Educator Preparation

We’ve been educating Missouri’s teachers since 1873. Across our programs, we offer highly integrated field experiences that provide opportunities for real-world application of effective practice. Through our EDvolution initiative, we provide students in all of our programs with a technology-rich learning environment. If you’re ready to begin your teaching career, let’s do this.

Program Choices

Southeast has many areas of study in education. You can choose the grade level you’re hoping to teach or the academic area. We’ve got information and a simple to follow path to help you achieve your goals.

Teacher Preparation Handbook

Stay successful as you progress through your program. The handbook contains guidelines all teacher candidates need to know. Save this document for review and questions in the future.

Read the Handbook

How do I know which program is for me?

If you don't have a four-year degree but are interested in becoming a teacher, these programs are for you:  
  • Early Childhood Education 
  • Elementary Education: K-4 
  • Exceptional Child: Early Childhood Special Education 
  • Exceptional Child: Mild Moderate Cross Categorical 
  • Middle School Education: 5-9 
  • Secondary Education: 9-12 

If you have a four-year degree but it isn't focused in education and would like to enter P-12 education, check out these programs:  

  • MAT: STEM 
  • School Counseling 

If you are already in P-12 education but would like to pursue professional development or a new career in P-12, try these programs:  

  • MA: Secondary Education 
  • School Counselor 
  • Leadership 
  • Specialists 
  • Certificates 

Preparing You to Lead a Classroom

  • Admission Requirements

    In addition to admission to Southeast, teacher candidates must meet the criteria to be admitted into the teacher preparation program. We’ll help you map out where you are and what you need so you can continue pursuing your goals. 

  • Field Experiences

    It’s the thing you’ve dreamed of: standing in front of your own classroom. At Southeast, we work to get you as much time in the class with field experiences as possible because we know the more tested you are, the more ready you’ll be. Field experiences have a considerable amount of logistics involved from scheduling to background checks. 

    Field Experience Information

  • Background Checks

    To work in schools, background checks are necessary. Our teacher candidates must undergo background checks. In order to participate in any field experience, you must provide evidence of having had a fingerprint background check completed within one year prior to the end of that field experience. The Background Check Information walks you through those steps. 

  • Certification

    You’ve aced your courses and thrived during your field experiences. You’re ready for your very own classroom. There’s one final step to discuss: certification. Our Educator Preparation Certification has step-by-step instructions, a timeline, and all the information you need. 

Program Quality

In service to the goal of preparing increasingly more effective educators, the Educator Preparation Program (EPP) regularly seeks feedback from external sources, conducts its own internal assessments, and—in the interest of transparency—makes much information publicly available.

Learn more

EDhawk Scholars

The EDhawk Scholars program provides student teacher candidates experience in a local school district, networking opportunities, and a guaranteed interview after graduation.

Learn More

Technology Infused Teaching

Southeast teaches you to teach with technology because when you enter the classroom, you’ll need to be tech ready. In order to be successful in our programs, there are minimum device specifications required for the equipment/devices you bring with you. Technical specifications are below, so you can make sure your devices are up to date. The recommendations are only recommendations for devices compliant with the minimum specifications of the program. Students are free to select devices not mentioned in these recommendations as long as their device meets the specifications outlined here.

Students in the Education Preparation programs must have a mobile device. This device cannot be a phone. Their device can be any of the following:  

  • Apple iPad 
  • Apple MacBook 
  • PC Laptop 
  • PC Tablet 
  • Chromebook 

The minimum specifications for each type of device are listed below: 

Advisory as of December 2, 2020: 
Device prices are currently inflated due to abnormal demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic response. In the cases of some PC laptops and Chromebooks, their prices may currently be multiple hundreds of dollars higher than normal. It is recommended to postpone purchasing a new device if possible, as prices will eventually return to normal. 

