Advising Pathways for Paras (P4P) Program - BSED in Special Education FAQs

No. ‘Pathways for Paras' is a name given to a special cohort of current paraprofessionals seeking teacher certification at either the undergraduate or graduate level at MSU.  

As an undergraduate student, you will apply to Missouri State University as a Special Education BSED major. You may choose between two content areas: 

• K-12 Mild/Moderate Cross-Categorical 
• Birth-12 Blind and Low Vision    

If you are a paraprofessional in a Missouri school district and meet the admissions requirements of Missouri State University, you can participate in the Pathways for Paras program. 

However, not all school districts are offering Prior Learning Assessments (PLAs)/Learn While you Earn (LWYE) credits. Please contact your district regarding all PLA/LWYE details.  

You CAN participate in the Pathways for Paras program even if your district does not offer PLAs/LWYE credits.  

Prior learning assessment (PLA) is Missouri State terminology used to describe a way for students to receive credit for prior learning. These courses are taught through participating school districts rather than through MSU. After a student completes all PLA requirements and pays their processing fee (see #5 below), they are given retroactive credit on their MSU records.  

Learn While You Earn (LWYE) is another name for PLAs used by MSU and district personnel. Your district will determine the modality of each PLA course to best meet the needs of the district. Common course modalities include hands-on classroom experience or lecture in the evening, during professional development days, or back to school days. Please contact your district to determine if PLAs/LWYE are available in your area and what to expect from that experience. 

You have two student teaching options.   

1. Teacher of Record: Undergraduate teacher candidates may be hired by a school district to begin teaching during their student teaching semester. The student teacher candidate then completes student teaching as the "Teacher of Record" in the classroom on a provisional certificate. Students can apply for a provisional certificate when they are within 15 credit hours of graduation.  
2. Traditional Student Teaching: This option consists of 12 credit hours of regular student teaching in their content area and grade level. This is a full-time commitment for approximately 40 hours a week for a full MSU semester. If a paraprofessional’s job placement classroom meets the requirements, the para can complete traditional student teaching in their para job placement. 
   

For all MSU classes, students will be charged Missouri State University (MSU) tuition and fees.  

MSU also charges a $100 processing fee for each Prior Learning Assessment taken through your district. Please contact your district regarding all PLA/LWYE details and whether they charge any additional fees for offering them.  

You must complete a Free Application for Federal Aid (FASFA) each year before financial aid can be determined.  

You can create an unofficial estimate of the aid for which you may qualify using ACT’s Financial Aid Need Estimator. 

Stafford Loans also have limits on how much can be borrowed each academic year. View the Loan Limits for Stafford Loans page for more details. 

Some financial aid opportunities associated with special education teacher certification include (but are not limited to): Fast Track,  TEACH Grant, College of Education, and Institution scholarships. Please note: Fast Track covers four full-time (12 hour) semesters or the equivalent.  

Please review all financial aid opportunities. We encourage you to schedule a meeting with a financial aid counselor if you have additional questions. 

After you are admitted to MSU as a Special Education BSED undergraduate major or admitted to the SEACT graduate program, you will schedule an appointment with an academic advisor. Your advisor will review your previous college credits to determine your remaining coursework.  

Undergraduate majors are advised by the COE Advisement Center in the Professional Education Services. Please schedule with an advisor listed as a Pathways for Paraprofessionals advisor. 

An Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) degree from an accredited community or junior college satisfies university general education requirements. Program requirements will need to be met if not completed in the AA or AAT degree. 

Please note: An Associate of Science or Applied Science degree is not an Associate of Arts or Associate of Arts in Teaching degree and therefore does not fulfill MSU’s general education requirements. You will need to complete all remaining general education requirements that have not been fulfilled with your associate’s degree.  

To receive full financial aid and be considered a full-time student, you must be registered for at least 12 credit hours at MSU during fall and spring semesters or 6 credit hours during the summer semester. PLAs/LWYE coursework will not be calculated as registered courses at MSU for financial aid purposes. You are NOT required to be a full-time student to participate in the Pathways for Paras program.  

No. All coursework will be completed by Prior Learning Assessment (PLAs)/LWYE, through evening Zoom courses, or online.