Educator Preparation
Continue to main contentWe’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.
How do I know which program is for me?
- 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.
-
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.
EDhawk Scholars
The EDhawk Scholars program provides student teacher candidates experience in a local school district, networking opportunities, and a guaranteed interview after graduation.
Technology Infused Teaching
Southeast teaches you to teach with technology because when you enter the classroom, you’ll need to be tech-ready. 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.
- 6th Generation (mid-2018) or later
- 32GB or more
Recommendation: 10.2" iPad, 64GB
The compliant version starts at $329, or $309 with education pricing (as of August 28,2023)
- Comes with MacOS when new
- Apple M1 chip or higher
- 8GB or more Memory
- 256GB or more storage
Recommendation: 13” M1 MacBook Air
The compliant version starts at $999, or $899 with education pricing (as of August 28, 2023)
- 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 311 C723T-K245$349.99 (as of August 28, 2023)
Recommendation 2: HP Chromebook 14" x360 Laptop - 14ct-cd000
$639.99 (as of August 28, 2023)
Benefits of Recommendation 2:
- Faster processor
- More Storage
*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 x360 2-in-1 Laptop 15t-fe000, 15.6"$599.99 (as of August 28, 2023)
Recommendation 2: ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 (14” Intel) Laptop$1,249.99 (as of August 28, 2023)
The recommendations on this page 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.
Organizations
| Acronym | organization name | last name | first name | title | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACDA | American Choral Director’s Association – Student Chapter | Gonzalez | Bela | President | iagonzalez1s@semo.edu |
| ASCD | Teachers of Tomorrow | Crowder | Abigail | President | amcrowder4s@semo.edu |
| FFA/AG | Future Farmers of America/Ag Ed | Bryant | Hollie | hbryant1s@semo.edu | |
| Kappa Delta Pi | International Honor Society in Education | Hepler | Aubrey | President | arhepler1s@semo.edu |
| NafME-C | National Association for Music Education – Collegiate Chapter | Schaffer | Margaret | President | mlschaffer1s@semo.edu |
| SAME | Student Association of Mathematics Educators | ||||
| SMSTA | Student Missouri State Teachers Association | Haertling | Alli | President | ahaertling1s@semo.edu |
| SSEA | Social Studies Educators Association | Kulavic | Frankie | President | fkulavic1s@semo.edu |
Teacher Preparation News 2024-2025
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
Take the Next Step
One University Plaza
Cape Girardeau, Missouri 63701