Reading today, leading tomorrow: find your fearless.
Prepare to become the teacher who helps students discover the power of reading, writing, and communication. At SEMO, you'll gain classroom experience from the beginning of your program while building the skills to teach elementary students in grades 1-6 and middle school language arts in grades 5-9. You'll graduate ready to lead your own classroom with confidence.
Where Bold Ideas Take Shape
The Elementary Education/Middle School Language Arts program prepares students for the classroom through coursework on campus and field work within schools. In addition, you’ll be prepared to integrate technology into your classroom as a beginning teacher.
- Be prepared and certified to teach 1st – 6th grade and to teach middle school language arts grades 5-9.
- Do your student teaching abroad in a variety of locations, including our partnership with Eagles College in Iquique, Chile.
- Gain leadership skills in numerous student organizations.
- Experience hands-on, real-world learning through multiple field experiences in classrooms as well as student teaching opportunities abroad
What Can You Do with an Elementary Education: Language Arts Degree?
Future teachers with this degree prepare students to become confident readers, writers, and communicators. Your certification opens opportunities in elementary schools and middle schools while providing a strong foundation for leadership and continued graduate study.
Education Careers Outlook
- Early Childhood was the fourth highest teacher shortage area in Missouri in the 2019-2020 school year.
- Students secure teaching positions across the state of Missouri, in surrounding states, and beyond.
- Early Childhood graduates with add-on certification in Elementary Education find jobs as preschool, kindergarten, and elementary grade teachers in public or private schools.
- Graduates may also work in programs such as Parents as Teachers or First Steps.
- Placement rates are high for alumni with more than one teaching certification.
- First-year teachers report feeling well-prepared by Southeast Missouri State University on our annual survey of first-year teachers.
- Principals also report elementary education graduates are well-prepared as beginning teachers.