A 2019 Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) report documenting teacher shortages in the state of Missouri found that elementary education is suffering the most severe shortage.

鈥淚t is our hope that beginning this online pathway for completing a degree in elementary education will help fill a need in our state,鈥� said Dr. Larinee Dennis, interim vice president for academic administration and education department chair. 鈥淗LGU has a strong reputation of producing highly qualified teachers, especially in the area of elementary education.鈥�

This program includes fully online coursework that will culminate in a semester-long student teaching experience. It is designed for students who already have an associate of arts degree or have general education degree requirements fulfilled, however, students are able to fulfill gen-ed requirements online before starting the EED degree completion program if necessary.

Those currently employed in schools as paraprofessionals or substitutes may be ideal candidates for this program.

For more information, contact Gail Barrowclough, enrollment counselor, at 573.629.3280, or via email at gail.barrowclough@hlg.edu.

The HLGU Degree Completion offices and classrooms are located on the sixth floor of the Missouri Baptist Building and offers Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Applied Science degrees in convenient time frames for working adults. Majors offered are Christian ministry, business management, and criminal justice.

Employers have viewed HLGU鈥檚 Degree Completion program as an innovative and exceptionally effective approach to education. Students meet one night per week, one class at a time over a five week period. Students stay with the same group of adult learners throughout their degree program.

The HLGU staff will provide a free degree completion plan with a copy of the student鈥檚 transcripts, and if applicable, department of corrections and police academy documents.

For more information on how easy it is to finish your bachelor鈥檚 degree, contact Julie Meranda at 573-556-0333, or via email at JeffCity@hlg.edu. Visit hlg.edu/degreecompletion for more information.

The HLGU Adult and Graduate Studies Division also offers degree completion classes in Hannibal, Sikeston, and Poplar Bluff, MO, as well as online classes.