Courses for this program are 100 percent online. Required courses are offered as 8-week courses. Most electives are offered as 8-week courses in all semesters, although some are offered as 4-week courses in summer.
Complete all 21 credit hours (seven courses) of required course work and 9 credit hours (three courses) from any of the electives listed below.
You do not need to complete all core classes first. Many students choose one core class and an elective.
The chart below shows when the courses are traditionally offered. Courses are 3 credit hours each, unless stated otherwise. The University reserves the right to change or cancel courses as needed.
Note: X = full semester, A = 1st half of semester, B = 2nd half of semester
This program does not provide school counselor nor teacher certification nor any professional licensure. If you are seeking Missouri certification, please contact the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Other states: Please contact the certification agency for the state in which you are seeking initial teacher certification.
Prior to acceptance into the program, you may enroll in up to 9 credit hours as a nondegree-seeking (in some cases, post-baccalaureate) student. Enrollment does not guarantee acceptance. Learn more about nondegree-seeking university student admissions.
States require that the University of Missouri-Columbia be authorized to deliver university-level distance/online education to their residents. Each state handles this process differently.
Please see our state authorization page for more information.
Students residing in all states are eligible to enroll in this program.
