Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification Program: Elementary (1-6)

The deadline for admission is June 1.  Admissions occur once a year.

Program of Study

The actual number of credit hours necessary for certification depends on the student's background and program. Upon admission to the Post-B.A. program, each student's transcript(s) is evaluated by an advisor in the Department of Education to determine the courses needed for certification.  Students who have no prior course work in education should plan on a minimum of 48 credit hours in education courses.  The Post-B.A. program for elementary education assumes that entering students will already have a Bachelor’s degree completed.  Coursework from this degree may count towards the general course requirements set by the State.  Professional Education coursework covers three areas including Foundations of Education, Curriculum & Instruction, and Student Teaching.  Please contact the Education Department’s Student Services Secretary, Natalia Kolk, for information on specific course requirements.  Ms. Kolk may be contacted via email or phone at 314-935-6791.

The professional education course work required includes both a spring semester of Field Experience observation and a fall semester of Student Teaching.  Please be aware that the Field Experience course requires 50 hours of observation in a classroom during the semester, and that Student Teaching will be full-time for 10-12 weeks during the following semester.  You cannot work during the day for the duration of your student teaching.

Program Completion

The Post-B.A. program for elementary education will take a minimum of two years (including summers) to complete with a rigorous course schedule.  The program timeline can be extended if needed.  Most education courses are offered at least once a year; while some are offered twice.  Not all required classes will be available every year, therefore it is imperative that you create and keep to a plan agreed upon with your program advisor.  Only those courses needed to complete certification requirements are considered part of the program. Thus, a person can prepare for a career in education, while continuing to work until the semester of student teaching.

Upon satisfactory completion of all the requirements for the Post-Baccalaureate program, students are recommended for teacher certification to the State of Missouri.

Admission Requirements

Admission is based upon a strong undergraduate record or significant experience which suggests future success in the teaching field. Applicants must hold a bachelor's or higher degree with an overall GPA of 3.0. Prospective students must submit:

• A completed application form with personal essay. Click to access PDF
• Official transcripts of all previous college work.
• Three completed reference forms from academic or professional sources.
• Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or Miller's Analogies Test (MAT) results. (Information on the MAT can be obtained by calling 317-935-6700.  The University College GRE code is 2833).

• Payment of the non-refundable application processing fee.

Once an applicant has submitted the necessary documentation, the Teacher Education admissions committee will consider the application at the next scheduled meeting and subsequently notify the applicant of their decision.

Admissions will occur once a year, with an application deadline of June 1. 

For more information, please contact:
Office of Student Services
Department of Education, Box 1183
Washington University
St. Louis, MO 63130
(314) 935-6791

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