Teacher Education at The W

How Do I Become A Teacher in Mississippi?

Education is one of the most rewarding fields of study. As an educator, you will touch many lives. You will not only encourage children to explore their dreams, but give them the tools to do so. The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) is the only agency in the state which can grant Teaching Licenses. The School of Education at The W can help you meet the qualifications to become a teacher.

Early Childhood Development Elementary Education Secondary Education Alternate Route Licensure/MAT

What are the requirements to enter the Teacher Education Program at The W?

Below are the requirements to enroll in the Teacher Education Program at The W.

Students may apply to Teacher Education who:

• Have a cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher at the conclusion of the semester prior to their program's "methods" semester (e.g., for Elementary Education, at the conclusion of the Block 2 semester, before entering the Block 3 semester),
  OR
• who have earned a 21 or higher composite ACT score
  OR
• who have completed and passed the Praxis Core exam required by MDE.

This step is required to be recommended to MDE to complete any MUW undergraduate education program leading to licensure with the Mississippi Department of Education. Please see "Program Progression" for additional details. For students seeking licensure in another state, please see Licensure Reciprocity for more information.

Program Progression EPP Teacher Education Handbook (.pdf) Licensure Reciprocity Disclosure

Which education program should I choose?

We would strongly suggest you speak to your Academic Advisor or the School of Education Student Success Navigator to discuss the best option for you specific needs. We've included some general guidelines here.

Entering Freshman

If you are entering as a first-year student who does not have a bachelor's degree, we suggest you either apply to the Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education for K-6 teaching, or to teach at the secondary level, 7-12, or in a specialty discipline, you should enroll in a Bachelor's degree program with a Teacher Certification in the Secondary Education discipline area of your choice.

Transfer Students & Students After Sophomore Year

Due to the specific requirements of the traditional Teacher Certification program, students who Transfer to The W or decide to become a teacher in their junior or senior year may not meet all of the requirements to graduate in the typical four-years. For you there are two options:

Traditional Route - Students enter the Elementary Education or a Secondary Education bachelor's degree program and progress through to graduation, understanding that due to course rotations it may take an extra year to graduate. Students in this route will have more coursework in classroom management and teaching methods. These students will complete their student-teacher internship prior to graduating.

Alternate Route/MAT - Students enter into a standard bachelor's degree program in the discipline of their choice, then will take specific graduate courses in their senior year to complete the requirements for an Alternate Route teaching license. Students in this route will have more coursework in their content area. These students will complete their student-teacher internship while employed at a school, after graduating with their bachelor degree and completing the 3 required courses.

Students with a Bachelor's Degree

If you have already graduated with a bachelor's degree without a teacher certification and are interested in becoming a teacher, we suggest you apply to the Alternate Route pathway, and consider the Master of Arts in Teaching.

What are the different types of teaching licenses in Mississippi?

Class Levels of Mississippi Licenses

Class A = Bachelor’s level license
Class AA = Master’s degree level license
Class AAA = Specialist degree level license
Class AAAA = Doctorate degree level license
(Juris Doctorate and Master of Fine Arts Degrees are Issued at the Class AAA Level)

In general, the higher class level licenses command a higher salary. See the Teacher Salary Schedule from the Mississippi Department of Education.

Other limited and specialty licenses may be obtained from MDE. For more information on teacher licensure, we suggest reviewing Licensure Guidelines from the Mississippi Department of Education.

I already have a teaching license from another state and want to teach in Mississippi, what should I do?

Mississippi has agreements with other states to honor teaching license issued in another state, which you may qualify under. To learn more about reciprocity at the state level, please visit the MDE Reciprocity License page.

I want to teach in another state, what should I do?

Students seeking licensure in another state are advised to contact the appropriate licensing board in that state to determine specific requirements of guidelines for reciprocity in those U.S. states or protectorates. For a list of the state departments of education that oversee professional teaching licensure, please see the U.S. Department of Education website – State Contacts page.

Licensure Reciprocity Information

What kind of support will I have along the way?

Unlike some universities, The W's School of Education has the tools, resources, and programs to support you at EVERY STEP of your career as a teacher.

As a student, you'll benefit from our knowledgeable faculty, world-class tutoring services, and dedicated Student Success Navigators.

As a new teacher, you'll rely on the Center for Educational Support to find programs specifically designed to meet the needs of new educators, and can help connect you with mentor teachers.

Throughout your career, we'll help you earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to stay informed on the latest teaching methods and invite you to workshops, institutes, and events. When you're ready to take the next step in your career, The W has Graduate Studies in Education.

And when the time is right, we hope you'll join us to mentor the next generation of teachers too.