Credit for Professional Development
Continue to main contentTurn Professional Development Into College Credit
As a teacher, you need continuing education and professional development to advance your career. If you are considering an online masters degree in education, don't let your training hours go to waste. You can apply your professional development toward college credit for a Masters in Secondary Education or Masters in Teacher Leadership.
Worried about finding time for graduate school? SEMO's online education programs have you covered. Both online masters degrees are fully online with flexible scheduling. You can study when it works best for you while keeping your teaching job and life balanced. Now is the perfect time to advance your teaching career.
SEMO includes educational partnerships to different schools and corporate businesses including discounts for athletics and tuition. Explore Education Partners
LETRS® and MTDS Teacher Training Programs
LETRS® certification and MTDS training are two professional development courses SEMO offers for educators. We offer teacher training cohorts throughout the year. These education certification programs help you build classroom success and network with fellow teachers.
The Regional Professional Development Center (RPDC) also offers teacher leadership training and coursework that counts toward graduate degree credit. See how your LETRS® certification and MTDS training transfer toward your online teaching degree with our credit guides below.
Crosswalks
Find out how your LETRS® and MTDS training counts toward degree credit with the documents below.
Become a Redhawk.
Do more than dream about the future. Take the first steps to make it all happen.
MTDS Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Missouri Teacher Development System (MTDS) is a system of career-spanning, connected, and aligned professional learning opportunities for teachers. This collection of programs spans from Beginning Teacher Assistance to the Regional Teacher of the Year program, providing differentiated learning for teachers no matter where they are in their teaching journey. These programs are supported by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and are ongoing, job-embedded, and research-based. Most programs offer cohort-style learning and regional networking.
- BTAP A (Year 1): SE680 (3 credit hours)
- BTAP B: Purposeful Lesson Planning (Year 2): SE680 (3 credit hours)
- BTAP C: Designing for Critical Thinking and Engagement (Year 3): SE680 (3 credit hours)
- Teacher Academy: SE 680 (3 credit hours)
- Instructional Coach Academy: SE680 (3 credit hours)
- Foundations of Mentoring and Coaching: SE680 (3 credit hours)
- Powerful Task Design: SE680 (3 credit hours)
- Instructional Coach Academy Graduates: SE680 (3 credit hours)
Darryl Pannier
dwpannier@semo.edu
(573) 803-9008
Dr. Kelli Nicholson
knicholson@semo.edu
(573) 651-5161
Office of Online and Graduate Studies
ogs@semo.edu
(573) 651-5184
LETRS® Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Volume 1: Units 1-4
- Volume 2: Units 5-8
Units taken together as follows:
- Units 1 and 2
- Units 3 and 4
- Units 5 and 6
- Units 7 and 8
- Units 1 and 2: EL630
- Units 3 and 4: EL631
- Units 5 and 6: EL680
- Units 7 and 8: EL681
No, there is no certain order a student must take the LETRS® program. Students can jump in at any point, and they are not required to take all the units. None of the units are prerequisites for another.
- Units 1 and 2: Fall Semesters
- Units 3 and 4: Spring Semesters
- Units 5 and 6: Fall Semesters
- Units 7 and 8: Spring Semesters
Online and Graduate Services
ogs@semo.edu
(573) 651-5184
Credit for PD Graduate Program
Secondary Education M.A.
The M.A. in Secondary Education program focuses on improving your teaching and organizational abilities to take your classroom instruction or professional development instruction to the next level.
This program does not lead to teacher certification.
How does my LETRS® training translate to SEMO credit?