  • 6th Generation (mid-2018) or later 
  • 32GB or more 

Recommendation: 10.2" iPad, 32GB 
$329, or $309 with education pricing (as of April 3, 2020) 

  • Comes with MacOS Mojave or MacOS Catalina when new 
  • Intel Core i5 or higher processor (Core i7 or Core i9)* 
  • 8GB or more RAM 
  • 256GB or more storage 

Recommendation: MacBook Air 
Compliant version starts at $1,299, or $1,199 with education pricing (as of April 3, 2020) 
 
*MacBooks with Apple's new M1 processor are still being evaluated for compatibility at this time and are not yet recommended. 

  • Front and/or rear-facing camera 
  • 10 hours or longer battery life 
  • 32GB or more storage 
  • 4GB or more RAM 
  • WiFi 

Recommendation 1: Acer Chromebook 11 with Celeron N3350 (https://www.amazon.com/Acer-Chromebook-C732-C6WU-11-6-LCD/dp/B0799Z328L?th=1) 
$323 (as of December 2, 2020) 

Recommendation 2: HP Chromebook 15  $799.99 (as of December 2, 2020) 

Benefits of Recommendation 2: 

  • Faster processor 

*Southeast Missouri State University recommends that Chromebooks not be used as a main or sole computer system because of their limitations. 

  • Comes with Windows 10 or higher when new 
  • Intel Core i5 or higher processor (Core i7 or Core i9) 
  • 8GB or more RAM 
  • 256GB or more solid-state storage (SSD, not HDD) 
  • Built-in or external front and/or rear-facing camera 
  • 9 hours or longer battery life 
  • WiFi 

Recommendation 1: HP Envy-13t  
$649.99 (as of December 2, 2020) 

Recommendation 2: Lenovo Yoga C940 15"
$1,429.99 (as of December 2, 2020) 

Benefits of Recommendation 2: 

  • 2-in-1 tablet PC form factor 
  • More RAM 
  • Dedicated graphics processor 
  • Drawing/writing stylus 

Recommendation 3: Microsoft Surface Pro 7

Compliant version starts at $899.99 (as of December 2, 2020). Student pricing may be available.

Organizations

Acronym organization name last name first name title email
ACDA American Choral Director’s Association – Student Chapter Jenkins Lauren President lejenkins1s@semo.edu  
ASCD Teachers of Tomorrow Crowder Abigail President amcrowder4s@semo.edu
FFA Future Farmers of America Gildehaus Lillian President lmgildehaus1s@semo.edu 
Holmes Honors Program
Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education Drury Annette President aqdrury1s@semo.edu   
NafME-C National Association for Music Education – Collegiate Chapter McCollom Matt Vice President mjmccollom1s@semo.edu
SAME Student Association of Mathematics Educators Crask Reagan President rncrask1s@semo.edu   
SMSTA Student Missouri State Teachers Association O'Neill Brady President bmoneill1s@semo.edu  
SSEA Social Studies Educators Association Kulavic Frankie President fkulavic1s@semo.edu  

Teacher Preparation News 2023-2024

Advising 

Teachers must meet many requirements. There’s your coursework, field experiences, licensing, and background checks. Your touchpoint throughout this process will be your advisor. Below, you can find the contact for your area of degree. 

Elementary, Early Childhood, Exceptional Child Majors, and Middle School Majors 

Office Location: Academic Hall 057 
Email: advising@semo.edu 
Phone: (573) 651-2007 
Hours: Monday - Friday
8 a.m. - Noon, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. (Fall and Spring Semesters)
8 a.m. - Noon, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. (Summer Semester and Spring Break)  

Secondary and K-12 Education Majors 

Shannon Clapsaddle, Department Chair
Office of Leadership, Middle, & Secondary Education
Office Location: Scully 238
Phone: (573) 651-2137 
Email: sclapsaddle@semo.edu

Specific Content Area Information

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Educator Preparation
Contact Us
Phone
Educator Preparation
(573) 651-2556
Certification/Background Check
(573) 651-5932
Field Experiences
(573) 651-2411
Location
Office
Scully 301
Mailing Address
Educator Preparation
One University Plaza
Cape Girardeau, Missouri 63701

Audience Links

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