Do you want to teach today’s students skills that will allow them to fill vital jobs?
Get the training and credential to help you transition from the field and into your
own classroom — or teach in a different area — at the University of Central Missouri.
Our Career and Technology Education (CTE) undergraduate certificate will expand your
skills and assist you in meeting Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
(DESE) requirements or those of another state for CTE teaching. Wherever you are,
UCM can get you on the path to the CTE career you desire.
Enjoy flexibility on your path to a new CTE career
UCM’s Career and Technology Education undergraduate certificate enables you to pursue
a teaching career in any area of interest, including military, culinary, automotive,
health sciences and more. Our flexibility also extends to the ways you can complete
the program. Choose to take all your classes online for ease in balancing other responsibilities
or to get this valuable training in another state. Through our hybrid model, you can
also choose to participate in some classes in various locations around the state.
Either way, you can complete this undergraduate certificate in as few as three semesters
to get started toward — or advance in — your CTE career.
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). 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.
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.
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