All 12 hours can count towards the required 15 credit hours in subject specialty area (Educational Studies)
| LETRS® Training | SEMO Credit |
|---|---|
| Units 1 and 2 | EL630 |
| Units 3 and 4 | EL631 |
| Units 5 and 6 | EL680 |
| Units 7 and 8 | EL681 |
M.A. Secondary Education Requirements
30 credit hours total: 6 required classes, and 5 specialty area courses.
| Required Classes | Specialty Area Courses |
|---|---|
| GR691: Methods of Research (3) |
15 hours in subject specialty area *Educational Studies only specialty area using LETRS® credit |
| GR698: Master's Final Comprehensive Exam (0) | |
| SE600: Multimedia in Education (3) | |
| SE638: Improvement of Instruction and Assessment (3) | |
| SE641: Teaching In a Multicultural Society (3) | |
| SE642: Secondary Curriculum Development (3) |
Admission Requirements
In addition to the criteria established for general admission to graduate studies, applicants must have the following:
- An undergraduate GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale
- A valid professional teaching certificate
Graduation Requirements
The student must obtain a minimum overall GPA of 3.25 to graduate from the program.
Teacher Leadership M.A.
A master's degree in teacher leadership prepares you to take on leadership roles that won't take you out of the classroom. This program is built with full-time school employees in mind, with course and field experiences designed to be completed in the school where you work.
This program does not lead to teacher certification.
How does my LETRS® training translate to SEMO credit?
Up to 9 elective credit hours can count towards this program.
| LETRS® Training | SEMO Credit |
|---|---|
| Units 1 and 2 | EL630 |
| Units 3 and 4 | EL631 |
| Units 5 and 6 | EL680 |
| Units 7 and 8 | EL681 |
M.A. Teacher Leadership Requirements
30 credit hours total: 7 required classes and 3 elective classes
Required Classes:
- EA610: Diversity and Equity in Schools (3)
- EA634: School Supervision (3)
- EL651: School Law (3)
- EA653: Curriculum for Leaders in Education (3)
- EA655: Leadership for Effective School Operations (3)
- EA660: Leadership in Special Education (3)
- GR691: Methods of Research (3)
- Choose 9 hours of Elective Credit (EL630, EL631, EL680, EL681)
- Choose 9 hours of Elective Credit (EL630, EL631, EL680, EL681)
- Choose 9 hours of Elective Credit (EL630, EL631, EL680, EL681)
Admissions Requirements
In addition to the criteria established for general admission to graduate studies, applicants must have the following:
- An undergraduate GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale
- A valid professional teaching certificate
Graduation Requirements
The student must obtain a minimum overall GPA of 3.25 to graduate from the program.
Special Reading K-12 Teaching License Program
The Special Reading K-12 Teaching License Program is a Southeast certificate program that provides a Missouri advanced teaching license as a reading specialist. The advanced teaching license also requires a valid Missouri teaching license and two years of teaching experience. Candidates seeking certification as a reading specialist should work closely with their advisor to ensure they meet the certification requirements. Program courses are offered over a two-year cycle.
How does my LETRS® training translate to SEMO credit?
All LETRS® credit can count towards this program.
| LETRS® Training | SEMO Credit |
|---|---|
| Units 1 and 2 | EL630 |
| Units 3 and 4 | EL631 |
| Units 5 and 6 | EL680 |
| Units 7 and 8 | EL681 |
Prerequisites for Admission
- CF/PY120: The Child-Development from Conception through Adolescence (3) or PY222: Development of the Adolescent (3)
- EX390: Psychology and Education of Children with Exceptionalities (3) or EX635: Psychology and Education of Childen with Special Needs (3) or EX635: Psychology and Education of Children with Special Needs (3)
- EX302: Language Development of Children with Exceptionalities (3) or CE370: Language Acquisition of the Young Child (3) or EX602: Language Development of the Exceptional Child (3) - Summer
K-12 Special Reading Requirements
27 Credit Hours Total, 8 Required Classes & 3 Elective Classes
Required Classes:
- EX601: Educational Assessment Techniques (3)
- EL644: Creating and Fostering Literate Environments (3) or EL630: The Science of Reading I:
Foundations of Literacy (3) or EX616 Classroom & Behavior Management (3) - EL624: Effective Literacy Leadership (3) or EX507: Working with Families and Children with
Exceptionalities (3) - EL647: Reading Assessment (3)
- EL611: Practicum I Early Literacy Learners (3) or EL631: The Science of Reading II: Assessing and
Correcting Emergent Literacy Learners (3) - EL623: Practicum II Older Literacy Learners (3) or EL681: The Science of Reading IV: Developing
Research Driven Instruction in the Area of Language and Reading (3) - SE602: Effective Literacy Instruction at the Middle and Secondary Levels (3) or EL680: The
Science of Reading III: Evidence-Based Literacy Instruct ion in the Area of Language and
Reading (3) - EL648: Dyslexia & Reading Disabilities (3)
Choose 1 From Below:
- EL646: Aspects of Literacy Development and Acquisition (3)
- EL629: Advanced Studies in Children’s Literature (3)
Admissions Requirements
In addition to the criteria established for general admission to graduate studies, applicants must
have the following:
- An undergraduate GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale
- A valid professional teaching certificate
Graduation Requirements
The student must obtain a minimum overall GPA of 3.25 to graduate from the program.
