Elementary Education, Southeast Missouri State University

Why Should I Study Elementary Education at Southeast?

The Elementary Education Program at Southeast Missouri State University is nationally recognized for excellence by the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI). Students graduating from a program recognized by ACEI are assured a quality educational experience. The Elementary Education program at Southeast Missouri State University is also accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. This program is designed to help classroom teachers deepen their teaching skills and knowledge in their field of expertise, or expand their background into a new teaching area and/or certification. (Note: this graduate program does not lead to initial teaching certification). The graduate program in Elementary Education has 33 credit hours of course work, will all classes online, making the program convenient for busy classroom teachers.

Options/Areas of Emphasis

Master of Arts in Elementary Education with an emphasis in:

Reading (may lead to certificaiton as a Reading Specialist K-12)
Mathematics/Science
Early Childhood

Further information about these areas of emphasis, including course requirements and semester schedules is located at the Department of Elementary, Early and Special Education Graduate Programs website.

Admissions Requirements

The applicant must have a teaching certificate or a qualifying score on the PRAXIS II or take and be in the 50^th percentile of the verbal and analytic components of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Miller's Analogy Test (MAT).

A bachelor's degree with a cumulative G.P.A. of no less than a 2.75 and be admitted to the School of Graduate Studies. For more information, please consult the Graduate Bulletin.

Accreditations

The Association for Childhood Education International
The National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Advising Procedures/Information

Upon admission to the Program, you will be assigned an academic advisor in your area of emphasis. Your advisor will act as your primary source of contact and communication with the department. Therefore, the department encourages the formation of effective professional relationships between students and their advisors. Advising prior to admission to the Program is done by the Graduate Coordinator, Dr. Julie Ray (jaray@semo.edu)

Graduation Requirements

The student must maintain an overall g.p.a. of 3.25 in order to be graduated from the program.

Work with a faculty advisor to plan and execute a capstone project. See the Graduate Bulletin for more details.

Career Opportunities

Elementary School Teacher
Curriculum Director
Reading Specialist or Literacy Coach (additional coursework or certification testing may be required).
Math Specialist (additional coursework or certification testing may be required).
Early Childhood Teacher (additional coursework or certification testing may be required).

For a detailed career outlook, please refer to Occupational Outlook Handbook which projects overall employment prospects.

Real-World Experience

The Elementary Education Program offers experiential learning through practicum opportunities and class assignments. Courses focus on improving practice through assignments done in a real world educational setting.

Student Organizations

Kappa Delta Pi, Academic Honor Society

Facilities and Resources

These resources are available to support you in your graduate program:

The elementary education program enjoys the services of the Instructional Resources and Technology Lab a fully functional educational resource lab, outfitted with audio and visual equipment, technology assistance and instructional resources for student and faculty use.
Online course support is offered through the Southeast Online office and the office of Information Technology.
Southeast's office of Learning Assistance Programs offer you tutoring and disability assistance.
Southeast's Kent Library is your partner in finding information for completing research papers and class assignments. Find out what our library has to offer by visiting Kent Library online. Library professionals can work with you in person, by phone or E-mail. Online resources bring the library to wherever you are, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Southeast's Center for Writing Excellence is an online and on-campus lab that will assist you with polishing your writing assignments. You can receive feedback on your essays from Writing Lab tutors, E-mail the lab with writing questions and access interactive online learning tutorials and information on documentation styles and grammar. Visit the Center for Writing Excellence or the online writing lab.

Graduate Assistantship Opportunities

The College of Education has graduate assistant positions. For information concerning currently available positions, visit the graduate assistantship Web site. Interested students should apply to the dean of Graduate Studies or to the dean of the College of Education.

Contact Us

Dr. Julie Ray, Interim Chair

Department of Elementary, Early and Special Education
Southeast Missouri State University
One University Plaza, MS 5575
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701

Phone: (573) 651-2444
Fax: (573) 651-5144
E-mail: jaray@semo.edu