What is the teaching degree offered by Western at the Kansas City Northland location?
The degree you will earn is a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education with a Social Science concentration.

What will I be certified to teach?
The Elementary Education degree (along with acceptable background checks and successful passing of the Praxis II exam) will certify you to teach grades 1 through 6.

Where will I do my field experiences in schools?
Placement for school experiences will be coordinated by MWSU Education Department faculty. Faculty will meet with you at the Kansas City Northland location and will place prospective teachers in schools in the northland area.

What if I want a different area of concentration?
At this time, the only area of concentration that is offered at the Kansas City Northland location is social science. If you wish to add a different area of concentration, you would need to enroll and attend those courses at MWSU campus in St. Joseph.

May I take just one or two courses at the Kansas City Northland location?
Yes! This is a drop in-drop out program. You may take as many or as few courses as you wish. For example, you may wish to participate in campus life for part of the week and take classes at MWSU campus while taking other classes at the Kansas City Northland location.

What if I am working on a degree from another institution but wish to take a class at Western's Northland site?
You may be actively enrolled in another institution's program and still take a class at Western's Northland site because of convenience or because it resolves a schedule conflict at your home institution. Just be sure the course will be accepted as a transfer course by your college or university. That should not be a problem since Western's reputation is solid and our courses are readily accepted at most or all institutions.

Will regular full-time faculty teach the classes?
Most classes at the Kansas City Northland location will be taught by the same full-time faculty who teach at Western's St. Joseph campus. We will, from time to time, fill in with qualified and experienced part-time faculty the same way we do on our main campus.

Who coordinates the Northland programs?
Venny Pruitt is the Coordinator of Northland Programs for the University.  In June 2006, Venny retired after 32 years in education from Missouri Public Schools, having been a secondary English teacher, the first Missouri A+ Schools Coordinator for the Park Hill School District, and Assistant Principal at Park Hill South High School.  During those 32 years, Venny taught throughout the state of Missouri.  Venny earned her B.S. in Education from Missouri Western State University.   

How about books and library support?
Textbook lists are provided to you. You may purchase books at the Barnes and Noble bookstore on our St. Joseph campus, order them online, or via other preferred means.

How do I register?
Contact the Western Institute at 816-271-4100 or 1-866-U-WIN-GOLD for registration details.

What about financial aid?
Due to the complexities of financial aid and the need for an expert financial aid advisor to help you with the process, all financial aid transactions must be conducted through the St. Joseph campus.

What are the transfer courses that must be taken at MCC?
In the past, most MCC transfer students have transferred courses they completed at a MCC institution as per our articulation agreement with MCC. Western's transfer course agreement is the most generous of any receiving institution that MCC works with. Since our northland offering of courses is in no way in competition with MCC, we expect transfer students to the northland site to have completed all of the acceptable courses at an MCC site; none of the acceptable transfer courses will be offered at Western's northland site. For a list of the courses Western accepts from MCC visit Transfer Courses.