MTDS Training Graduate Program
Secondary Education M.A.
The M.A. in Secondary Education program focuses on improving your teaching and organizational abilities to take your classroom instruction or professional development instruction to the next level.
This program does not lead to teacher certification.
How does my MTDS training translate to SEMO credit?
All 12 hours can count toward the required 15 credit hours in subject specialty area (Educational Studies)
MTDS Training
- BTAP A (Year 1)
- BTAP B (Year 2): Purposeful Lesson Planning
- BTAP C (Year 3): Designing for Critical Thinking and Engagement
- Teacher Academy
- Instructional Coach Academy
- Foundations of Mentoring and Coaching
- Powerful Task Design
- Instructional Coach Academy Graduates
MTDS Training is coded as SE680 credit. This course can be repeated multiple times.
M.A. of Secondary Education Requirements
30 credit hours total: 6 required classes and 5 specialty area courses
| Required Classes | Specialty Area Courses |
|---|---|
| GR691: Methods of Research (3) |
15 hours in subject specialty area *Educational Studies only specialty area using MTDS credit |
| GR698: Master's Final Comprehensive Exam (0) | |
| SE600: Multimedia in Education (3) | |
| SE638: Improvement of Instruction and Assessment (3) | |
| SE641: Teaching in a Multicultural Society (3) | |
| SE642: Secondary Curriculum Development (3) |
Admissions Requirements
In addition to the criteria established for general admission to graduate studies, applicants must have the following:
- An undergraduate GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale
- A valid professional teaching certificate
Graduation Requirements
The student must obtain a minimum overall GPA of 3.25 to graduate from the program.
Teacher Leadership M.A.
A master's degree in teacher leadership prepares you to take on leadership roles that won't take you out of the classroom. This program is built with full-time school employees in mind, with course and field experiences designed to be completed in the school where you work.
This program does not lead to teacher certification.
How does my MTDS training translate to SEMO credit?
Up to 9 elective credit hours can count towards this program.
MTDS Training
- BTAP A (Year 1)
- BTAP B (Year 2): Purposeful Lesson Planning
- BTAP C (Year 3): Designing for Critical Thinking and Engagement
- Teacher Academy
- Instructional Coach Academy
- Foundations of Mentoring and Coaching
- Powerful Task Design
- Instructional Coach Academy Graduates
MTDS Training is coded as SE680 credit. This course can be repeated multiple times.
M.A. Teacher Leadership Requirements
30 credit hours total: 7 required classes and 3 elective classes
- EA610: Diversity and Equity in Schools (3)
- EA634: School Supervision (3)
- EL651: School Law (3)
- EA653: Curriculum for Leaders in Education (3)
- EA655: Leadership for Effective School Operations (3)
- EA660: Leadership in Special Education (3)
- GR691: Methods of Research (3)
- 3 hours of Elective Credit
- 3 hours of Elective Credit
- 3 hours of Elective Credit
Admissions Requirements
In addition to the criteria established for general admission to graduate studies, applicants must have the following:
- An undergraduate GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale
- A valid professional teaching certificate
Graduation Requirements
The student must obtain a minimum overall GPA of 3.25 to graduate from the program.
Take the Next Step
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701