Why Should I Study Exceptional Child Education at Southeast?
The Exceptional Child Education Program at Southeast Missouri State University is nationally recognized for excellence by the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). Students graduating from a program recognized by CEC are assured a quality educational experience. The Exceptional Child 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 special education teachers deepen their teaching skills and knowledge in their field of expertise, support general classroom teachers in their work with students with special needs in their classroom, or offer additional teaching certification. (Note: this graduate program does not lead to initial teaching certification). The graduate program in Exceptional Child Education has 33 credit hours of course work, with all classes online, making the program convenient for busy classroom teachers.
Options/Areas of Emphasis
Master of Arts in Exception Child Education with an emphasis in:
- Mild / Moderate Cross Categorical
- Autism (includes a Southeast MO State University certificate as an Autism specialist)
- Early Childhood Special Education (may lead to certification in ECSE Birth - 3rd grade)
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 50th 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 Council for Exceptional Children
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
- Special Education Teacher
- Elementary Education Teacher
- Early Childhood Teacher
- Early Childhood Special Education 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 Exceptional Child 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 exceptional child education program enjoys the services of the Instructional Resources and Technology Lab a fully functional educational resource lab, oufitted 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 assistantships Web site. Interested students should apply to the dean of Graduate Studies or to the dean of the College of Education.
Related Links
Online Application
Graduate Bulletin
School of Graduate Studies
International Students
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