Drury University offers undergraduate programs in both elementary education and secondary education. Students intending to prepare for teaching should study the curricula carefully and download the booklet Certification Requirements and Program Information .

The professional preparation of teachers at Drury University is grounded not only in the academic disciplines, but also in a partnership with public schools. As part of the professional preparation of teachers, students participate in a series of clinical experiences that may begin as early as the freshman year and conclude in the senior year. Clinical experiences include teacher aiding in the public schools, field experiences related to areas of specialization, reading practica and student teaching. These experiences provide opportunities for Drury students to gain practical experiences working with special needs children as well as a wide variety of socioeconomic, cultural and ethnic groups.

The mission of Drury University teacher preparation program is to:

• develop liberally educated professionals with a disposition to make informed,
reflective decisions;

• help others learn; and

• add value to the lives of children in a rapidly changing global society.

The motto of the Drury University teacher education program is "Dedicated Teachers Make the Difference." Dedication, as a teacher characteristic, implies far more than a willingness to work hard. The person who is dedicated to the education profession is reflective and analytical about the roles of teachers. The dedicated teacher maintains a sense of vision and purpose which is idealistic, but not naive.

Dedicated people understand the importance of self-renewal made possible by a healthy life-style and they utilize their sense of purpose or mission as a counterbalance for a too narrow view of teaching as a set of competencies and skills which can be directly observed and measured. Dedicated teachers reflect what Alfred North Whitehead calls "active wisdom," using knowledge by such actions as distinguishing relevant from nonrelevant issues and employing knowledge to add value to the experience of living.

At Drury University we also seek to prepare teachers who go beyond technical competence of “what works.” We strive to nurture a disposition and personal commitment that calls for teachers to be reflective, thinking practitioners who have a vision of schools as places of energy, learning, creativity, commitment and decency for all children.

The moral and ethical insights of teaching are caught as well as taught and these understandings are enculturated throughout the experiences related to Drury University's undergraduate teacher education program. The opportunity to associate with other students and faculty through activities such as the School Development Program, Drury Student Teachers’ Association, Kappa Delta Pi, field experiences and university courses creates a texture of moral and ethical insights and values that foster and renew a high sense of purpose and vision for the teaching profession. The School of Education and Child Development at Drury University strives to create an environment in which persons identify with the teacher preparation program and work cooperatively to revitalize the profession.

Students preparing to enter the teacher education program must be formally admitted. Applications for admission are available in the education department. Normally such application is made when a student is enrolled in EDUC 203: American School Systems. Students may enroll for the following courses prior to formal admission to the teacher education program:

EDUC 200: Technology in the Classroom
EDUC 201: Teacher Aide
EDUC 202: Technology Practicum 203
EDUC 207: Psychology of Human Growth and Development
EDUC 302: Educational Psychology
EDUC 312/EXSP 312: Methods of Health and Physical Education
EDUC 340: Education of the Exceptional Child

Students must be formally admitted before enrolling for any additional courses in the teacher preparation program.

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Conceptual Framework