What you will study
Before you get started on your coursework, UCM’s dedicated CTE faculty will work with
you to understand your previous education and industry experience and determine the
best coursework for you. You’ll learn to teach and manage a classroom as well as design
and assess CTE curricula — or sharpen your skills in all these aspects.
An undergraduate CTE program that meets CTE temporary authorization certification
requirements
All classes for your Career and Technology Education undergraduate certificate fulfill
Missouri’s state CTE certification requirements for those wanting to transition from
industry work to teaching. UCM’s CTE faculty are also happy to tailor your curriculum
further to meet another state’s requirements.
Excellence in Career and Technology Education
- Begin or advance your CTE career in the state’s most extensive Career and Technical
Education program. Take advantage of — and grow from — the resources and support UCM
offers above the rest.
- Top 15%: Most Focused Colleges for Education (College Factual, 2022)
- Top 6%: Most Popular Colleges for Education (College Factual, 2022)
Unique learning opportunities in career and technology education
At the University of Central Missouri, we believe your best learning is done both
in and outside of our classrooms. Enjoy these opportunities to build your portfolio
and resume and make connections while at UCM:
- Hands-on learning: Apply your learning as you go. Courses for our Career and Technology Education undergraduate
certificate take a theory-to-practice approach, so you’ll build curriculum plans and
practices for use in your teaching, develop work-based learning agreements for students
and create performance assessments for your content area. Be prepared to lead in a
CTE classroom or lab on day one.
- Student organizations: Network with other CTE and Education students at UCM and at nearby institutions when
you join the Missouri Association for Career and Technical Education (MoACTE) or the
Missouri State Teachers Association. You’ll build lasting connections to carry forward
into your career as a CTE professional.
What can you do with an undergraduate certificate in Career and Technology Education
from UCM?
With UCM’s Career and Technology Education undergraduate certificate, you’ll have
the credential and education you need to teach, whether your objective is to:
- Gain temporary authorization from the Missouri DESE while you continue at UCM to earn
your Educational Studies and Training BS — your undergraduate certificate credits will apply toward your bachelor’s degree
- Begin teaching within a new area, if you’re already a teacher and have industry experience
- Earn the credential you need to provide business- and industry-specific training
Junior ROTC, auto mechanics, elementary teachers, prison instructors and anyone desiring
a new CTE career will find their path at UCM.
Faculty in support of your career goals
Our CTE faculty welcome the opportunity to help you find — and be successful in —
your CTE career path. To understand your options, use the interactive tool below.
Financial assistance options for your Career and Technology Education undergraduate
certificate
Completing the Career and Technology Education undergraduate certificate puts you
closer to achieving your CTE career goals, whether serving as a teacher or an industry
trainer. Get started on your path at the University of Central Missouri, where we
offer some of the nation’s most affordable tuition rates. As a top-ranked university
by LendEDU for low student debt, we also provide ways for degree-seeking students
to finance their education, such as loans, grants, employment opportunities and scholarships.
Can I apply for CTE scholarships?
When you complete a bachelor’s degree alongside your undergraduate certificate, you
may also qualify for CTE program-specific scholarships. You can search the UCM Scholarship Finder for opportunities.
Continue Your Education
Complete your bachelor’s degree with UCM
The core courses for UCM’s Educational Studies and Training BS degree are the classes
you’ll take for UCM’s Career and Technology Education undergraduate certificate. This
puts you closer to earning your degree, with no time wasted on the path to your CTE
career.
Learn More
Meet UCM CTE Faculty
CTE experts with diverse backgrounds
Choosing UCM on your journey to launch or expand your CTE career gives you access
to diverse experts in the field. Our faculty have advanced degrees and experience
not only as CTE instructors but also as program administrators. Share your goals and
trust them to tailor a curriculum that allows you to meet your specific academic and
career goals.
Read Faculty Bios
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Make yourself more marketable.
The CTE undergraduate certificate can be taken as a stand-alone program, or you can
continue into a bachelor’s degree to enhance your studies:
Explore programs related to career and technology education.
If you’re looking to enhance your administrative career, consider adding this UCM
minor to a bachelor’s degree instead:
Do you teach in another state?
Let us work with you and your State Department of Education to tailor this Certificate
to meet your state’s certification requirements.
Student Learning Outcomes
You will use the knowledge and skills obtained with the Undergraduate Certificate
in Career and Technical Education to:
- Meet the Missouri Standards for the Preparation of Educators (MoSPE) at the introductory
level or above
- Develop a thorough understanding of instructional materials and their development
- Produce and implement authentic student assessments
- Disaggregate assessment data for improved student learning and performance in the
3 primary domains of learning: cognitive, psychomotor, and affective
- Learn methods and techniques for teaching CTE students, including exceptional children
- Become effective CTE classroom and laboratory managers
- Assist CTE students prepare for college and/or career readiness
Professional Organizations
You will be encouraged to join the
Missouri Association for Career and Technical Education (MoACTE), Missouri's professional organization for career and technical educators.
Certification and Employment
You will be able to meet the requirements for CTE educator certification through the
Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). You will be able
to teach in high schools, career centers, community colleges, public post-secondary
programs, industry apprenticeship programs, and others.
UCM is the longest continuously CAEP accredited public institution in Missouri
