Elementary or Special Education

MIssissippi undergraduate teacher education licensure requirements:

• A minimum ACT composite score of 21 (single test date) or equivalent SAT composite score (single test date)

OR

• Qualifying scores on the PRAXIS Core Academic Skills for Educators Test (CORE). Current CORE test codes and score requirements can be found at the ETS website (https://www.ets.org/),

OR

• Completion of a minimum of 60 hours of college credit with a minimum GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale

The fully online Teacher Assistant Program (TAP) is designed specifically to offer teacher assistants a convenient pathway to earning a Bachelor of Science degree and becoming a certified teacher while continuing their job as a teacher assistant.

The online TAP program meets the unique educational needs of teacher assistants who desire to advance their knowledge and become exemplary, licensed teachers. Coursework is completed online with highly qualified and dedicated university faculty.  If you are employed as a teacher assistant in a public or private school accredited by the Mississippi Department of Education, you may qualify for our program.

Once accepted into your professional preparation, you will begin the first of three sequenced semesters that include carefully planned practicums aligned to your course work. During the introductory cohort, students observe classes and work one-on-one with K-6 students in diverse school settings. In the intermediate cohort, students spend one full day each week in K-6 schools working with small and whole groups throughout the semester. Senior cohort students spend two full days each week in K-6 schools assessing and tutoring a K-6 student. During student teaching, students participate in two different internships in diverse school settings.

More than 70 foundation-based scholarships are available for School of Education students each year. Over $75,000 is dedicated to Elementary and Special Education undergraduate majors.

Are you interested in completing half of your student teaching experience internationally?  If you are, then Southern Miss is the school for you.  During the fall of 2020, The University of Southern Mississippi joined the Consortium for Overseas Student Teaching (COST).  Established in 1973, COST is a collaboration of 16 colleges and universities in the United States that provides opportunities for its students to have quality student teaching experiences in overseas settings. COST works closely with USM and placement school representatives around the world to provide opportunities for its students to have quality student teaching experiences in overseas settings. 
 
Through COST, teacher candidates are placed in public and private institutions in various locations around the world where English is the language of instruction.  The placement period ranges from 6-7 weeks. Student teachers complete their first half of student teaching stateside, then go abroad for the second half.  All participants return to the United States having gained firsthand knowledge and experience with professional peers, students, and their families within another cultural setting; having an increased sense of confidence and improved self-efficacy; and having a greater sense of how to integrate an international perspective into their profession as a teacher. 
 
Currently site countries include Australia, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, The Bahamas, and the Netherlands. We encourage you to review this site, learn about the program, and consider possible student teaching placement destinations.