Prepared

The EPP measures the ability of completers to be hired in education positions through graduate self-reporting of employment and a review of KSDE employment information.

Measure 4 →

The Pioneer Pledge

Peace of Mind for Your Future

Concern about paying back student loans is common. That’s why we provide the Pioneer Pledge, our loan repayment assistance program. If your income is modest after graduation, Pioneer Pledge assists with your educational loan repayments. Learn more on our financial aid pages.

Navigate Your Teaching Journey

Find the teaching program that’s right for you. Talk to your MNU team to customize your journey.